Please! Read the Letter

This is a talk given in Sacrament Meeting in Metz France on August 10, 2025, given by me and translated in French by Annie.

I had a friend who passed away recently who was a magician, and he loved to display his tricks and illusions to anyone at any time. It didn't matter where he was, whether it be in church, a restaurant, a store, among friends or among strangers. He would go into a restaurant and while waiting for his order, go to nearby tables and perform his tricks, always to the delight of his audience. He carried tricks in his fanny pack and would switch them out every few days. There is something about a well executed magic trick that is intriguing and fascinating. He used to say that tricks worked because of deception, and the more skilled the magician, the better and more complicated the deception. "All magicians are liars," he would say. But we are fascinated by being deceived, and we ask to see the trick again and again.

Now use your imagination and consider the most skilled magician, with his vast knowledge and unlimited skills, a former Son of the Morning, once considered among the very elect in Heaven. He is so skilled, in fact, that it was necessary, if he was going to be among us, to have some protections given to us by our Father, so that we might not be deceived. 

Now imagine also that this most skilled magician has everything in his power to use to deceive us, such as communication, images, worldly powers, money, social media, history, our wants and desires, churches and church leaders, even the word of God--whatever He can use to distort and deceive and work his magic. He can also use other humans and even his followers as his assistants, even the most impressive, or at least would impress us the most. To some, that would be those who are successful and powerful. To others, it would be those who are kind and appear very loving. And to others those in authority; those most educated. And to others it would be those who look and act like they do.

Even though Satan is among us, there are some who will not be deceived. The Lord refers to those who are not deceived as His very elect. And what distinguishes those who are not deceived? "And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived..." (JS Matthew 1:37 emphasis added).

I cannot say it loud enough or enough times just how crucial the word of God is in our day. Without it, we will be deceived, find ourselves cut off from the Spirit of God, and be unprepared for the events that will precede the Lord’s second coming. 

Partial truths from the pulpit, blogs, podcasts, and social media will not cut it. We are either armed or are arming ourselves with the Sword of Truth or we are not. There is no middle ground. Only the word of God will keep us from being deceived in these last days. When his people’s devotion to Jesus Christ becomes but a shallow version of His law and word, it lacks the power to withstand evil, and being deceived is the result.

Why do you think the book was given to us? Angels do not come on trivial errands, to deliver books for occasional light reading to people whom they do not really concern. The matter in the Book of Mormon was selected, as we are often reminded, with scrupulous care and with particular readers in mind. 

We fawn over President Oaks coming to Europe, and yet treat lightly that Moroni himself delivered God’s words to us. And what does the Book say?

Repent or turn to Christ. It is to Christ and only to Christ that we are to turn. He alone is our salvation. We are to live by every word that "proceeded forth from the mouth of God" (D&C 84:44). 

Time is no longer on the side of soothing platitudes. It is best to state the problem based on what the scriptures actually say and to point to their solution. While most of us acknowledge that Book of Mormon prophets saw our day (Mormon 8:34–41), should we not also admit that what they saw seldom matches our high opinion of ourselves? We are the wild branches and as prophesied, bring forth wild fruit.

The Book tells us that repentance is knowing exactly who and what we are: nothing! Always retain in remembrance His goodness and our nothingness, which is the essence of Godly Sorrow. The only type of sorrow that brings about repentance.

How do we avoid being deceived? Of course Christ is the remedy, but how do we come to Christ? How exactly do we partake of His goodness, His incorruptible state of righteousness, and His promise to make us incorruptible like He is? 

The answer is through His words! Words that come from the mouth of God and strike everything else as insignificant! There is a danger to rely only on the pulpit narrative, when Christ himself points us to the scripture narrative--His words.

The Lord makes it clear that we come unto Him through His words, and that "whoso receiveth not my voice (His words) is not acquainted with my voice, and is not of me." 

This plan for us requires that we choose either good or evil, and that we learn to recognize the difference, and understand exactly what is good and what is evil. Again we turn to His words which tell us that Good is the righteousness of God, and Evil is everything else. One way is narrow and the other broad. The Lord tells us that we get in the right way because of His words and we stay in the right way because of His words. We see this by virtue of the word of God being identified as the Rod of Iron, with the word being compared to the Liahona and with the word of God being truth, light, spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Why? 

Because the word of God leads us to the fountain of living waters, the love of God and to the righteousness of God. While ignoring and not receiving His words keeps us in darkness and leads us to wander in strange paths and eventually being captive by the chains of hell, and by being deceived, thinking we are on the right path. And when we shine the light of His words upon ourselves, we see the corruption, the flawed goodness, the evil. And yet at the same time we see His goodness and righteousness, and willingly and joyfully turn to Him and rely wholly upon His merits.

I want to conclude by sharing with you the Hymn of the Pearl from the Acts of Thomas. In this classic tale, a king's son has come down to earth to find a pearl which he is to return to its heavenly depository. Here below he becomes defiled with the things of the world, until a letter from heaven, signed by all the Great and Mighty Ones, recalls to him his true heritage and his purpose in coming to earth. Whereupon he casts off his earthly garments, and with the pearl returns to the waiting arms of his loved ones in the royal courts on high and to his robe of glory that has been carefully kept for him in the Treasury.

The scriptures are our letter from Heaven, reminding us of our heavenly home and the way to get there. 

Please. Read the letter!

Neither Do They Understand

How is it that ye do not understand? (Mark 8:21)

In all my searching of the word of God, I had not focused on what the Lord has revealed about  understanding His words. The nuances of the word understand are plentiful and complex, and add more to receiving the word of God. 

When Christ asked, "Why is it you do not understand my word?" (John 8:43), He was not simply questioning our intellectual capacity to grasp the literal meaning of His words. His question delves much deeper, pointing to a spiritual and moral inability to truly comprehend His message. 

The way the word understand is used in scripture, also points out either the lack of or the presence of personal revelation. I propose that without personal revelation, we cannot completely understand how the words of God are connected and how the words themselves are a form of personal revelation. 

The mortal Jesus asked this question often of those who did not understand the words or the source of His words.

"Why do ye not understand my speech?" He answers His own question. "Even because you cannot hear my word" (John 8:43 emphasis added). We do not understand because we do not hear His word. See more on why Christ taught in parables.

"Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? Perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart hardened? Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?" (Mark 8:17-18 emphasis added). 

"Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive...?" (John 7:18 emphasis added). 

"Are ye also yet without understanding?" (Mathew 15:16).

"Have ye understood all these things?"(Mathew 13:51).

The emphasis on understanding suggests to me that there is more to it that just cognition. There are many nuances to what it means to understand, and the scriptures layer many of these nuances to give us a more complete picture of what it means to understand.

Scriptural word links to the word understand are: heart, mind, hear, see, teach, perceive, wise, wisdom, light, truth, spirit, view, knowledge, hidden treasures, mysteries, search, give voice, voice of God, prayer, reason, enlightened, hearken and of course, repent. 

The following are a few examples of the layers of understanding. 

Our Father will not reveal to us what we are not capable of understanding, so we must become capable of understanding what He has revealed. And understanding what He has revealed leads to understanding what He is yet to reveal. 

"For if ye understand these things ye have not taught them...Ye have not applied your hearts to understanding; therefore, ye have not been wise. Therefore, what teach ye this people"(Mosiah 12:26-27 emphasis added)? 

King Benjamin reminds us we must hearken unto the voice of God and open our ears that we may hear, and our minds that the mysteries of God may be unfolded to our view. (Mosiah 2:9 emphasis added).

Wisdom and knowledge are also equated with understanding in Job, Proverbs and the Psalms:

"So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 

Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 

If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 

Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. 

For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Proverbs 2:2-6 emphasis added). Even understanding comes from God.

"What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also" (1 Corinthians 14:15 emphasis added).

Reason is also linked to understanding.

"And now come, saith the Lord, by the Spirit, unto the elders of his church, and let us reason together, that ye may understand; 

Let us reason even as a man reasoneth one with another face to face. 

Now, when a man reasoneth he is understood of man, because he reasoneth as a man; even so will I, the Lord, reason with you that you may understand" (D&C 50:10-12 emphasis added).

But the Lord makes a distinction between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of men. "And their wisdom shall be great, and their understanding reach to heaven; and before them the wisdom of the wise shall perish, and the understanding of the prudent shall come to naught" (D&C 76:9-10 emphasis added).

By the power of the Spirit our eyes were opened and our understandings were enlightened, so as to see and understand the things of God" (D&C 76:12 emphasis added).

"And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. 

Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed" (Isaiah 6:9-10).

"Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark" (2 Nephi 32:4 emphasis added).

"This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 

And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: 

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man" (Matthew 15:8-11 emphasis added), and is the best measure of whether we understand.

The mortal Jesus only spoke in Parables to those who did not understand. 

"Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive" (Matthew 13:13-14 emphasis added).

"For the Lord God giveth light unto the understanding; for he speaketh unto men according to their language, unto their understanding" (2 Nephi 31:3 emphasis added).

In the Parable of the Sower the Lord tells us that "...he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty" (Matthew 13:23 emphasis added).

In summary, when Jesus asked, "Why is it you do not understand my word?" He was highlighting a fundamental spiritual disconnect. It wasn't about a lack of intelligence, but a spiritual and moral resistance to God's truth, rooted in our hearts, our traditions, and our relationship with God (or lack thereof). True understanding of God's word, starts with a willing heart, a genuine desire for truth, and the power of God to understand.

"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing" (1 Corinthians. 13:2). Now many would think this means being charitable or having more charity. We cannot have this charity, which is the pure love of Christ, without being filled with His pure love, and only after praying for it with all our heart. Can you understand the difference?

Those who are Christ's disciples, do hear, see, understand and repent, and are filled with His love.

When "understand" is used to mean "seeing the whole picture," it implies a holistic and comprehensive grasp of the word of God, with all its connections and layers of meaning forming a crystal clear picture.

Here's a breakdown of the nuances associated with this specific meaning:

•  Interconnectedness: It's not enough to know the parts; one must see how they relate, influence, and depend on each other.
• Contextual Awareness: The "whole picture" includes the past, present and future. For example, scriptural use of types connect the past, present and future. 
• Implications and Consequences: When you understand the whole picture, you can more clearly see the past, present and future. 

In essence, understanding the word of God is seeing the whole picture, the details, the beauty!

Let's look at a one example.

First it will help to distinguish between knowing and knowledge. I use the two as in once you have gained the knowledge, i.e. diligently searched the word of God, then you come to know that what you have learned is true by personal revelation from God. This is the Spirit of Revelation.

The example I want to use is the Lord's Great and Marvelous Work. I will not use citations but will instead paint a picture for you. This is just a sketch, however, to show you just how layered and nuanced the Lord's words are. 

We see first, just from the phrase, that it is the Lord's work, and that it is great and marvelous. As we search the words, work, great and marvelous, we will see and understand that there are many events associated with the Lord's Great and Marvelous Work. We can also link the words great and terrible to the Lord’s work because some events are terrible such as devastating destruction of people, places and Satan's system (Babylon), prior to the Lord’s coming. These events, whether marvelous or terrible, preceed the Lord’s coming. 

One event is the division of the people either on one hand or the other, and that this division is irrevocable. The division is caused by the word of God. Remember the Lord describing his words as a two-edged sword? Those who believe his words will be found on one hand, and those who don't believe His words will be found on the other. These events are prophesied by Christ, Nephi and Isaiah among others. 

Since those who believe His words will repent and those who do not believe His words will not repent, we see the division as being caused by our failure to repent.

Besides this irrevocable division, other events associated with the Lord's Great and Marvelous Work include the commencement of His work in these last days (also called the day of the Gentiles). His work commenced when His Gospel was restored in its fulness in this last dispensation to Joseph Smith. 

Another event associated with the Lord's Great and Marvelous Work is the coming forth of the Book of Mormon by the fulness of the Gentiles. We start to see in the picture that there are actors, groups of people, or the 'players' in these events. We are identified with team Gentiles in the Lord's Great and Marvelous Work. 

Another event is the Lord bearing His arm in the eyes of all nations. His arm in this case is the Lord's latter-day servant, also called David or an Elias (one who prepares for the Lord's coming like John the Baptist) who plays a key role in the Lord's Great and Marvelous Work. This servant is described in detail by Isaiah. Christ refers to this servant as does Joseph Smith. 

One of the events associated with this servant is bringing forth additional records such as the sealed plates of the Book of Mormon and the records of the Brother of Jared. This event seals the irrevocable division between those who believe His words and those who do not, especially among the Lord's people who are the fulness of the Gentiles. In fact some of the Lord's latter-day people fight against the servant. This is because they had not received the words of God given to them and were not prepared to accept these new records.

The majority of the House of Israel being gathered, however, do believe these new records and the Lord’s servant, with the assistance of others (yes, we are told who these others are), gathers, in a new exodus, the repentant Jews, Lost Tribes and Lehi's descendants to the lands of their inheritance. These are described as the Old Zion (Jerusalem) and the New Zion (Jackson County). The repentant Gentiles will then be numbered among the House of Israel. 

At the time these are being gathered, the modern-day king of Assyria and those who enter into an alliance with him, will cause chaos and destruction throughout the world, but commencing first among those who professed to know Him (us). This Assyrian king and his armies will eventually be destroyed when he/they attempt to make war on both the old and the new Zion.

Zion is established and the Lord comes again in all His glory to dwell with His people in Zion. Enoch's Zion also comes to join with the new Zion

Events of the past are used to describe endtime events. What has been shall be. The 10 tribes being taken captive by the Assyrians, and the Jews being taken captive by Babylon, are types to describe the Lord's people's failure to repent in these last days as being the catalyst which brings about the reign of terror by the latter day Assyrian king.

While there are 30 events associated with the Lord's Great and Marvelous Work, I have only drawn this sketch using just a few of these events. The complete picture is layered and detailed and deserves the terms Great, Marvelous and Terrible! Hopefully this sketch will cause you to want to see the complete painting, keeping in mind that it is painted by the greatest of Masters.

You can get a more complete picture by reading these, and many other posts in this blog:

Jesus' First Prophecy

The Gentiles in Prophecy

My purpose here is to urgently direct you to His words. Time is not on our side, and in order to be prepared and found on the right side of the division, we must quit treating His words lightly! They deserve our undivided attention. 

The Lord will hasten His Work and we are told how we can prepare for His hastening His Work by being prepared in all things, and by having a more perfect understanding of His words. Once we understand and have been warned we are to warn our neighbors. 

Now I ask you, can you see the artwork painted by His words? 

I don't think you will want to be asked by your Savior "Why is it that you do not understand my words?" 

By the way, another picture can be drawn using His words which will show us in great detail why it is we don't understand, and why it is that we will not repent, but will reject the fulness of His gospel.

Repentance: Down is Up

These posts on Repentance are best read in order beginning with Repentance: Introduction. At the bottom of each post is a link to the next post. This is a postscript on repentance.

"And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption" (Alma 34:16).

A good friend of mine once confided in me about his disappointment in not being called as a Bishop or member of a High Council. He was confused and disappointed because he was promised in his Patriarchal Blessing that he would take his place among the leaders of the Church. He was in his fifties and had not yet been called to be a leader, not even at a ward level. I use the word leader as the church and its people use it--a leader by virtue of the position held.

I thought of my own disappointment in not being called to be the Bishop after a Bishopric I was serving in was released. I was a counselor at the time, and thought for sure that it was my time. I was disappointed when I was not called. It would be years later when I was called to be a Bishop, but by that time I wished that they had called someone who really wanted to be Bishop. I liked being the Bishop, however, but mainly because I could control the time in Bishopric and Ward meetings. I didn't cope well in meetings where time was wasted on generalities. I do sometimes look back and think of all the teaching opportunities I missed because I had not yet obtained the word of God, did not have the Spirit of Revelation and the Spirit of Prophecy; and could not therefore teach with power and authority. 

I have known many who have never been called to any ward leadership offices, only to see themselves as being unworthy or not good enough, or as my friend would say--not validated. But these same brothers could not understand why so-and-so was called and they were not. They wanted to be the one called, even though they may not have aspired to an ecclesiastical leadership position. 

I say this as one who once aspired. But most of those I served with, and most of those who served me in leadership capacities were servants of God. They were humble servants who dedicated their time serving His children. For five years I sat next to one of the brightest and yet most humble High Councilor. He became our Stake President and called me to be Stake Sunday School President, a calling that was one of my greatest blessings. See why. 

He set me apart and through Him the Lord told me to search out what, why and how Christ taught, and I learned

1. what He taught--only His Father's words; 

2. why He taught only His Father's words--so that all would repent and receive His Mercy, and 

3. how He taught-- in Parables which He used to teach those who did not yet see and hear His Father's words. 

I am grateful to Cody for that blessing. He is one of my heroes, and I love him.

I share this because it illustrates how our church hierarchy encourages some to aspire to or desire leadership positions. In church culture, leadership positions are often considered an honor to be bestowed upon us. How we are proud that our father was a Bishop or Stake President. Obituaries are filled with this notion that puts the deceased on a pedestal, and reminds the many not called, of their leadership poverty. 

It makes me think of the Zoramites and their 'place for standing.' How each liked to stand on this specially built 'place for standing' or Rameumptom, and proclaim their goodness and specialness. For some of us it's sitting on the stand. One thing that I had missed, however, and one of the reasons I am re-visiting Repentance, is that those who were cast out felt bad because they could not stand upon the tower like their brethren and proclaim their goodness. They were not yet sufficiently humble to be taught of Christ.

They were not only poor as to the things of the world, but they were poor in heart. "We are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God" (Alma 32:9). They wanted to worship like their well-to-do former church members. They also wanted to stand up on the Rameumptom and "thank their God that they were chosen of him" (Alma 31:22).

Alma had hoped they were sufficiently humble to be taught the word of God because he knew that only the word of God would bring them down in the depths of humility and then to Christ. 

But Alma used the term lowly in heart rather than poor in heart (Alma 32:8). Of course they were not yet lowly in heart because they lamented again: "What shall we do?--for we are cast out of our synagogues, that we cannot worship our God" (Alma 32:9). Alma knew that only the word of God would cause them to be lowly in heart, with emphasis on down and lowly!

These Zoramites had bought into the philosophy of Korihor, which was to stand up and be counted. They wanted recognition for their lives and they thought it was to stand up and be counted! Korihor preached that up was better than down. Why be dragged down because of the traditions of their fathers? 

Korihor asked why they would "yoke themselves with such foolish things?" Foolish things like being harrowed up by their sins. Foolish things like being brought low because of their nothingness. Foolish things like admitting they were weak and relying alone upon the merits of this so called Christ of which they had no evidence.

No need, said Korihor. You can fare "in this life according to the management of" your talents and hard work. You can prosper "according to your genius...and strength" (Alma 30:16-17). And this is the key: "And thus he did preach unto them, leading away the hearts of many, causing them to lift up their heads..." (Alma 30:18).

Whenever we are called to "lift up our heads" you can be sure that this is the  influence of Satan and not the influence of God, except where after falling to our knees, we lift up our heads to Christ. 

If Paul and Nephi could call themselves 'wretched' and if Paul could characterize himself as the “least of all saints” and the “chief of all sinners,” (Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:15), then surely their description fits me as well. If I am strong only when I am weak, then it is much better to walk with Nephi "in the path of the low valley" than with those who "make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi" (Matthew 23:5-7).

But I must confess that I suffer from the need to be recognized. I want others to see me on the path holding fast to the rod of iron. I want them to say of me, did he not speak unto us the words of God! I want others to see me as a modern day Enos, who after receiving a remission of my sins, said nothing but repentance unto his generation. I want to be relevant. 

I want my children and my grandchildren to say of me, now and when I am gone "Our Dad/grandfather taught us so much and gave us the most priceless gift of his witness of God's words. He really has the gift of the word of knowledge! He will have joy because of our repentance! He was truly a prophet in the last days! His example to us is that of a chief sinner who was born of God and became a new creature."

Because if no one does, then I worry that I am as a leaf that flutters in the wind, and no one notices. I am nothing. Or if some noise I make is recognized, it is just the chatter of a nobody, and they say without knowing: "Don't pay any attention to him! He is the worst father and grandfather!" But I sin in wanting this recognition because it is about the message and not the messenger!!

But no one knows me better than He does. He is more familiar with my sins than I am, since He has suffered and paid for them. He knows that sometimes I even count His gifts to me as my gifts to Him. 

Why is it then that after teaching a class, when someone comes up after and tells me what a great lesson I gave, I feel terribly uncomfortable? I do not want their praise, because all I did was teach what He taught me. Yeah, right! It is more likely that I am not comfortable because they may see that my humility is feigned. 

And this is the other reason I am re-visting repentance. Repentance is for me, as it is for you, a full-time job.

And no matter how hard I might try, I cannot rid myself of this need for recognition. It is my capacity for this sin and the multitude of other sins that must be changed. 

Christ knows all this about me. He knows all that I have done and all that I still do, or do not do. And He can work with someone like me. And He has and is. His Grace is sufficient for me! He does stand between me and justice!

The paradox is that He blesses me with the very gifts that if used, sometimes bring about the praises of men, and the criticism of others who know of my nothingness, and of my failure to live up to their standards or the standards of better people than I am. But to me it is a constant reminder that I need Him every hour, no, every minute, every second. I know what Paul meant when he said that when he is weak, then he is strong--because of Him! I know it!

But way more often there is no recognition, no praise. Just silence. And I feel a fraction of what He must feel when so many ignore His words and ridicule Him with their silence. Who is this sower of seeds? Who is this teacher of parables? Isn't he dead?

I no longer want the recognition that comes from sitting on the stand or being a leader in the church. But I want others to recognize His gifts to me! I want my family to recognize His gifts to me! Why? Because I want them to recognize Him and acknowledge His gifts!

I know, however, that God is not impressed by display, and he does not need publicity. The world will always turn its attention to the highly placed, to the well known, to the visibly important, to those with means, to those on the stand. But God loves humility. He honors those who desire His righteousness, rather than those who are going about to establish their own righteous. The world will always ask, “Is not this the carpenter’s son” (Mathew 13:55)? 

There is a second paradox. While I would like some recognition for His gifts to me, Christ certainly doesn't need me to teach His words. He has already taught them much more effectively than I ever will. But I need to teach them! For me and hopefully for you. I still want you to someday say "thank you for teaching me, for calling me to repentance, for using His words to turn or return me to my Savior." 

But I sin in wanting this. I have to ask Him everyday for those who hear His words through me, to thank Him and deny not His gifts and His power. It is His words I want them to hear, not mine. I pray constantly that I desire His righteousness, to be a follower of His Righteousness, yea, even a greater follower. 

Hopefully when that happens He will have changed me enough to rejoice in Him, and not have any more desire to make broad my phylacteries. Yet I tremble when I think of wanting others to see my righteousness. 

I know that I am called to cry repentance unto this people. And I want that I should labor all my days in crying repentance unto this people. I want to bring many to Him, but if I only bring one, I want that my joy shall be great with him in the kingdom of my Father! In this I do not think that I sin.

If "any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:11).

Postscript: Repentance: Bondage of Sin 

Do We Really Understand Christ's Gospel?

If you were to ask what is the greatest good, I would direct you to the Lord’s answer. Joseph's ministry was to proclaim Christ's Gospel, and in doing so “will do the greatest good,” and will “promote the glory of him who is your Lord” (D&C 81:3-4 emphasis added).

After a discussion with a friend of mine, who has been a lifelong church member, about the Gospel of Jesus  Christ, and feeling his resistance to what Christ teaches us concerning His Gospel, I felt the urgency again, to share Christ's own words (actually the words of His Father) where Jesus tells us what His Gospel is. I couldn't understand my friend's resistance because this friend, in my opinion, has a brilliant mind and has a wealth of knowledge stored in his mind and heart, which he has spent a lifetime gathering, and which he liberally shares to the delight of many, including me. Why would he resist a truth like Christ's definition of His Gospel? I thought that surely this man would welcome this knowledge.

In fairness I must say that he was not aware that Christ has so succinctly defined His Gospel, but even when I introduced it to him, he resisted it. He didn't want to know. It did not seem important to him. And I wondered why.

I don't use the word truth loosely. It also is defined by God--the word of the Lord is truth (D&C 84:45). And I always start by defining truth as God's words, and by connecting God's words to Christ's Gospel, we can come to know the truth concerning His Gospel.

Your response to this, I suppose, could be the same but could be different depending on two factors.

First, do the words of Christ matter to you when discussing His Gospel, or are you content with what you think His Gospel is?

Second, if you resist His words, do you resist because you:

a. Have not heard this taught from the pulpit?

b. Were not aware that Christ actually defined His gospel? 

c. Don't believe His words or that His words are truth?

d. Are just not interested or just don't care? or

e. Are too busy living the gospel? 

(I say this sarcastically because compared to the Lord's definition, "living the gospel' is a fiction that feeds the many.)

I can understand not being aware of His clear and concise definition, but cannot understand an indifferent reaction when shown just how clear it is. 

Christ lays the groundwork before He defines His gospel by telling us that no church should be named using His name unless its people are "built upon my Gospel" because if they are not built upon my Gospel, they are built upon the works of men or the works of Satan and are not of my Church (3 Nephi 27:8-11). 

In these four verses He uses the phrase my gospel four times! Now to me His use of this phrase my gospel makes me want to know what He means when He says my gospel! It would be my first question! As you read the italicized comments focus on His words. This is a key to searching the words of God-- when He uses a term like gospel or repentance, He always defines it somewhere. Hence the need to search. And the brief comments which I have inserted may aid you in that search.

Let's go through 3 Nephi 27:13-21 together, but imagine that He is speaking directly to you! Go beyond just reading His words. Remember what the Father said--this is my beloved son, hear ye him. Hear His voice in His words.

He begins by saying:

"Behold I have given unto you my gospel, 

There is no ambiguity here. He gave this same Gospel to Adam and Eve, to those He taught as Jehovah, to those He taught as the mortal Jesus, and to those He is teaching in 3 Nephi, as the resurrected Christ. It is the same Gospel taught by Nephi, Alma, Mormon and all the other Book of Mormon prophet writers, by Paul and Joseph Smith.

"and this is the gospel which I have given unto you

This is the gospel which I have given unto you! He is preparing you to listen to what He is about to say. I have given unto you my gospel and this is it, so listen and hear Me! Ask yourself: can you hear His voice in His words as He speaks them to you?

"—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

He is the gospel, the good news, and His Father sent Him. He came down into a hostile world, or as the angel asked Nephi "Knowest thou the condescension of God? (1 Nephi 11:16). His coming to earth to do the will of His Father is both the condescension of the Father and the Son--the Father, because He sent His Son, and the Son, because He was sent by His Father. He now tells you why.

"And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; 

Listen carefully to what He is saying to you. His Father sent Him to die on the cross, to be lifted up upon the cross. It is significant that God allowed men to lift His Son up and nail Him to the cross. Christ gave up His life by allowing men to raise Him up. But why is it significant that both He and His Father allowed this to happen?

"and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, 

Here He says that He was lifted up on the cross so that He might draw all unto Him, even you. Perhaps the cross should be more significance to us. As I think about the cross this scripture comes to mind: "I will fasten him as a nail in a sure place; and he shall be for a glorious throne to his father’s house" (Isaiah 22:23).

"that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, 

Because that He was lifted up by men, all should be lifted up by His Father. Why?

"to stand before me, to be judged of their works, 

Substitute 'their works' with 'your works' and think of yourself standing before Him to be judged of your works.

"whether they be good or whether they be evil— 

Regardless of whether your works are good or evil, the key here is that the demands of justice must be met, and this judgment is where justice is administered. My friend admitted that He did not want to be judged by His works. What he didn't know was how to avoid it, and that is The Good News, His Gospel!

"And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works. 

He uses the phrase 'lifted up' in connection with drawing or lifting up all men, three times. And so you can rest assured that you and everyone else, by the power of His Father, are to stand before Him to be judged. No one can escape His judgment. 

He now will tell you what you should do before you are drawn to Him or lifted up to stand before Him and be judged.

"And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; 

Here He is teaching you the doctrine of His Father, the only doctrine of the Father and the Son (3 Nephi 11:32-40). Note the phrasing of 'this is my doctrine' in 3 Nephi 11 is the same as "this is my gospel.' Just as important as knowing how Christ defines His Gospel is knowing how He defines repentance, baptism and enduring in faith in Christ to the end (2 Nephi 31&32). We continue searching His words until we make the intended connections, and 'see' the difference between His Gospel and His Doctrine. It is through His doctrine that we take advantage of His gospel.

Being filled is to be filled with fire and with the Holy Ghost as the Father beareth record to you (3 Nephi 11:35). Without this witness you are not yet born again!

"and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world. 

An important part of His Gospel is to endure to the end, and you do this as you continually repent, turn to Him and rely wholly upon His merits until the end. And the result? HIM I WILL HOLD GUILTLESS before His Father as He stands to judge the world. Can you imagine? 

And what about those who do not endure to the end?

"And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father. 

It is either His Justice or His mercy. If you choose to be judged by your works, you subject yourself to His maximum punishment--hewn down and cast into the fire--all the demands of justice as opposed to being found guiltless. If we would want to be covered by a mountain rather than be judged by Him, He gives us the choice of mercy.

"And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words. 

Christ emphasizes the importance of His Father's words which He has given unto you. In the Son are His Father's words being fulfilled.

"And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end. 

You will only become clean because your garments have been washed in His blood, and it will be because of

1) your faith in Him and His merits, not your own,

2) the repentance of all your sins (you have given them all to Him), and

3) your faithfulness in Him unto the end.

"Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day. 

These are His commandments or what we can do, and what we receive when we keep these commandments:

1) Repent and come unto Him,

2) Be baptized properly in His name whereby your sins die in Him and you are born of water and freed from being captive to your sins,

3) That you may be sanctified by fire and the Holy Gost (be born of fire),

4) That you may STAND SPOTLESS BEFORE HIM at His judgment. 

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel" (3 Nephi 27:13-21).

He begins by saying: what I am about to tell you is:

         ".......My Gospel......."

He ends by saying: what I just told you is: 

".......My Gospel......."

So what He says between verse 13 and verse 21 is His Gospel given directly to you by Jesus Christ. This is the same Gospel Jesus taught that came down from the days of Adam, whose knowledge was had by prophets (Moses 6:51-52).

I call your attention to what He says in verse 18: "This is his word which he has given unto the children of men". A reminder that His Father is the source of His words.

This has also been revealed concerning His Gospel: 

"And this is the gospel, the glad tidings, which the voice out of the heavens bore record unto us— 

That he came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness; 

That through him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by him; 

Who glorifies the Father, and saves all the works of his hands, except those sons of perdition who deny the Son after the Father has revealed him" (D&C 76:40-43 emphasis added).

To someone like my brilliant friend why would he resist? Why would these words of Christ fall by the wayside? The answers to my questions are found in the Parable of the Sower.

Can I suggest an experiment? Read this post on the Parable of the Sower, followed by reading 3 Nephi 27:13-21 from your scriptures. Now ask yourself: what obstacles, if any, may prevent me from receiving into my heart Christ's words in 3 Nephi 27:13-21?

Remember what Paul said:

"But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed" (Galations 1;8-9).

I hope that both you and my friend will soon be sharing Christ's real Gospel with others, so they too may receive His mercy, and that you both know as I do know, and the knowledge that I have is of God. Who would not want to know that at the judgment they can be found guiltless and spotless because of His righteousness? 

Do you know how "to come to the knowledge of your Redeemer, and the very points of his doctrine, that you may know how to come unto him and be saved” (1 Nephi 15:13–14)?

Jesus is indeed the Good News! He stands between us and God's justice!