"What I Know to be True"

(Note: This subject and short essay wells up in me a certain frustration but also one of understanding of why so many believe as they do. Having studied men/women and history for the better part of my life and the implications of religion and religious beliefs it is not strange to find such confusion and misunderstanding. It is sometimes to the point of a universal frustration (which is Satan’s goal) and most just surrender to what they have or believe and say, “It is good enough!” In my life I could never accept this and would guess as a result have trouble reconciling that others would feel this way. Thus a double edged sword exists within me as to what to share – how much to share – and regardless of the results knowing if not to share I’m denying the most important aspect and beliefs in my life with those who I care for the most – friends and family. In the end I’d rather have everyone in the world mad at me – but also everyone knowing what I know to be true with a certainty that I cannot deny and therefore they can deny it for themselves but cannot deny what I know to be true. With this risk once more I set out to be obedient to the Commandments – sharing what I know to be true and of eternal importance to those I send this to. If you wish to share it or condemn know that I would be absolutely remiss not to have done so. c/ork)



“What I Know to be True” cji 2/23/10

Over the decades of being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – I’ve heard on multiple occasions comments similar to the following: “We being of this failing earth try to do what is right and truthful and as I see it there is more than one true religion.” Also in similar comments were the mention of the Missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and their approaches to answering questions, etc.

Over the years I’ve understood the thoughts about the Missionaries - however, they have no canned answers but try to answer the questions to the understanding and clarity of the person who's asked a sincere question. In my personal experience of listening to the young missionaries we had some 17 different ones come to our home during our investigation of the Church (1973-74) and they presented information which was designed to teach us the basics of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to testify of the Restoration of His Church to this earth in these latter-days. They had no canned answers as they did not know the questions which we would ask. When they could not answer a question we would search diligently with them in the Scriptures to find an answer or they would write down the question to return at a later date with the best answer they could find and compare with what we had found. In that it was asking too many questions which got me dismissed from every other church we had attended this was much more acceptable. Eventually we did get our questions answered. From experience I know our questions were different from others and so could have no canned answers – yet some were simple as well and the replies might appear to have been canned (but in turn were simple doctrine).

Thus In giving an answer, i.e. what would appear to be canned to some is not to another. Yes these 19-21 year old young men and young women (sisters have to be 21) - they go out many times without much more than their own testimony and scriptural understandings of the Holy Bible - The Book of Mormon - The Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. They've each been given the gift of the Holy Ghost when they were baptized (usually at the age of 8 years old) by one having authority to give this gift on behalf of the Father and the Son. They in many cases have to learn a second or third language - to sign - and then travel to locations far distant from their homes. They go door to door - regardless of the weather - doing one thing only, sharing their testimony of the Restored Church and Truth in these latter-days. They invite these contacts to read the Book of Mormon - to read their Holy Bibles - to pray earnestly - to seek to know if what they're testifying of is true or not.

Now they do this in spite of hatred - evil speaking of them - persecution - beatings - (in France they are sometimes stoned and still in the US they sometimes find severe treatment) - to find the one or two who will find this Restoration of All Things to be the Work of Heavenly Father and his only begotten Son - Jesus Christ. This isn't a football stadium where thousands flock - believe and then go home - leaving substantial monies behind for the evangelists - it's seeking the one or two - maybe here a family - but also allowing all men/women and children to believe in what they choose to believe. There's no coercion or promises or even for the missionaries any worldly gain to be had. They've not changed the Scriptures in any way - they can use any Bible which a contact may own - truth is still truth (no matter how revised or altered) - and they usually leave with a word of prayer.

Missionaries are sent forth to find the elect – those who will hear and recognize the voice of the Savior and his messengers. They do not go after the multitude for a mass conversion – but to teach them one at a time – or a family. They are commanded (as all members of the Church of the Savior) to call all men/women to repentance and to come unto the Savior with a contrite spirit/heart to receive the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Scriptures be it the Bible or others continue to call men/women to repentance while in this second estate before it’s too late to do so.

It's the why they do this which is the crux of the question - and this goes to the second comment, "There is more than one true religion." If this is so then God ceases to be God - as he's not a God of confusion or contention or changeable - and God will never cease to be God! There is only one true religion and that is, The Gospel of Jesus Christ - as taken literally from the Scriptures. That there are many churches is different - and in each church one will find some truths.

As found in (William) Smith's Bible Dictionary, vol. 1, p. 458 - "As God permits men to mar the perfection of his designs in their behalf, and as men have both corrupted the doctrines and broken the unity of the Church, we not expect to see the Church of the Holy Scripture actually existing in its perfection on earth. It is not to be found, thus perfect, either in the collected fragments of Christendom, or still less in any one of these fragments; though it is possible that one of those fragments more than another may approach the scriptural and apostolic ideal which existed only until sin, heresy, and schism, had time sufficiently to develop themselves to do their work." (William Smith is not to be confused with having any relationship to Joseph Smith, Jr. or Mormonism.) Most theologians agree with this idea - but then go ahead and continue to act as if they've the only true church - which is being one and the same as the Church as organized by the Savior. And in doing so they conflict and contend with all other churches - they've no other choice - for the Savior taught there can be only one way - one Gospel and one Church - being called by his name and none other. With he (the Savior) at the head of said church, being called the Church of God (or The Church of Jesus Christ; Paul had to call many to repentance because of using other names for the Church).

Thus if there's to be a restoration of all things prior to the second coming of the Savior - then why would there not be one Church which literally meets all of the criteria of Holy Scriptures? Should men/women for their own convenience decide there will be no one church - as it would put them out of work - then one would guess this is what's happened. During the age of the reformation - everyone of the reformers in their own writings declared they were not starting a new church - but seeking to get closer to what was taught in the scriptures so that when the one Church was restored they and their followers could recognize it for what it was. Yet, with wealth, power, greed, lusts and other additional corruptions they found the status quo better than to admit there might have been a restoration as claimed by the Prophet Joseph Smith, Jr. and the teachings of the missionaries and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

That the many churches band together in denouncing - condemning - ridiculing - and slandering but one church in and of itself is worthy of note. As in many scuffles - the many band together - and afterwards go back to fighting each other when they disband. These many proclaimed the death of Mormonism when Joseph Smith, Jr. was murdered in the jail he was being held under false charges. There were bold front page headlines praising the murderers (or mob) - as being heroes of Christianity. Yet this was and is the work as foretold by Daniel - which will go forward and not be stayed.

If one were to accept (William) Smith's declaration - and that there never will be one church as literally defined in the Holy Scriptures - then there will be no second coming - as there would've been no restoration in the fullness of times. John the Revelator proclaimed of an angel flying through the Heavens carrying a book - and since all prophecies must be fulfilled - then this could not have happened - yet it did. Heavenly messengers is the way most often used for the Father and the Son to communicate with their servants on this earth.

When one recites the Lord's Prayer - a key phrase is, "Thy Kingdom Come - thy Will be done." What is being asked for? Kingdom and Church were interchangeable words used during the meridian of time - some used Kingdom and only Matthew used Church - but after the four synoptic gospels church is used more frequently. Why do we ask for the Kingdom to come and then disregard it as the Jews did of the Messiah? The Kingdom has come again to this earth - with all of the keys and authority to act in the name of the Father and the Son under whose absolute direction it is headed. The second part of the phrase, Thy Will be Done - seems to have little or no meaning to men/women as they no longer seek to do the Will of the Father or the Son. They deny that the Father or the Son could have visited a 14 year old boy in a grove where he knelt and prayed inquiring which church he should join. In fact rather than accepting the Will of the Father and the Son in this matter - they laughed and scorned this 14 year old boy because he would not and never did deny his testimony of this event. His life was a pure hell in his dealing with the worldly men/women until he was murdered at the age of 39. Yet what he accomplished is also beyond belief of those who even today hate and deny him so much as to defy reason or understanding.

Now to go in a different direction:
Terryl Givens's (a good anti-Mormon) book reminds us what "a great scholar" once told Orson F. Whitney:

You Mormons are all ignoramuses. You don't even know the strength of your own position. It is so strong that there is only one other tenable in the whole Christian world, and that is the position of the Catholic Church. The issue is between Catholicism and Mormonism. If we are right, you are wrong; if you are right we are wrong; and that's all there is to it. The Protestants haven't a leg to stand on. For if we are wrong, they are wrong with us, since they were a part of us and went out from us; while if we are right, they are apostates whom we cut off long ago. If we have the apostolic succession from St. Peter, as we claim, there was no need of Joseph Smith and Mormonism; but if we have not that succession, then such a man as Joseph Smith was necessary, and Mormonism's attitude is the only consistent one. It is either the perpetuation of the Gospel from ancient times, or the restoration of the Gospel in latter days."

And that, as Givens so carefully presents, is the essential ground of all orthodox persecution of Mormons. That, as Whitney wrote so long ago, is the "Strength of the 'Mormon' Position." In addition one must understand the full strength of the Mormon position is one of truth – simple and clear – pure and concise – no confusion or contention. Further those who profess to be Mormons believe everyone who does not deny the Holy Ghost or shed innocent blood will be saved in one of the degrees of glory known as the heavens. Unlike those who proclaim all Mormons are going to Hell (smile)!

Each and every church in this world should proclaim that they are the only true Church - while it can only be one of them - as long as they're in existence they must by nature of survival deny all of the others as to being true. Yet we know this cannot be – for men/women while believing this would never declare it for fear of retribution of the other religions with which they contend for membership – leading to status – wealth and power.

There is only one true Church on the earth today - if this is not so - then there is no true Church on the earth today – (it can only be one of these two tenets). They all cannot be true as they all teach different doctrines (a mixture of scripture and Plato or some other philosopher) - yet only one teaches none of the philosophies of men/women - Plato or others - and accepts the Holy Bible and its teachings as being literally true. Only one is led by a Prophet of God and Apostles - having all of the keys of all of the dispensations since the creation of this earth and world - including the Sealing Ordinances - the Vicarious Work for the Dead - and having the Authority to bestow the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Yet if men/women deny this – it does not change its truthfulness. Israel stoned the Prophets – denied the Holy Ghost – repented not and worshipped false Gods while saying they lived the Law of Moses – what is different from them and the worldly today – nothing!

Let me go farther in this train of thought – if all of the churches of men/women (with their philosophy and creeds) are right – what have those who belong to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints lost? Nothing, as we believe all of the truths of the Bible literally and believe in the same Heavenly Father and Savior – obey and follow the Ten Commandments (literally) – deny not the Holy Ghost – and seek all that’s good, of virtue and of eternal value. Now let’s reverse the question – what if The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true and correct – what have those worldly men/women who deny and contend against lost? Everything – if one reads the Scriptures they’ll find this is so. The Egyptians defined ‘everything’ as all that knew and all that was that the didn’t know – thus the eternal principles of the Plan of Salvation – Celestial Families in the presence of the Father and the Son – with physical bodies of flesh and bone – sealed for time and all eternity – if worthy – this is what is lost to those who deny the truthfulness of the teachings of Jesus Christ and his Prophets – yesterday – today and forever.

It should be noted they will not be disappointed (those who deny the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ) as they’ll have the reward of what their various creeds and beliefs have taught them. One should seriously read these creeds which they hold as the tenets of their various beliefs. They are not compatible with the literal truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and thus not in harmony with the literal truths found in the Old and New Testaments. (Let’s note I’ve read them all – when I was investigating the various churches since the age of 11 – I tested what I’d read in the Holy Bible and found them all wanting – for if the Bible was true – and I knew it was – then these creeds made no sense at all!) Understand I’m not condemning them as I understand all men/women can believe what they want to believe – similarly as do I – however, I’m writing to friends and not strangers and I want no doubt as to either my words or research in stating what I state to be either true or false. As a youth I had to recite the Apostles Creed and say numerous memorized prayer – it didn’t make sense then and it still doesn’t today. Why – because it was confusing why I had to go against the Scriptures and accept the teachings of men/women in such eternal matters. In my reading I’d learned that we were not to have vain repetitions in our prayers – and that the true order of prayer was given in the Lord’s Prayer (not to be memorized) that we were to pray unto the Father in all things and close in the name of the Savior – His only begotten Son and our advocate with the Father. Also in the Scriptures I learned that confusion and contention were of the adversary – or Satan – and not of God! It is for these reasons – I quested to know and learn where the Church was to be found.

During my searching I attended a plethora of different churches – even taught Sunday School is some when teachers didn’t show up – was introduced to all of their various doctrines and creeds. When I started asking questions – I would take the answer given and study them out in the Scriptures and return with my findings. This was when anger and conflict began – and no learning took place and I was told to leave. Also as I went from church to church I found those of the same denomination taught differing doctrine depending on their clergy and board of directors. To be honest I was at the point of believing as the world and worldly that I could not find the true church as it had not yet been restored. Yet we’d had a son born to us – and I wanted him to know the Father and the Son as I had learned to know them over the years. Thus this is what I prayed most fervently for – that he could have this knowledge.

Unbeknownst to my bride – I determined one more time to invite a church into our home. One of my co-workers was a Mormon. Of all the churches I studied they alone stood out for their love of families. Thus after asking for five months for him to have the missionaries from his church come to our home – he finally decided I wasn’t kidding him like the others in our work place and helped me to set up an appointment. Now my friends hear and understand what I’ve next to say! When the missionaries knocked on our door – a voice as clearly as any I’ve ever heard told me, “What they’re going to tell you is true – and you’re going to help them prove it!” My bride was in the kitchen and it was not her who spoke – our son was 4 weeks old and it was not him. The missionaries were outside the door and it was not them. Thus I had been given an answer to my fervent prayer – and I could not deny it – and still will not deny that I heard this voice as clearly as one speaks to another. Still from July 1973 to March 1974 – we asked questions seeking answers – until we’d both gained a testimony as to join the Restored Church on the same day. In June of 1975 we went to the Washington DC Temple to be sealed for time and all eternity which fulfilled what we’d discussed when we were dating that marriage was eternal and not until death do you part.

Now we ask if the missionaries or I should not share this message with our loved ones and friends? One must think of what we've to gain by thus sharing and what those have to gain who call this false and evil. The gain the missionaries and I gain is to know that our friends and loved can be together forever and ever as eternal families finding the true happiness and fulfilling our mission and tasks in our mortal probation. Thus our gain is based on love - which is found in the second great Commandment. Those who deny this truth which we share - have much to gain - i.e. continued membership and income from their congregations - power, wealth, public status and/or much to lose of the same worldly prizes. Most notably what they would lose is their peer approval – which if one is really a friend they should still be a friend – but oft times this is not the case.

Once again I'll repeat it took me over 20 years to find the church which met the literal criteria of the Church of the Holy Scriptures - and I was thrown out of many for asking too many questions - for quoting a verse or passage of Scripture which opposed one of their creeds or teachings. Most who know me even today look at me as being strange when it comes to my religious beliefs - but in everything else I'm accepted to them as being honest - upright and truthful. Thus I share my testimony of what I know to be true - that the True Church of the Holy Scriptures is restored to this earth once more in these latter-days and never again to be removed. That Jesus Christ is the head of this His Church - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - and that he has called and had set apart Prophet's and Apostles with the authority to act in His Name - and Seal on Earth what will then be Sealed in Heaven. These things I know to be true - in the name of Jesus Christ amen – cji/ork

“What I Know”
(to be true)

cji
2/23/10

I know the Savior
is my Elder Brother!

I know the Atonement
was so I could return home!

I know the truth of truth
is so I cannot deny it!

I know to be obedient
is better than sacrifice!

I know if I love the Lord
I will keep his Commandments!

I know if I love my brother
then I’ll share all truth!

In loving my sister
is to do the same sharing!

I know my brothers/sisters
as my family and friends!

I know the Plan of Salvation
is to return to the Father!

I know anything else is Hell
for me because of what I know!

Copyright © 2010 – cji

"A Right to Know" (a responsibility to know)

From a friend: "Care must be exercised when seeking the truth however ..... the opposite of 'true religion' could be interpreted as 'false religion'. Then we enter innocently the finger pointing game which comes full circle and becomes a negative."


My Thinking and Reply:
Understand - there's no finding fault - over the past two centuries the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has helped almost every other religion - in many ways without regard to their beliefs and of course the individual members do the same as they're able. Indeed we've had many use our buildings (except a Dedicated Temple) for services, baptisms and social needs. Many of the Stake Centers and Chapels are set up as emergency centers to be used by as many as be needful. We encourage all to attend and worship where and when they would like without reservations.

To my knowledge no active member has ever written something negative about another person's belief from a position of authority. As you know I've written from my research about Islamic Jihad and other similar groups who've little or nothing to do with true religion. In addition, I've presented material from my research on the full Gospel of Jesus Christ - from the beginning of recorded history - until this day - to the best of knowledge to true/truth without embellishment of any kind.

What's most important is what's in the Scriptures and how they're used or not used. The history of mankind from the beginning of time (written history) Cain, etc. is that they've abused religion against true religion. In doing this they've destroyed precious truths as taught by the LORD God (Father) - the LORD (Jehovah/Jesus Christ) and their called and authorized Prophets up until and including now. They've (the opposition) have abased religion - and yes this has happened in the schools and universities to the point that many who 'feel' called - or are graduated theologians no longer believe the Bible (or any Scripture) to be literally true.

My search throughout my life has been based on belief, knowledge, faith and a sure understanding that the Bible (Old and New Testaments) is literally true. With this my simple beliefs are as those taught - clear, concise, pure and to be able to be found within the Church of the Savior without any manipulation, changing, deleting, and/or adding by men. Those called as Prophet's - Revelators and Seers can reveal new Revelation - make clear mistakes only in transmission/translation of existing texts where precious truths have been lost - and this only under the guidance of the Savior and the Holy Ghost - while teaching us and helping us as one with authority from the Father and the Son.

If there is one true Church, and there could only be one making this sure proclamation to the world as taught within the Old and New Testament, it would be the same as that when the Savior was here on the Earth and organized it as such. It would have his Name! It would be led by a Prophet and Twelve Apostles who would receive revelations as needful for this earth in these latter-days. It would be a Missionary Church and would have the Fullness of the Gospel with all of the Keys to the ordinances/covenants! It would have Temples for the Endowments and Sealing of both the living and the dead! There would be no paid (in any way) clergy or leadership (all would be a lay ministry)! Wherever you went in the world each Stake/Ward/Branch would be teaching the same Gospel message using the fullness of all of the Scriptures! And most important it would have been established by the Savior - our Lord and Master Jesus Christ!

At the head of the Church would be Our Savior (the only begotten Son) Jesus Christ - who's been delegated as the Lord and Savior of this earth (as well as many others without number. Heavenly Messengers would come teaching and sharing the scriptures to those so chosen to lead and guide the Church. There would be individual revelation for each and every member in their callings and homes - but not for others outside of these two areas.

There should be no fault finding with anyone's personal belief system for man/woman have agency to make their own decisions! One should have a difficult time for those who do not teach the literal truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. These literal truths should always be unspoiled by the teachings and philosophies of men/women. When one dabbles in speculation about the meaning and interpretation of Scriptures and uses the texts of men to find further meanings - and not faith and calling upon the LORD God as directed by James (and others) - then they've indeed polluted the teachings! The teachings of the Godhead and their anointed Prophets and Apostles are given in clear, concise and pure revelations and not to be tampered with or altered in anyway. When President Spencer W. Kimball was the anointed Prophet of God on this earth - he commented, "Anything we've written when compared to the Sacred Scriptures is like water passing through a barnyard!" Now some of us wouldn't go that far - but what they've written as men/women is not Scripture nor is it meant to replace or become Scripture - however much good we can glean from it to help us better understand the scriptures.

The Savior gave a Commandment (not just one but this one) to study and ponder the words of Isaiah - this is the only Prophet he mentioned by name to study as a commandment. When the Savior taught he taught from the Scriptures - when the Apostles taught - they taught from the Scriptures. When a Prophet taught - he taught from the Scriptures. When heavenly messengers have visited men/women on this earth they've taught from the Scriptures. When we study to seek our answers to Gospel understandings we must study the scriptures - using prayer, fasting, exercising faith (which we turn into further intelligence) and doing so until we feel the warmth of the either the Light of Christ or the Holy Ghost testifying to us so that we understand fully and completely what we are needful to know.

Many who claim to be truth-seekers (vocally and publically) are doing so for show or for the world and not in the sincerity of really finding absolute truth (which we're all entitled to do and learn/discern). This is right and entitlement of our birth - being literally children of Heavenly Father. In addition, we've been commanded to become like them (the Father and the Son) - and there is no truth that they do not know. When some claim that the trinity has no substance - cannot be understood - are of just an oneness - they are not teaching from the Scriptures but from the schools of men/women. The Godhead is clearly and concisely stated to be Heavenly Father - his Only Begotten Son and the Holy Ghost. Both the Father and the Son have physical bodies of flesh and bone as testified of many within the Scriptures and by the Father of the Son and the Son of the Father. The Holy Ghost as he's a separate mission at this time does not have yet a body of flesh and bone but will.

When someone says there was no literal resurrection of the Son they deny the literal teachings of the Scriptures. When anyone removes from context the literal teachings of the Scriptures they are only teaching the philosophies of men/women and to do this is to lead others astray and to benefit themselves and not their followers. Just because one is a great orator or rhetorician doesn't mean that they are telling the truth - however, the world in its eagerness to justify the way willingly gives substance to such oratory. They forget to teach that it's not easy to be a member of the Savior's Church - but the most difficult thing in this world to do! Living the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is not measured by the world or worldly - but by the Father and the Son. One is outcast by family, friends and the media when one so changes their life to follow in the footsteps of the Master of Heaven and Earth. One doesn't do certain things anymore - and doesn't do them willingly.

One keeps the full obedience to the Commandments, Statutes and Laws of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One doesn't murmur, slander, abuse, ignore the homeless/fatherless/naked or hungry, one actually draws the enmity of the world because of such righteousness. This isn't a prideful or vain filled righteousness - it's just a natural and humble part and parcel of the new person one is working to become. Those still dressed in the shabby ways of the world - seek to bring others to their level of depravity and shabbiness. Good and evil cannot coexist - light and dark cannot coexist - righteousness and unrighteousness cannot coexist - happiness and contention cannon coexist - being a follower of the Savior cannot coexist with the teachings of men/women of the world/worldly. One cannot have two masters - we must each choose - and therefore the knowledge of what's true and what's not if vitally important to us - and achievable as we're children of Heavenly Father and have this intrinsic right to become like him and his Son our Savior.


c/ork

"A Right to Know"
(a responsibility to know)

cji
2/17/10

Truth to be seeking
eternal and forever
absolute and pure
knowing to be pure;

A right to know all
children of Father
to become like Him
within the veil thin!


Copyright © 2010 – cji

"Interferences"

As we each try to comprehend and find real truth – the truth from Heavenly Father and Our Savior (his Son) we run into roadblocks and interferences. Two of the most important types of interferences, of the adversary, are disruption followed closely by contention. Usually affording two choices both his – hoping most forget the tremendous power of prayer and to look for the third choice - the right option which are neither of his. (Over the years I could tell you some stories of he tried to thwart our learning of the Gospel – and much afterwards – even until today). Each person is an individual to the Father and the Son – but also to the adversary! Whereas the Father and the Son – love all of us – hoping that we each will acknowledge our transgressions – then being repentant, entering the waters of Baptism with one having authority – receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost by those having authority – and then never denying our testimonies. Satan hates all of us and wants us to be miserable like unto him. His only plan is for us not to seek truth, light and knowledge of the Father and the Son and especially their Church as found on this earth today The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He doesn’t really care which church you join as long as you don’t join the one known as the Mormons.

Satan’s billions of followers all willing to work for him – they’ve no other employment and none have bodies as we do thus to get into one of us or to cause us not to hear – not to listen – or not to be able to understand is part of their full time work. Of course then he’s those who’ve bodies and have sold/given up their agency to him. Satan doesn’t believe in agency – his plan was the exact opposite of the one we all voted on – and therefore he seeks to offer to destroy each person with a body of flesh/bone/blood to give up theirs – to him! Thus the reason for Kings/Tyrants/Dictators and the like – even BO and his followers who seek to give all the power of choice to the government and not to the individual citizens or the people.

Yet many like the idea of no responsibility – no accountability – actually feeling they’ve lots of choices – which TV program to watch – who to obey and who not – when to lie - which item to smoke – what to alcoholic to drink – fulfilling lusts – and then just walking away. We’re at the point now the choices have become who to rob – kill – rape – ignore – hate – (love will not be on this list as they’ve no meaning for the word) and how to beguile or deceive. The choices are their agency to them – and none have accountability – the example set by the WH and others around them show that it’s okay and the likelihood of them getting caught are slim. Many never get caught and some only have having lived a full life years later.

Obedience also is a choice – which many disregard or say they’re being obedient to the wicked and their desires. However, the only meaning of the word obedience to be found living the Decalogue as given to Moses and transmitted unto each of us. Of course this is just the starting point – anyone who’s obedient to the first two Commandments will be fully in obedience to all of the laws, statutes and commandments/covenants with Father. They each require faith and works nothing lacking – and a willingness to do the Will of the Father. Faith is the ability to walk beyond the light of knowledge of what we know – into the darkness knowing more intelligence is there and finding the light all about us – thus turning what we had faith into something we know to be true – and then continuing on forward. Works are the things spoken of by the Prophets – all of them but specifically Job and James 1:27. There’s also the Law of Friendship – if followed there would be no wars – no hatred – no deception and no contention. The best example I can think of is when the Savior elevated his disciples/apostles to being his friends by calling them such.

One of the most effective disruptions of Satan is that within a family – he hates families – but uses them for his ends. He turns fathers against sons/daughters – husbands and wives against each other – siblings against other siblings – children against their parents – all the time using the word family – to stretch the heart strings of those involved. Many have joined the LORD’s Church and then left due to the pressures of family – and many more have turned away the Gospel message – knowing it was true – because of family (and/or peer pressure). He knows that the only eternal unit is that of the family! He’s willing to give up catching all to join him in his domain as long as he can disrupt the family unit. His minions preach, exhort and explain – that all heaven offers to have individuals praising the God – endlessly. That there are no families or family units in heaven – thus thwarting the Plan of Salvation – (see Malachi 4) and thus the work of the Temples which are now starting to dot the earth.

Satan also knows that allowing men/women to do a little good – to be good – is alright with his plan – thus beguiling the many with appearances – as long as they don’t learn the full truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Bible – is another tool – through transmission – translations – revisions – political usage – lost books – lost verses – lost words – he allow it to be taught by all. While knowing all along the Bible to be understood doesn’t need to be taught only read – pondered - prayers to understand – to be found leading one to the Plan of Salvation and to the LORD’s Church here upon the earth at this time.

But enough – you and I know – we’ve the discernment to know what’s right and wrong – it’s how we each individually act upon this knowledge and understanding.

c/ork
“Interferences”

cji
2/14/10

Blinding blizzards
mid-summer storms
drizzling rains of ice
beating down the heat
blazing sunlight blinding
interferences of obstruction;

Mostly manmade construction
immoral covenants binding
eternal relationships beat
nothing ever very nice
peer jeers to scorn
satan’s wizards!

(Addendum:
Families to be eternal
yet most conflict within
seeking disharmony
beguiling language
teasing laying lies
no families found
Heaven barren
From pulpits taught
interferences to mold
mirrors and lights
the Plan of Salvation
forever to dismold!)


Copyright © 2010 – cji

"That We Might Live" Talk of the 1st Quarter of the Year 2010 - The Atonement of Jesus Christ (and what it means for each of us)

"That We Might Live" Talk of the 1st Quarter of the Year 2010 - The Atonement of Jesus Christ (and what it means for each of us)

Doing something different – The Atonement of Jesus Christ is the single most important Sacred events for us to understand fully – completely – comprehensively and correctly! Without the Atonement of our Lord and Savior – the Holy One of Israel – and the Son of Our Heavenly Father is/was the sole purpose of this Earth to allow us to return unto the Father and the Son. Therefore below are multiple articles and lessons on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. If one over the next three months would take the time to read and study these articles/talks/lessons it will uplift and edify each of us about why we’re here – where we came from and where we might be going if our parachutes don’t open. c/ork

"The Atonement and the Value of One Soul"
M. Russell Ballard, Ensign, May 2004, 84–87If we could truly understand the Atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, we would realize how precious is one son or daughter of God.
"Atonement, Agency, Accountability"
Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, May 1988, 69–72 Ever and always [the Atonement] offers amnesty from transgression and from death if we will but repent. . . . Repentance is the key with which we can unlock the prison from inside . . . , and agency is ours to use it.
The Lord had come from Gethsemane; before Him was His crucifixion. At the moment of betrayal, Peter drew his sword against Malchus, a servant of the high priest. Jesus said:
“Put up again thy sword into his place. …
“Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” (Matt. 26:52–53).
During all of the taunting, the abuse, the scourging, and the final torture of crucifixion, the Lord remained silent and submissive. Except, that is, for one moment of intense drama which reveals the very essence of Christian doctrine.
That moment came during the trial. Pilate, now afraid, said to Jesus: “Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?” (John 19:10).
One can only imagine the quiet majesty when the Lord spoke. “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above” (John 19:11).
What happened thereafter did not come because Pilate had power to impose it, but because the Lord had the will to accept it.
“I lay down my life,” the Lord said, “that I might take it again.
“No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:17–18).
Before the Crucifixion and afterward, many men have willingly given their lives in selfless acts of heroism. But none faced what the Christ endured. Upon Him was the burden of all human transgression, all human guilt.
And hanging in the balance was the Atonement. Through His willing act, mercy and justice could be reconciled, eternal law sustained, and that mediation achieved without which mortal man could not be redeemed.
He, by choice, accepted the penalty for all mankind for the sum total of all wickedness and depravity; for brutality, immorality, perversion, and corruption; for addiction; for the killings and torture and terror—for all of it that ever had been or all that ever would be enacted upon this earth.
In choosing, He faced the awesome power of the evil one who was not confined to flesh nor subject to mortal pain. That was Gethsemane!
How the Atonement was wrought, we do not know. No mortal watched as evil turned away and hid in shame before the light of that pure being.
All wickedness could not quench that light. When what was done was done, the ransom had been paid. Both death and hell forsook their claim on all who would repent. Men at last were free. Then every soul who ever lived could choose to touch that light and be redeemed.
By this infinite sacrifice, through this atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the gospel.
Atonement is really three words: At-one-ment, meaning to set at one, one with God; to reconcile, to conciliate, to expiate.
But did you know that the word atonement appears only once in the English New Testament? Only once! I quote from Paul’s letter to the Romans:
“Christ died for us. …
“We were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
“And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement” (Rom. 5:8, 10–11; italics added).
Only that once does the word atonement appear in the English New Testament. Atonement, of all words! It was not an unknown word, for it had been used much in the Old Testament in connection with the law of Moses, once only in the New Testament. I find that to be remarkable.
I know of only one explanation. For that we turn to the Book of Mormon.
Nephi testified that the Bible once “contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record” (1 Ne. 13:24) and that “After [the words] go forth by the hand of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, from the Jews unto the Gentiles, thou seest the formation of that great and abominable church, which is most abominable above all other churches; for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away” (1 Ne. 13:26).
Jacob defined the great and abominable church in these words:
“Wherefore, he that fighteth against Zion, both Jew and Gentile, both bond and free, both male and female, shall perish; for they are they who are the whore of all the earth; for they who are not for me are against me, saith our God” (2 Ne. 10:16).
Nephi said, “Because of the many plain and precious things which have been taken out of the book, … an exceedingly great many do stumble, yea, insomuch that Satan hath great power over them” (1 Ne. 13:29).
He then prophesied that the precious things would be restored (see 1 Ne. 13:34–35).
And they were restored. In the Book of Mormon the word atone in form and tense appears fifty-five times. I quote but one verse from Alma: “And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also” (Alma 42:15; italics added).
Only once in the New Testament—fifty-five times in the Book of Mormon. What better witness that the Book of Mormon is indeed another testament of Jesus Christ?
And that is not all. The words atone, atonement, atoneth, appear in the Doctrine and Covenants eleven times and in the Pearl of Great Price three. Sixty-nine references of transcendent importance. And that is not all! Hundreds of other verses help to explain it.
The cost of the Atonement was borne by the Lord without compulsion, for agency is a sovereign principle. According to the plan, agency must be honored. It was so from the beginning, from Eden.
“The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden, gave I unto man his agency” (Moses 7:32).
Whatever else happened in Eden, in his supreme moment of testing, Adam made a choice.
After the Lord commanded Adam and Eve to multiply and replenish the earth and commanded them not to partake of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, He said: “Nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but, remember that I forbid it, for in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Moses 3:17).
There was too much at issue to introduce man into mortality by force. That would contravene the very law essential to the plan. The plan provided that each spirit child of God would receive a mortal body and each would be tested. Adam saw that it must be so and made his choice. “Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy” (2 Ne. 2:25).
Adam and Eve ventured forth to multiply and replenish the earth as they had been commanded to do. The creation of their bodies in the image of God, as a separate creation, was crucial to the plan. Their subsequent fall was essential if the condition of mortality was to exist and the plan proceed.
Jacob described what would happen to our bodies and our spirits except an atonement, an infinite atonement, were made. We should, he said, have become “like unto [the devil]” (see 2 Ne. 9:7–9).
I seldom use the word absolute. It seldom fits. I use it now—twice. Because of the Fall, the Atonement was absolutely essential for resurrection to proceed and overcome mortal death.
The Atonement was absolutely essential for men to cleanse themselves from sin and overcome the second death, which is the spiritual death, which is separation from our Father in Heaven. For the scriptures tell us, seven times they tell us, that no unclean thing may enter the presence of God.
Those scriptural words, “Thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee” (Moses 3:17), introduced Adam and Eve and their posterity to all the risks of mortality. In mortality men are free to choose, and each choice begets a consequence. The choice Adam made energized the law of justice, which required that the penalty for disobedience would be death.
But those words spoken at the trial, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above” (John 19:11), proved mercy was of equal rank. A redeemer was sent to pay the debt and set men free. That was the plan.
Alma’s son Corianton thought it unfair that penalties must follow sin, that there need be punishment. In a profound lesson Alma taught the plan of redemption to his son, and so to us.
Alma spoke of the Atonement and said, “Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment” (Alma 42:16).
If punishment is the price repentance asks, it comes at bargain price. Consequences, even painful ones, protect us. So simple a thing as a child’s cry of pain when his finger touches fire can teach us that. Except for the pain, the child might be consumed.
I readily confess that I would find no peace, neither happiness nor safety, in a world without repentance. I do not know what I should do if there were no way for me to erase my mistakes. The agony would be more than I could bear. It may be otherwise with you, but not with me.
An atonement was made. Ever and always it offers amnesty from transgression and from death if we will but repent. Repentance is the escape clause in it all. Repentance is the key with which we can unlock the prison from inside. We hold that key within our hands, and agency is ours to use it.
How supernally precious freedom is; how consummately valuable is the agency of man.
Lucifer in clever ways manipulates our choices, deceiving us about sin and consequences. He, and his angels with him, tempt us to be unworthy, even wicked. But he cannot, in all eternity he cannot, with all his power he cannot completely destroy us; not without our own consent. Had agency come to man without the Atonement, it would have been a fatal gift.
We are taught in Genesis, in Moses, in Abraham, in the Book of Mormon, and in the endowment that man’s mortal body was made in the image of God in a separate creation. Had the Creation come in a different way, there could have been no Fall.
If men were merely animals, then logic favors freedom without accountability.
How well I know that among learned men are those who look down at animals and stones to find the origin of man. They do not look inside themselves to find the spirit there. They train themselves to measure things by time, by thousands and by millions, and say these animals called men all came by chance. And this they are free to do, for agency is theirs.
But agency is ours as well. We look up, and in the universe we see the handiwork of God and measure things by epochs, by eons, by dispensations, by eternities. The many things we do not know we take on faith.
But this we know! It was all planned before the world was. Events from the Creation to the final, winding-up scene are not based on chance; they are based on choice! It was planned that way.
This we know! This simple truth! Had there been no Creation, no Fall, there should have been no need for any Atonement, neither a Redeemer to mediate for us. Then Christ need not have been.
At Gethsemane and Golgotha the Savior’s blood was shed. Centuries earlier the Passover had been introduced as a symbol and a type of things to come. It was an ordinance to be kept forever (see Ex. 12).
When the plague of death was decreed upon Egypt, each Israelite family was commanded to take a lamb, firstborn, male, without blemish. This paschal lamb was slain without breaking any bones, its blood to mark the doorway of the home. The Lord promised that the angel of death would pass over the homes so marked and not slay those inside. They were saved by the blood of the lamb.
After the crucifixion of the Lord, the law of sacrifice required no more shedding of blood. For that was done, as Paul taught the Hebrews, “once for all, … one sacrifice for sins for ever” (Heb. 10:10, 12). The sacrifice thenceforth was to be a broken heart and a contrite spirit—repentance.
And the Passover would be commemorated forever as the sacrament, in which we renew our covenant of baptism and partake in remembrance of the body of the Lamb of God and of His blood, which was shed for us.
It is no small thing that this symbol reappears in the Word of Wisdom. Beyond the promise that Saints in this generation, who obey, will receive health and great treasures of knowledge is this: “I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them” (D&C 89:21).
I cannot with composure tell you how I feel about the Atonement. It touches the deepest emotion of gratitude and obligation. My soul reaches after Him who wrought it, this Christ, our Savior of whom I am a witness. I testify of Him. He is our Lord, our Redeemer, our advocate with the Father. He ransomed us with His blood.
Humbly I lay claim upon the atonement of Christ. I find no shame in kneeling down in worship of our Father and His son. For agency is mine, and this I choose to do!
In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

"The Purifying Power of Gethsemane"
Bruce R. McConkie, Ensign, May 1985, 9–11 The Lord's Atonement is the most transcendent event that ever has or ever will occur, from Creation's dawn through all the ages of a never-ending eternity.
I feel, and the Spirit seems to accord, that the most important doctrine I can declare, and the most powerful testimony I can bear, is of the atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ.
His atonement is the most transcendent event that ever has or ever will occur from Creation’s dawn through all the ages of a never-ending eternity.
It is the supreme act of goodness and grace that only a god could perform. Through it, all of the terms and conditions of the Father’s eternal plan of salvation became operative.
Through it are brought to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Through it, all men are saved from death, hell, the devil, and endless torment.
And through it, all who believe and obey the glorious gospel of God, all who are true and faithful and overcome the world, all who suffer for Christ and his word, all who are chastened and scourged in the Cause of him whose we are—all shall become as their Maker and sit with him on his throne and reign with him forever in everlasting glory.
In speaking of these wondrous things I shall use my own words, though you may think they are the words of scripture, words spoken by other Apostles and prophets.
True it is they were first proclaimed by others, but they are now mine, for the Holy Spirit of God has borne witness to me that they are true, and it is now as though the Lord had revealed them to me in the first instance. I have thereby heard his voice and know his word.
Two thousand years ago, outside Jerusalem’s walls, there was a pleasant garden spot, Gethsemane by name, where Jesus and his intimate friends were wont to retire for pondering and prayer.
There Jesus taught his disciples the doctrines of the kingdom, and all of them communed with Him who is the Father of us all, in whose ministry they were engaged, and on whose errand they served.
This sacred spot, like Eden where Adam dwelt, like Sinai from whence Jehovah gave his laws, like Calvary where the Son of God gave his life a ransom for many, this holy ground is where the Sinless Son of the Everlasting Father took upon himself the sins of all men on condition of repentance.
We do not know, we cannot tell, no mortal mind can conceive the full import of what Christ did in Gethsemane.
We know he sweat great gouts of blood from every pore as he drained the dregs of that bitter cup his Father had given him.
We know he suffered, both body and spirit, more than it is possible for man to suffer, except it be unto death.
We know that in some way, incomprehensible to us, his suffering satisfied the demands of justice, ransomed penitent souls from the pains and penalties of sin, and made mercy available to those who believe in his holy name.
We know that he lay prostrate upon the ground as the pains and agonies of an infinite burden caused him to tremble and would that he might not drink the bitter cup.
We know that an angel came from the courts of glory to strengthen him in his ordeal, and we suppose it was mighty Michael, who foremost fell that mortal man might be.
As near as we can judge, these infinite agonies—this suffering beyond compare—continued for some three or four hours.
After this—his body then wrenched and drained of strength—he confronted Judas and the other incarnate devils, some from the very Sanhedrin itself; and he was led away with a rope around his neck, as a common criminal, to be judged by the arch-criminals who as Jews sat in Aaron’s seat and who as Romans wielded Caesar’s power.
They took him to Annas, to Caiaphas, to Pilate, to Herod, and back to Pilate. He was accused, cursed, and smitten. Their foul saliva ran down his face as vicious blows further weakened his pain-engulfed body.
With reeds of wrath they rained blows upon his back. Blood ran down his face as a crown of thorns pierced his trembling brow.
But above it all he was scourged, scourged with forty stripes save one, scourged with a multithonged whip into whose leather strands sharp bones and cutting metals were woven.
Many died from scourging alone, but he rose from the sufferings of the scourge that he might die an ignominious death upon the cruel cross of Calvary.
Then he carried his own cross until he collapsed from the weight and pain and mounting agony of it all.
Finally, on a hill called Calvary—again, it was outside Jerusalem’s walls—while helpless disciples looked on and felt the agonies of near death in their own bodies, the Roman soldiers laid him upon the cross.
With great mallets they drove spikes of iron through his feet and hands and wrists. Truly he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.
Then the cross was raised that all might see and gape and curse and deride. This they did, with evil venom, for three hours from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Then the heavens grew black. Darkness covered the land for the space of three hours, as it did among the Nephites. There was a mighty storm, as though the very God of Nature was in agony.
And truly he was, for while he was hanging on the cross for another three hours, from noon to 3:00 p.m., all the infinite agonies and merciless pains of Gethsemane recurred.
And, finally, when the atoning agonies had taken their toll—when the victory had been won, when the Son of God had fulfilled the will of his Father in all things—then he said, “It is finished” (John 19:30), and he voluntarily gave up the ghost.
As the peace and comfort of a merciful death freed him from the pains and sorrows of mortality, he entered the paradise of God.
When he had made his soul an offering for sin, he was prepared to see his seed, according to the messianic word.
These, consisting of all the holy prophets and faithful Saints from ages past; these, comprising all who had taken upon them his name, and who, being spiritually begotten by him, had become his sons and his daughters, even as it is with us; all these were assembled in the spirit world, there to see his face and hear his voice.
After some thirty-eight or forty hours—three days as the Jews measured time—our Blessed Lord came to the Arimathaean’s tomb, where his partially embalmed body had been placed by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathaea.
Then, in a way incomprehensible to us, he took up that body which had not yet seen corruption and arose in that glorious immortality which made him like his resurrected Father.
He then received all power in heaven and on earth, obtained eternal exaltation, appeared unto Mary Magdalene and many others, and ascended into heaven, there to sit down on the right hand of God the Father Almighty and to reign forever in eternal glory.
His rising from death on the third day crowned the Atonement. Again, in some way incomprehensible to us, the effects of his resurrection pass upon all men so that all shall rise from the grave.
As Adam brought death, so Christ brought life; as Adam is the father of mortality, so Christ is the father of immortality.
And without both, mortality and immortality, man cannot work out his salvation and ascend to those heights beyond the skies where gods and angels dwell forever in eternal glory.
Now, the atonement of Christ is the most basic and fundamental doctrine of the gospel, and it is the least understood of all our revealed truths.
Many of us have a superficial knowledge and rely upon the Lord and his goodness to see us through the trials and perils of life.
But if we are to have faith like Enoch and Elijah we must believe what they believed, know what they knew, and live as they lived.
May I invite you to join with me in gaining a sound and sure knowledge of the Atonement.
We must cast aside the philosophies of men and the wisdom of the wise and hearken to that Spirit which is given to us to guide us into all truth.
We must search the scriptures, accepting them as the mind and will and voice of the Lord and the very power of God unto salvation.
As we read, ponder, and pray, there will come into our minds a view of the three gardens of God—the Garden of Eden, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Garden of the Empty Tomb where Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene.
In Eden we will see all things created in a paradisiacal state—without death, without procreation, without probationary experiences.
We will come to know that such a creation, now unknown to man, was the only way to provide for the Fall.
We will then see Adam and Eve, the first man and the first woman, step down from their state of immortal and paradisiacal glory to become the first mortal flesh on earth.
Mortality, including as it does procreation and death, will enter the world. And because of transgression a probationary estate of trial and testing will begin.
Then in Gethsemane we will see the Son of God ransom man from the temporal and spiritual death that came to us because of the Fall.
And finally, before an empty tomb, we will come to know that Christ our Lord has burst the bands of death and stands forever triumphant over the grave.
Thus, Creation is father to the Fall; and by the Fall came mortality and death; and by Christ came immortality and eternal life.
If there had been no fall of Adam, by which cometh death, there could have been no atonement of Christ, by which cometh life.
And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God—I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person.
I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears.
But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way.
God grant that all of us may walk in the light as God our Father is in the light so that, according to the promises, the blood of Jesus Christ his Son will cleanse us from all sin.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

"The Atonement: Our Greatest Hope"
James E. Faust, Liahona, Jan. 2002, 19–22; or Ensign, Nov. 2001, 18–20Our salvation depends on believing in and accepting the Atonement. Such acceptance requires a continual effort to understand it more fully.
"Testifying of the Great and Glorious Atonement"
Neal A. Maxwell, Liahona, Apr. 2002, 6–13; or Ensign, Oct. 2001, 10–15By personally understanding and believing in the Atonement, you and I can teach and testify of it with greater gratitude, greater love, and greater power.
"The Atonement"
Russell M. Nelson, Ensign, Nov. 1996, 33–36The purposes of the Creation, the Fall, and the Atonement all converge on the sacred work done in temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
"The Fall and Infinite Atonement
Spencer J. Condie, Ensign, Jan. 1996, 22–27Without the knowledge restored through the Book of Mormon, we might never fully understand the Fall and the Atonement.
"The Supernal Gift of the Atonement"
James E. Faust, Ensign, Nov. 1988, 12–14 Faith in the Savior's resurrection "should help us carry all burdens, bear any sorrows, and also fully savor all joys and happiness that can be found in this life."
"Accepting the Atonement of Jesus Christ"
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Brigham Young, Chapter 5
"The Infinite Atonement of Jesus Christ"
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, Chapter 5
"The Power of the Atonement for Us Personally"
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, Chapter 6
"Atone, Atonement"
Guide to the Scriptures
"Atonement of Jesus Christ"
Encyclopedia of Mormonism (Please note that the contents of the Encyclopedia of Mormonism, a joint product of Brigham Young University and Macmillan Publishing Company, do not necessarily represent the official position of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)
Jesus Christ “came into the world … 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” (D&C 76:41–42). The great sacrifice he made to pay for our sins and overcome death is called the Atonement. It is the most important event that has ever occurred in the history of mankind: “For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; … yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement” (Alma 34:9).
Discussion
· • Why did Jesus come to the earth?
The Atonement Was Necessary for Our Salvation
The fall of Adam brought two kinds of death into the world: physical death and spiritual death. Physical death is separation of the body and spirit. Spiritual death is separation from God. If these two kinds of death had not been overcome by Jesus’ atonement, two consequences would have resulted: our bodies and our spirits would have been separated forever, and we could not have lived again with our Heavenly Father.
But our wise Heavenly Father prepared a wonderful, merciful plan to save us from physical and spiritual death. He planned for a Savior to come to earth to ransom (redeem) us from our sins and from death. Because of our sins and the weakness of our mortal bodies, we could not ransom ourselves (see Alma 34:10–12). The one who would be our Savior would need to be sinless and to have power over death.
Discussion
· • Compare our earthly bodies to a hand with a glove on it. Take off the glove. Explain that this is like physical death—the spirit (the hand) and the body (the glove) are separated.
Christ Was the Only One Who Could Atone for Our Sins
There are several reasons why Jesus Christ was the only person who could be our Savior. One reason is that Heavenly Father chose him to be the Savior. He was the Only Begotten Son of God and thus had power over death. Jesus explained: “I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:17–18).
Jesus also qualified to be our Savior because he is the only person who has ever lived on the earth who did not sin. This made him a worthy sacrifice to pay for the sins of others.
Discussion
· • Have class members discuss the reasons why Jesus was the only one who could atone for our sins.
Christ Suffered and Died to Atone for Our Sins
The Savior atoned for our sins by suffering in Gethsemane and by giving his life on the cross. It is impossible for us to fully understand how he suffered for all of our sins. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the weight of our sins caused him to feel such agony and heartbreak that he bled from every pore (see D&C 19:18–19). Later, as he hung upon the cross, Jesus suffered painful death by one of the most cruel methods known to man.
How Jesus loves us, to suffer such spiritual and physical agony for our sake! How great the love of Heavenly Father that he would send his Only Begotten Son to suffer and die for the rest of his children. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Discussion
· • Ask class members to imagine themselves in the Garden of Gethsemane as witnesses of the suffering of Jesus Christ. Have someone read the account in Luke 22:39–44.
The Atonement and Resurrection Bring Resurrection to All
On the third day after his crucifixion, Christ took up his body again and became the first person to be resurrected. When his friends went to seek him, the angels who guarded his tomb told them, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said” (Matthew 28:6). His spirit had reentered his body, never to be separated again.
Christ thus overcame physical death. Because of his atonement, everyone born on this earth will be resurrected (see 1 Corinthians 15:21–22). Just as Jesus was resurrected, our spirits will be reunited with our bodies, “that they can die no more … , never to be divided” (Alma 11:45). This condition is called immortality. All people who have ever lived will be resurrected, “both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous” (Alma 11:44).
Discussion
· • Refer again to the hand and glove. Explain that because Jesus Christ atoned for our sins, all people will someday be resurrected. (Put the glove on your hand.) Our bodies and our spirits will reunite.
The Atonement Makes It Possible for Those Who Have Faith in Christ to Be Saved from Their Sins
The Savior’s atonement makes it possible for us to overcome spiritual death. Although all people will be resurrected with a body of flesh and bone, only those who accept the Atonement will be saved from spiritual death.
We accept Christ’s atonement by placing our faith in him. Through this faith, we repent of our sins, are baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and obey his commandments. We become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We are forgiven and cleansed from sin and prepared to return and live forever with our Heavenly Father.
The Savior tells us, “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer … even as I” (D&C 19:16–17). Christ did his part to atone for our sins. To make his atonement fully effective in our lives, we must strive to obey him and repent of our sins.
Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve gave the following illustration to show how Christ’s atonement makes it possible to be saved from sin if we do our part.
“Let me tell you a story—a parable.
“There once was a man who wanted something very much. It seemed more important than anything else in his life. In order for him to have his desire, he incurred a great debt.
“He had been warned about going into that much debt, and particularly about his creditor. But it seemed so important for him to do what he wanted to and to have what he wanted right now. He was sure he could pay for it later.
“So he signed a contract. He would pay it off some time along the way. He didn’t worry too much about it, for the due date seemed such a long time away. He had what he wanted now, and that was what seemed important.
“The creditor was always somewhere in the back of his mind, and he made token payments now and again, thinking somehow that the day of reckoning really would never come.
“But as it always does, the day came, and the contract fell due. The debt had not been fully paid. His creditor appeared and demanded payment in full.
“Only then did he realize that his creditor not only had the power to repossess all that he owned, but the power to cast him into prison as well.
“ ‘I cannot pay you, for I have not the power to do so,’ he confessed.
“ ‘Then,’ said the creditor, ‘we will exercise the contract, take your possessions and you shall go to prison. You agreed to that. It was your choice. You signed the contract, and now it must be enforced.’
“ ‘Can you not extend the time or forgive the debt?’ the debtor begged. ‘Arrange some way for me to keep what I have and not go to prison. Surely you believe in mercy? Will you not show mercy?’
“The creditor replied, ‘Mercy is always so one-sided. It would serve only you. If I show mercy to you, it will leave me unpaid. It is justice I demand. Do you believe in justice?’
“ ‘I believed in justice when I signed the contract,’ the debtor said. ‘It was on my side then, for I thought it would protect me. I did not need mercy then, nor think I should need it ever. Justice, I thought, would serve both of us equally as well.’
“ ‘It is justice that demands that you pay the contract or suffer the penalty,’ the creditor replied. ‘That is the law. You have agreed to it and that is the way it must be. Mercy cannot rob justice.’
“There they were: One meting out justice, the other pleading for mercy. Neither could prevail except at the expense of the other.
“ ‘If you do not forgive the debt there will be no mercy,’ the debtor pleaded.
“ ‘If I do, there will be no justice,’ was the reply.
“Both laws, it seemed, could not be served. They are two eternal ideals that appear to contradict one another. Is there no way for justice to be fully served, and mercy also?
“There is a way! The law of justice can be fully satisfied and mercy can be fully extended—but it takes someone else. And so it happened this time.
“The debtor had a friend. He came to help. He knew the debtor well. He knew him to be shortsighted. He thought him foolish to have gotten himself into such a predicament. Nevertheless, he wanted to help because he loved him. He stepped between them, faced the creditor, and made this offer.
“ ‘I will pay the debt if you will free the debtor from his contract so that he may keep his possessions and not go to prison.’
“As the creditor was pondering the offer, the mediator added, ‘You demanded justice. Though he cannot pay you, I will do so. You will have been justly dealt with and can ask no more. It would not be just.’
“And so the creditor agreed.
“The mediator turned then to the debtor. ‘If I pay your debt, will you accept me as your creditor?’
“ ‘Oh yes, yes,’ cried the debtor. ‘You saved me from prison and show mercy to me.’
“ ‘Then,’ said the benefactor, ‘you will pay the debt to me and I will set the terms. It will not be easy, but it will be possible. I will provide a way. You need not go to prison.’
“And so it was that the creditor was paid in full. He had been justly dealt with. No contract had been broken.
“The debtor, in turn, had been extended mercy. Both laws stood fulfilled. Because there was a mediator, justice had claimed its full share, and mercy was satisfied” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1977, pp. 79–80; or Ensign, May 1977, pp. 54–55).
Our sins are our spiritual debts. Without Jesus Christ, who is our Savior and Mediator, we would all pay for our sins by suffering spiritual death. But because of him, if we will keep his terms, which are to repent and keep his commandments, we may return to live with our Heavenly Father.
It is wonderful that Christ has provided us a way to be healed from our sins. He said:
“Behold, I have come unto the world … to save the world from sin.
“Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved” (3 Nephi 9:21–22).
Discussion
· • Read Acts 2:38. What must we do to show that we accept the Atonement?
· • Read Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–17. What is the penalty for those who do not accept the atonement of the Savior?
Additional Scriptures
· • Alma 34:9–16 (Atonement necessary; sacrifice of God)
· • Romans 5:12–17 (by one came death, by one came life)
· • Helaman 14:15–18 (purpose of Jesus’ death)
· • Articles of Faith 1:3 (all may be saved)
· • 1 Peter 1:18–20 (Jesus was foreordained)
· • Matthew 16:21 (Jesus’ sacrifice was necessary)
· • Luke 22:39–46 (Jesus’ suffering in the Garden)
· • 1 John 1:7 (Jesus cleanses from sin)
· • 2 Nephi 9:21–22 (the Savior suffered for all people)
· • Mosiah 16:6–8 (resurrection possible only through Jesus)
· • Alma 11:40–45; Mormon 9:12–14 (all to be resurrected)
· • Isaiah 1:18 (sins shall be made white)
· • 1 Corinthians 15:40–44 (description of the Resurrection)

"The Atonement"
Gospel Principles, Chapter 12
Jesus Christ “came into the world … 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” (D&C 76:41–42). The great sacrifice he made to pay for our sins and overcome death is called the Atonement. It is the most important event that has ever occurred in the history of mankind: “For it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the Eternal God there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; … yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement” (Alma 34:9).
Discussion
· • Why did Jesus come to the earth?
The Atonement Was Necessary for Our Salvation
The fall of Adam brought two kinds of death into the world: physical death and spiritual death. Physical death is separation of the body and spirit. Spiritual death is separation from God. If these two kinds of death had not been overcome by Jesus’ atonement, two consequences would have resulted: our bodies and our spirits would have been separated forever, and we could not have lived again with our Heavenly Father.
But our wise Heavenly Father prepared a wonderful, merciful plan to save us from physical and spiritual death. He planned for a Savior to come to earth to ransom (redeem) us from our sins and from death. Because of our sins and the weakness of our mortal bodies, we could not ransom ourselves (see Alma 34:10–12). The one who would be our Savior would need to be sinless and to have power over death.
Discussion
· • Compare our earthly bodies to a hand with a glove on it. Take off the glove. Explain that this is like physical death—the spirit (the hand) and the body (the glove) are separated.
Christ Was the Only One Who Could Atone for Our Sins
There are several reasons why Jesus Christ was the only person who could be our Savior. One reason is that Heavenly Father chose him to be the Savior. He was the Only Begotten Son of God and thus had power over death. Jesus explained: “I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10:17–18).
Jesus also qualified to be our Savior because he is the only person who has ever lived on the earth who did not sin. This made him a worthy sacrifice to pay for the sins of others.
Discussion
· • Have class members discuss the reasons why Jesus was the only one who could atone for our sins.
Christ Suffered and Died to Atone for Our Sins
The Savior atoned for our sins by suffering in Gethsemane and by giving his life on the cross. It is impossible for us to fully understand how he suffered for all of our sins. In the Garden of Gethsemane, the weight of our sins caused him to feel such agony and heartbreak that he bled from every pore (see D&C 19:18–19). Later, as he hung upon the cross, Jesus suffered painful death by one of the most cruel methods known to man.
How Jesus loves us, to suffer such spiritual and physical agony for our sake! How great the love of Heavenly Father that he would send his Only Begotten Son to suffer and die for the rest of his children. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).
Discussion
· • Ask class members to imagine themselves in the Garden of Gethsemane as witnesses of the suffering of Jesus Christ. Have someone read the account in Luke 22:39–44.
The Atonement and Resurrection Bring Resurrection to All
On the third day after his crucifixion, Christ took up his body again and became the first person to be resurrected. When his friends went to seek him, the angels who guarded his tomb told them, “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said” (Matthew 28:6). His spirit had reentered his body, never to be separated again.
Christ thus overcame physical death. Because of his atonement, everyone born on this earth will be resurrected (see 1 Corinthians 15:21–22). Just as Jesus was resurrected, our spirits will be reunited with our bodies, “that they can die no more … , never to be divided” (Alma 11:45). This condition is called immortality. All people who have ever lived will be resurrected, “both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous” (Alma 11:44).
Discussion
· • Refer again to the hand and glove. Explain that because Jesus Christ atoned for our sins, all people will someday be resurrected. (Put the glove on your hand.) Our bodies and our spirits will reunite.
The Atonement Makes It Possible for Those Who Have Faith in Christ to Be Saved from Their Sins
The Savior’s atonement makes it possible for us to overcome spiritual death. Although all people will be resurrected with a body of flesh and bone, only those who accept the Atonement will be saved from spiritual death.
We accept Christ’s atonement by placing our faith in him. Through this faith, we repent of our sins, are baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and obey his commandments. We become faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. We are forgiven and cleansed from sin and prepared to return and live forever with our Heavenly Father.
The Savior tells us, “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer … even as I” (D&C 19:16–17). Christ did his part to atone for our sins. To make his atonement fully effective in our lives, we must strive to obey him and repent of our sins.
Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Council of the Twelve gave the following illustration to show how Christ’s atonement makes it possible to be saved from sin if we do our part.
“Let me tell you a story—a parable.
“There once was a man who wanted something very much. It seemed more important than anything else in his life. In order for him to have his desire, he incurred a great debt.
“He had been warned about going into that much debt, and particularly about his creditor. But it seemed so important for him to do what he wanted to and to have what he wanted right now. He was sure he could pay for it later.
“So he signed a contract. He would pay it off some time along the way. He didn’t worry too much about it, for the due date seemed such a long time away. He had what he wanted now, and that was what seemed important.
“The creditor was always somewhere in the back of his mind, and he made token payments now and again, thinking somehow that the day of reckoning really would never come.
“But as it always does, the day came, and the contract fell due. The debt had not been fully paid. His creditor appeared and demanded payment in full.
“Only then did he realize that his creditor not only had the power to repossess all that he owned, but the power to cast him into prison as well.
“ ‘I cannot pay you, for I have not the power to do so,’ he confessed.
“ ‘Then,’ said the creditor, ‘we will exercise the contract, take your possessions and you shall go to prison. You agreed to that. It was your choice. You signed the contract, and now it must be enforced.’
“ ‘Can you not extend the time or forgive the debt?’ the debtor begged. ‘Arrange some way for me to keep what I have and not go to prison. Surely you believe in mercy? Will you not show mercy?’
“The creditor replied, ‘Mercy is always so one-sided. It would serve only you. If I show mercy to you, it will leave me unpaid. It is justice I demand. Do you believe in justice?’
“ ‘I believed in justice when I signed the contract,’ the debtor said. ‘It was on my side then, for I thought it would protect me. I did not need mercy then, nor think I should need it ever. Justice, I thought, would serve both of us equally as well.’
“ ‘It is justice that demands that you pay the contract or suffer the penalty,’ the creditor replied. ‘That is the law. You have agreed to it and that is the way it must be. Mercy cannot rob justice.’
“There they were: One meting out justice, the other pleading for mercy. Neither could prevail except at the expense of the other.
“ ‘If you do not forgive the debt there will be no mercy,’ the debtor pleaded.
“ ‘If I do, there will be no justice,’ was the reply.
“Both laws, it seemed, could not be served. They are two eternal ideals that appear to contradict one another. Is there no way for justice to be fully served, and mercy also?
“There is a way! The law of justice can be fully satisfied and mercy can be fully extended—but it takes someone else. And so it happened this time.
“The debtor had a friend. He came to help. He knew the debtor well. He knew him to be shortsighted. He thought him foolish to have gotten himself into such a predicament. Nevertheless, he wanted to help because he loved him. He stepped between them, faced the creditor, and made this offer.
“ ‘I will pay the debt if you will free the debtor from his contract so that he may keep his possessions and not go to prison.’
“As the creditor was pondering the offer, the mediator added, ‘You demanded justice. Though he cannot pay you, I will do so. You will have been justly dealt with and can ask no more. It would not be just.’
“And so the creditor agreed.
“The mediator turned then to the debtor. ‘If I pay your debt, will you accept me as your creditor?’
“ ‘Oh yes, yes,’ cried the debtor. ‘You saved me from prison and show mercy to me.’
“ ‘Then,’ said the benefactor, ‘you will pay the debt to me and I will set the terms. It will not be easy, but it will be possible. I will provide a way. You need not go to prison.’
“And so it was that the creditor was paid in full. He had been justly dealt with. No contract had been broken.
“The debtor, in turn, had been extended mercy. Both laws stood fulfilled. Because there was a mediator, justice had claimed its full share, and mercy was satisfied” (in Conference Report, Apr. 1977, pp. 79–80; or Ensign, May 1977, pp. 54–55).
Our sins are our spiritual debts. Without Jesus Christ, who is our Savior and Mediator, we would all pay for our sins by suffering spiritual death. But because of him, if we will keep his terms, which are to repent and keep his commandments, we may return to live with our Heavenly Father.
It is wonderful that Christ has provided us a way to be healed from our sins. He said:
“Behold, I have come unto the world … to save the world from sin.
“Therefore, whoso repenteth and cometh unto me as a little child, him will I receive, for of such is the kingdom of God. Behold, for such I have laid down my life, and have taken it up again; therefore repent, and come unto me ye ends of the earth, and be saved” (3 Nephi 9:21–22).
Discussion
· • Read Acts 2:38. What must we do to show that we accept the Atonement?
· • Read Doctrine and Covenants 19:16–17. What is the penalty for those who do not accept the atonement of the Savior?
Additional Scriptures
· • Alma 34:9–16 (Atonement necessary; sacrifice of God)
· • Romans 5:12–17 (by one came death, by one came life)
· • Helaman 14:15–18 (purpose of Jesus’ death)
· • Articles of Faith 1:3 (all may be saved)
· • 1 Peter 1:18–20 (Jesus was foreordained)
· • Matthew 16:21 (Jesus’ sacrifice was necessary)
· • Luke 22:39–46 (Jesus’ suffering in the Garden)
· • 1 John 1:7 (Jesus cleanses from sin)
· • 2 Nephi 9:21–22 (the Savior suffered for all people)
· • Mosiah 16:6–8 (resurrection possible only through Jesus)
· • Alma 11:40–45; Mormon 9:12–14 (all to be resurrected)
· • Isaiah 1:18 (sins shall be made white)
· • 1 Corinthians 15:40–44 (description of the Resurrection)



“That We Might Live”
(The Atonement)

cji
1/28/10

Only one good enough
able to lift our burdens
suffer for our transgressions
present a way for our return
from whence we came
our home in the heavens;

We’ve to repent and obey
to be baptized unto Him
learn to forgive and love
learn to forget and seek
putting off the world today
actively be on Zion’s road;

Thus to become as one
as the Father and Son
embracing - remembering
why for the Savior obeyed
one who was without sin
so that we again can live!

Copyright © 2010 – cji

http://whispersofthespirit.yuku.com/topic/10118
(Do We Want to Know?)

“Simple Prayers”

“Simple Prayers”

cji
1/20/10

A child kneels to pray
learning on their own
offering their thoughts
talking with Father
unlike we can imagine
thus it’s a simple prayer
one with meanings
a child speaking alone
to a loving Father above
sharing thoughts within!


Copyright © 2010 – cji

“Dulling Sensitivity”

Received this today – with my reply:

Hi my friend, my brother.

When one meets new people, and become their friend, sometimes the friends do things that are not in keeping with church standards. I like to socialize on some level with these new friends, and am always careful to hold to LDS standards, but I wonder how the friendship appears "to the world."
I guess I am wondering about "guilt" by association.
Of course there is also the possibility that these friend's actions could "dull" my sensitivity....basically what I am saying is "the first time you hear or see an action you are shocked, the 2nd time less so etc."
What is your viewpoint?


You’ve asked a good question and I’ve been pondering it most of the day! Guilt by association has to be within you and what you feel! No one can cast guilt on an innocent person in the eyes of the Lord! One chooses who to be with – if those one chooses make them feel guilty then they certainly aren’t friends and should be kept at arms distance. Sometimes we cannot choose those who we have to associate with and so we have to make the best of the situation and try to remove ourselves when we’re able. Remember everyone uses another – it’s part of what life and mortality are all about. However, we’ve the choice as to how we allow others to use us!

This is a ‘hard’ question – and thus my reply is equally hard – the doctrine is for those who’ve a testimony and understand what they believe and testify to! The decision tree for a true disciple of the Savior is two-fold: 1) Will this get me closer to the Celestial Kingdom with my family? Yes or No! and 2) If it won’t get me closer then why am I even considering it? Once we truly understand what our mission is here on earth – the peer pressures of the world become much less encumbering. The items included can or might be; friends – music – movies – any temptations (good or bad) – language, or indeed anything we have the ability to choose with our agency.

Socializing is not a requirement given by the Lord – there’s no commandment which says, “You are to socialize!” However, the world considers this of utmost importance. Socializing is much different than running into people, saying ‘hi’ and going on with what you were doing. To socialize you’ve to make the decision this is what you want to do. The decision has to be yours! Many like to excuse this behavior and say, “It’s expected” or some similar wording. Justification is one of the surest ways not to make it to the Celestial Kingdom.

One should never be concerned how anything appears to the world – but how does it appear to the Father and the Son and to those who look to you for leadership and a role model. As an example most know not to smoke around me – or to use foul language. Indeed they know not to offer me coffee, tea or alcoholic beverages. Yet they might drink, smoke and swear – but they know not to do it around me – and when they slip because it’s part of their everyday behavior they apologize to me.

Better let’s use something closer to home – we’ve friends within our Ward and Stake – but we’ve also Brothers and Sisters who we would not outside of the Church consider in our normal definition of friends. We’d do anything in the world for them – as we would for any of Heavenly Father’s children if knowing it’s the right thing to do. But would we socialize with them? My answer has always been, ‘NO!’ Why would this be my answer? Because when I’m around them I can feel the presence of the Spirit depart – because of what they say – or how they say something. Why would I want to socialize with someone who makes the Spirit flee from me?? Now these Brothers and Sisters have held important Church callings and I’ve sustained them in their callings to the best of my ability. Hope this brings home the importance of why we’re here and what we’re to be about. The whole of revelation which we’re each entitled to requires we to be in tune with the Holy Ghost and the in doing so have his Spirit dwell with us all of the time if possible.

As to the LDS standards that will vary as much as night and day depending on who giving the standards definition. However, to live the Lord’s Standards leaves no room for discussion or definition – these Standards are Clear, Concise and Correct!

Lastly to address the issue ‘dulling’ one’s senses or sensitivity. It’s not the idea of being ‘shocked’ or even ‘spaced repetition’ it’s whether the Spirit dwells with you or flees! The Spirit will tell you to depart – it’ll be clear, concise and correct – now whether you do so will be in accordance with your agency. Should you ignore the promptings of the Spirit – the next time it’ll be more vibrant – clear, concise and correct. However, if you again choose to ignore – now you’ve a dulling of your ability to feel – i.e. unfeeling – and will not hear or care that you hear not – see not – and most of all feel not! Outer darkness is a shield against feeling on this earth and in our mortality! However, there is no happiness in outer darkness except the façade presented by the worldly and Satan’s minions. This is why most who leave the Church or go inactive can never leave the Church alone – for they blame the Church for all of their unhappiness. Simple stuff – if they hadn’t joined the Church – made their covenants at Baptism – partaken of the Sacrament to renew this covenant – received the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by those having authority – they wouldn’t feel guilty now for forsaking what they testified they knew to be true.

There are many who fall away – being offended or some other reason (usually one involving the Ten Commandments) and have never denied their testimonies or attacked the Church – and many of these eventually reconcile whatever it was that was bothering them and return to full fellowship. This is different than denying the Holy Ghost which when refuses to listen to the promptings of the Spirit they’re in reality doing – a little at first and then more and more.

The Savior in his wisdom – has always left open the path of repentance – not always easy – but always achievable. Too many say this is what they’ll do in a while – after they’ve satisfied their worldly desires to socialize or otherwise demean the covenants they’ve made at Baptism or by partaking of the Sacrament – going to the Temple, etc. Sadly, this is in error as most forget to return or when they do – their lamentations are harder than they can bear – and the world is too much a part of them to return.

Hopefully this has addressed your question(s) – and that we each must remember where we came from – why we’re here and where we can go if worthy – in the name of Jesus Christ amen – hugs and love your brother - c

“Dulling Sensitivity”

cji
1/13/10

A piece at a time
wearying away
doubt sowed quiet
shaking out truth
blending in things
slowly to erode within
peace found fleeting
meaning without any
dulling sensitivity
the Spirit to flee
empty and alone
darkness filling
gaps and knowledge
soon forgetting all
one piece at a time!


Copyright © 2010 – cji

"This I Know to be True!"

This is my response to someone who continues to email his rhetorical material – wherein some of it may make sense and if of interest – it’s all tied up in man’s wisdom and not a whit to do with what Father and His Son our Savior want us to know or do. When some feel they can change, add or delete to the teachings without proper authority then they are deceived. This is not a contest of wills or of words – this indeed is no contest at all – one needs to share truth as testified by the Spirit of the Holy Ghost and have read the Scriptures (all of them) and have prayed and studied them by themselves and with their loved ones – finding the promises of the Father and the Son fulfilled as in James 1:5 (read the verses before and after) – to know where and what to look for to find the Savior’s Church on this earth. The simple fact most do not want to change or accept what others tell them is a lie (because it benefits them to do so) – will not get anyone into the Celestial Kingdom for Life Eternal if they’ve not the sealing’s which need to be performed on this earth and during their mortality if they could’ve done so.

I’m sure many who read this will ask, “Why doesn’t Chuck let it go?” Chuck won’t let it go because he loves his family and his friends so much that not to share these truths would be devastating to him. These are the most important truths I know: The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the Savior’s only Church on this earth and he organized it and called those to lead it in these latter-days. That because of this restoration – a husband and wife can be married for time and all eternity – and have their families sealed to them in the sealing ordinance and covenant – to be binding for time and all eternity if they live to the worthiness to which they’ve covenanted and are found in strict obedience to the Commandments of God! Further I know this to be true – there’s no other way to return to live in the presence of the Father and the Son with our families with a physical body of flesh and bones (which all of the Scriptures testify of) for us living today and have heard or could hear or have learned and discerned these truths. (Again note – little children who’ve died before the age of eight years old or those unable to comprehend or make decisions due to mental inabilities). And finally – this truth as found in Malachi 4:
1. For behold, the day cometh that shall burn as an oven, and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly shall burn as stubble; for they that come shall burn them, saith the Lord of Hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
2. But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.
3. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
4. Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.
5. Behold, I will reveal unto you the Priesthood, by the hand of Elijah the prophet, before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.
6. And he shall plant in the hearts of the children the promises made to the fathers, and the hearts of the children shall turn to their fathers. If it were not so, the whole earth would be utterly wasted at his coming.


My Reply:

You know you keep sending these to me – and for the life of me I cannot figure out why. The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to this earth in these latter-days – is led by a Prophet of God and 12 (twelve) Apostles. It was restored by the Father and the Son – who visited a 14 year old in answer to his prayers – with the Restored Church came the visit of Angels and Prophets who held the Keys of the Restoration from times gone before. In addition, there’s a second witness to the divinity of our Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ – the Son of the Father who sent him and introduced him to the 14 year old boy.

We’ve the Holy Bible (Old and New Testaments) – The Book of Mormon (the 2nd Testimony) – The Doctrine and Covenants (today’s revelations) and the Pearl of Great Price (the records of Moses and Abraham and the Testimony of Joseph Smith, Jr. – the 14 year old boy). Further there’s irrefutable witnesses to all of these scriptures and revelations – numbering far more than 100 with firsthand knowledge and over thousands with second and third hand knowledge.

We’re all veterans of the military – in one way or another – and Heavenly Father would never hinder man from doing right and testifying of His Only Begotten – however, one has to have the Priesthood Keys and Authority through the laying on of hands by one having this authority (which is nowhere found in world except in His Son’s Restored Church). One cannot take a live branch from a dead tree – the apostasy which occurred in the Church as established by the Savior in the meridian of time are those who apostatized within 150 years or by the middle of the 2nd Century (and those who didn’t apostatize were killed off by the so-called churches which followed or reformed the ‘teachings’ mixed with Greek Philosophy and Rhetoric starting with the Gnostics and continuing through St. Augustine and Origen of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Century. Religion as the world knew during the days until the early 1800’s were and all but one continue this day to be the works of men. Yes some – maybe even most do some good – however they’ve neither keys nor authority other than what man has given and taken – and is paid or paid for.

Suffice to say – all men/women are saved through the Atonement of the Savior on our behalf (with the exception of those who deny the Holy Ghost and/or commit murder which is to shed innocent blood). But being saved is just that – one won’t go into eternal torment with Satan and his followers – but will not have life eternal, which is to return to the presence of Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ – with a physical body of flesh and bone as they both have – and dwell with them and their families.

Thus someone coming to any church which requires them to pay the wages of those who Preach, Minister, or otherwise lead their organization whether the Catholic Church or a corner ministry will not get them Life Eternal. The Plan of Salvation was to come here to receive a physical body and to exercise our agency to choose right or wrong! (Note: those who died before the age of eight – which was much of the world’s population until relative recent history or those who are mentally unable to make decisions – autistic, etc. will and have already returned to the Father and the Son because of the Atonement.)

In any event most of this will fall on deaf ears as it has when I’ve responded to you in the past – however, so you’ll be able to deny you heard it again from me – I testify in the name of Jesus Christ – our Lord and Savior – that the above is true – that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true Church upon the face of this earth – and it’s led today by a Prophet of God – Thomas S. Monson and I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ amen – Charles J. Ingerson



“This I Know to be True!”

cji
1/12/10

That my Savior lives
that he love me too
thus through it all
peace and happiness
finding warmth within
sharing as I can all
this I know to be true
that my Savior lives!

Copyright © 2010 – cji

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