Complaints, Murmurings, Persecutions, Revilings

 As a religious counsellor, I hear all kinds of things, from all kinds of people, and I would like to address one of these things today; it is the topic of persecutions.

Now, many members of the church do complain of "persecutions", that is nothing new.  Usually this complaint comes from people who are quite controlling and vindictive, often complaining when they do not get their way.  

Yet, sometimes, a humble member comes, with tears in their eyes, asking for help and guidance, because they are being pressured by the more popular members to lower their standards, especially in the area of morality.  These humble members of the church are not so popular, because they live a higher morality, and try their best to "keep every word which proceedeth forth from the mouth of God."

Of course, this behaviour irks the popular members in just the wrong way.  They take offence to the behaviour of the faithful members, who quietly follow the Saviour, without ever saying anything against the choices of the popular members.  Then of course the popular members lash out against the humble members, bearing down in false witness against the humble followers of Christ, accusing them of unrighteously judging the popular members.  The popular members start to apply a great deal of peer pressure, and spend a great deal of effort winning over the other members of the church to their side, against all those who would keep the commandments of the Lord to such a high standard.  Of course, the hypocrisy is easily apparent to an outsider, but not so apparent to the popular members, who suffer from this solipsistic view.

The interesting phenomena is the humble member, comes for counsel, asking how to stay strong, never seeking for justice, never complaining, just asking for guidance and prayer.

Whereas the popular members come complaining, ... Often!  Often asking for justice, accusing the humble follower of persecution and all sorts of crimes, etc.  The most common justification of the popular members is:  Everyone is allowed to have their own opinion (Everyone, that is, except the humble followers of Messiah!)

To the humble followers, those who do not revile back, only humbly continue to follow the Saviour, I say:  Do not be discouraged.  You are loved by God.  Continue to pray for those who revile, persecute, and say all manner of evil against you falsely for the Lord's sake.  The Father sees you, and you will have place with the prophets in heaven.  Keep the Faith!

Passover/Last Supper

I have not been posting much on my blogs, forum, or social media this past week, on account of all the preparations for the Passover/Resurrection celebration.

It is at this time of year, which we celebrate the ordinance of Passover, which was a foundational ordinance of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten Son of God. It is at this time which we celebrate not only the Saviour living each day for us and dying for us, but also showing us the way back to the Father, even overcoming death by His triumphant resurrection! This wonderful gift is offered to all those who will repent and live as the Saviour lived. What an amazing promise!

Tonight, we will be having the Passover meal, the Last Supper, and our hearts will be fully drawn out in thanks for our Lord and our Saviour, even Yeshua the Messiah, for overcoming all things, thereby teaching us how to overcome all things as well.

See you tonight,
and May God be with you!

O Lord, I Will Praise Thee Forever!

 "When I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins."

How many of us feel as Nephi?  We want so much to rejoice, to sing songs of everlasting praise to our Heavenly Father, but we feel so sad because of our frailties, our weaknesses, our shortcomings, our sins.  And yet, here is Nephi, an amazing prophet who stood up for righteousness, and was a true servant of God, and yet he felt the same way we feel!  How could Nephi feel the same way we feel?  Is it not because he is the same as us?  Has he not gone through the same and in some things more than us?

Nephi may lament his weaknesses, but then goes on to tell us how he overcomes those feelings of inadequacy and how we can also.

"My God hath been my support.  He hath led me through mine afflictions... He hath preserved me... He hath filled me with His love... He hath heard my cry by day, and he hath given me knowledge by visions in the night time... By day I have waxed bold in mighty prayer before Him... "

Do we remember how much the Lord has done for us?  Do we remember all the times we have been filled with His love, surrounded by angels, and filled with the Holy Ghost?  

If we have felt so much love, so much of the Redeeming Love of the Saviour. If the Lord has visited us in so much mercy, why should our hearts weep? Why should we linger in sorrow? Let us instead shout as Nephi:

"Rejoice O my Heart!  And Cry unto the Lord, and say:  O Lord, I will praise thee forever.  Yea, my soul will rejoice in Thee, my God, and the Rock of my Salvation! ... I will lift up my voice unto Thee!  I will cry unto Thee, my God, the Rock of my righteousness.  Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto Thee, my Rock and mine Everlasting God.  Amen."

Let us sing praises unto our God!  Let us feel happy in our God, the Rock of our Salvation, even Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Redeemer!