I Have An Excuse!

 Father is trying to teach us the immutable laws of cause and effect, which He has discovered. It is up to us if we want to follow them or not!

Evil As A Joke

How many times have we seen someone steal something small from someone else, then get caught and laugh, and say it was just a joke?  How many times have we heard someone say something that was not true, gossip or spread rumours or a lie, and then laugh when the other person fell for the deception?  It was only a joke right? 

 

As a young man, I remember the other boys would sneak up and hit someone from behind and laugh, and those same boys would get angry when the victim of their “joke” would defend.  I remember the young women who would say terrible insults about another young woman, and then would get angry and say worse things when their victim cried at their “joke.”

 

I remember it got even worse, when the young women or young men would “joke” around with sexual touching against those who did not consent to be touched, and when taken to the authorities, the perpetrators would just claim it to be a “joke.”

 

As a case worker for the prison system, there were lots of people doing the same thing in prison, where beating people was just a “joke.”  Molesting and raping people was just a “joke.”  Where do we draw the line?  After all, it is the exact same principle of using evil as a joke, just different degrees of it.  No matter the degree, it is still all on the side of evil.

Are these wicked things really a joke, or are they just another form of evil?  And if these perpetrators are really, “not all that bad,” then why do they have to use evil to joke?  Why the bullying and manipulation?  It is quite obvious; they are just evil.

 

Next comes the “You can’t judge me” line.  Of course this is only a one-way line, since the perpetrators are judging their victims, and extending out a measurement against their victims.  This is of course hypocritical, but nevertheless, a strategy of the wicked.

 

And let us not forget about the “I have repented” excuse.  Well, if you have repented, you would have stopped the sin, would you not?  After all, the scripture says, “he will confess it and forsake it.”  If you have not went to the folks involved and confessed, and forsook the crime, then you have not repented.  If you have not left your gift at the altar, and first been reconciled with the person who you have “joked”, then you have not repented according to the teachings in the scriptures.

 

All this aside, perhaps there is something in the fact that some people are so wicked that they use wickedness for jokes, and cannot seem to find enjoyment in righteousness! 

 

Heavenly Father does not use evil to “joke” with others.  The angels in heaven do not prank people with evil.  Those who use evil as a joke will not find acceptance in heaven either.  

The better option is to get rid of all evil, to stop finding joy in evil jokes and evil behaviour, and find joy in goodness.  Emulate the Saviour, and find joy in doing good to others!

Emulation As A Form Of Worship

 Since the Lord said "Follow Me,"  revealing emulation as His desired form of worship, then how we behave reveals if we truly worship Him or not.  In fact, how we behave reveals the God we worship.

The Lord's worship of the Father was one of emulation, considering the statement, "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise."

So then, since believe is actually to do, if we do not emulate the Son, then not only do we not believe in Him, but clearly we do not worship Him; nor do we worship the Father, whom the Son emulated.

The question remains, if we do not worship Him, whom do we worship?

If we contend, we worship the father of contention.

If we kill, we worship the father of killing.

If we commit adultery, or any manner of lasciviousness, then we clearly worship the father of such filthiness.

If we do not forgive, then we do not worship the Father of Forgiveness!

Whom do you emulate/worship?

Sweet Grace

Living in an area where temperatures stay below zero for 5-6 months of the year, can be quite challenging at times. It can be hard on people, and vehicles as well. One day in a December past, a couple of our people had some difficulty and needed to get to the hospital. This was just after a cold snap and being snowed in for about a week, the weather warmed up, the snow plow came by, and the car started. It was a godsend.

Off they went to the hospital, about an hour and forty-five minutes away. It was a long drive, everyone praying with as much faith as they could muster. They did safely get to the hospital and were admitted.

It was late at night when leaving the hospital and a storm had moved in. The temperature was only around -12C, with wet snow falling fast. The driver ran out to the parking lot to bring the car to the hospital door, but something had gone wrong with the car.

The driver tried again and again to start the car, but it just would not start. With all the cold and wet, the engine would not even turn over! It was a scary situation: What would he do with his passengers? How would he get them home? Who could he call for help in this strange city? He turned to prayer, asking Father what to do. And the sweet small voice came: Put it in second, and it will start. The driver moved the gearshift to second, and started the car. It started right up!

It may have been a small grace for outsiders, but after all the stress of getting to the hospital, and going through incredible trama, it was a sweet grace that showed Heavenly Father was still paying close attention to our lives, even during those extreme situations of loss and terror.

The driver wiped away the tears and squinted to see the road through the storm, as he pulled up to the hospital doors to pick up the grieving passengers.

Even through times of great sorrow, our Heavenly Parents are there watching us, helping us, grieving right along side us. May the Lord be blessed forever!

Are You A Mormon, Or What?

I have been asked a few questions about my Mormon heritage and Mormon beliefs, so I figured I would jot a few things down.

Since this blog is primarily directed towards a Mormon audience, and since there are so many different Mormon churches, and different Mormon beliefs, there is no way I can address them all, so I will just rattle off a few things.

I am a regular, old school Mormon boy, I believe in keeping the commandments, going to church, meeting together often, going to the temple, keeping the temple covenants, feeding the poor, etc., etc.

I am part of a ministry where we feed and house the poor, and help get people education and employment, etc.

I believe in the Book of Mormon, the original Book of Mormon.

I am not LDS, and I do not believe in many of their precepts.  Nor do I get caught up in any of the new Mormon movements on the internet.  In fact, my preference is to the original Book of Mormon, and old school Mormonism.  I began this blog to share the results of living original Mormonism, and that is what I have posted here.  The many, many real-life miracles that are posted here are a direct result of living old school Mormonism.  I have not included much on this blog in the way of doctrine, just a little, since I am not out to argue with anyone about their beliefs.  It has been my intent from the beginning, just to share these results, so that perhaps it may encourage someone in their faith.

That is about it.

Have a great day, everyone!