The First Principle Of The Gospel

These are incomprehensible ideas to some, but they are simple.  It is the first principle of the gospel to know for a certainty the character of God, and to know that we may converse with Him as one man converses with another, and that he was once a man like us; yea, that God Himself, the Father of us all, dwelt on an earth, the same as Jesus Christ Himself did; and I will show it from the bible. 
~ TPJS pgs. 345-346 

Verily, thus sayith the Lord:  It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am. 
~ D&C 93:1 

The problem is:  As soon as anyone hears of a person having a prophetic experience, actually seeing and interacting with God in person, that person is put down as an impostor, and denounced, as if such a thing could not happen today!  There are many excuses, most common among them seem to be that God would only talk to those in certain lines and positions of authority, yet, I say to you that God has always talked to those who would listen, regardless of authority.  God has so often proved over and over again, that He can do His own work.  All those who limit what God can do, will be damned.  Indeed, they damn themselves.  The Prophet Joseph said:  "I say to all those who are disposed to set up stakes for the Almighty, you will come short of the Glory of God." 
~ TPJS pg. 321 

God has not revealed anything to Joseph, but what He will make known onto the Twelve, and even the least Saint may know all things as fast as he is able to bear them! 
~ TPJS pg.  149

My friends, it is your privilege to progress, to purify yourselves, to approach God in person, to see with your own eyes, to hear with your own ears, to touch with your own hands, to actually know for yourselves the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He hath sent.  To know your Heavenly Parents, and the destiny available to you!  Seek the face of God always!  Never give up!! 

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Set Aside Mortal Thoughts

Now therefore set thine house in order, and reprove thy people, comfort such of them as be in trouble, and now renounce corruption, let go from thee mortal thoughts, cast away the burdens of man, put off now the week nature, and set aside the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee, and haste thee to flee from these times. 

~ II Esdras 14:13-15

 This scripture really stands out to me.  It is the advice the Lord gave to Esdras when he told him to prepare to leave this mortality to reside with the Son and others of the prophets until the times be ended.  I love the fact that the Lord says; "let go from thee mortal thoughts, cast away the burdens of man, put off now the week nature, and set aside the thoughts that are most heavy unto thee".  We are always so worried about our mortality, always carrying the burden of judgement, the burden of offence.  To stop being so weak, to set aside the thoughts that are most heavy unto us; what glorious freedom.  When someone has harmed us, when they have destroyed our lives; to not worry about such mortal concerns, to be free from that corrupt thinking! 

To set our hearts on the thoughts of eternity, to fill our minds with the things that concern our Heavenly Parents; that is our goal, to become like them.  To be truly free!! 

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Rediculous

Okay, this is getting rediculous! 

I have never heard anything more rediculous in my life.  Apparently, gluttony is not a sin, only the desire for gluttony is a sin.  'We can eat as much as we want, and there will be absolutely no negative side effects, as long as we  do not have it in our hearts.'  

This is crazy!  If you pig out, you will have the effects of pigging out.  How foolish can you be?  Yes, the Lord judges on the heart, but if you are stuffing yourself silly, it is in your heart to do so!  You only do what is in your heart.   As the Lord said, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks."  

Cleanse the heart, and you will cleanse the body.  But, if you cannot cleanse the heart yet, then at least cleanse the body.  Then, after you have cleansed the body, take it to the next level and cleanse the heart. 

The Lord loves to see progression.  And if you can only progress a little, then progress that little.  Just do not stop progressing!   The Lord loves you, and will accept your progression.  Turn to Him, He will accept you.  

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Happy Things

I love talking about the happy things of the Gospel!  But, unfortunately, so many times we are asked to address those things that would pollute the doctrine of Christ, and it gets difficult after a while, only addressing the negative.  So, I thought to post about a happy subject this time. 

When I first began this blog, I posted about some spiritual experiences, and I would like to write about another spiritual experience that we had just recently. 

Some have expressed an interest in how we hold our meetings.  Of course we hold all sorts of meetings, Sacrament meeting, council meetings, Sunday School, Family Home Evening, Firesides, Priesthood meetings, etc, etc, etc.  And each of them are conducted in a different way.  Yet, all are to be conducted by the Spirit of God.  So, I will share an example of how we conduct a Sacrament meeting.  But remember, it is not so much in how you conduct a meeting, as much as it is in the focus of the heart, and the utter humility and meekness before the Lord. 

1. We open with an Hymn.
2. Under the sign of the High Priesthood, I invoke the powers of heaven.  Call upon angels to attend, and whatever we need for the meeting (usually this is revealed through the spirit of prophecy). 
3. Sing another Hymn. 
4. Someone is called upon to give a talk or sermon.  They are to speak by the Spirit of Prophecy and Revelation so that we can be edified. 
5. An intermediate Hymn. 
6. The Sacrament is prepared, blessed under the sign of the High Priesthood, and passed in accordance with the pattern set in the scriptures.  (It is the duty of those administering the Sacrament to ensure they have unleavened bread and appropriate wine for the ordinance.  Of course there are times when these things are not always prepared or available, although this should be a very rare occurrence if ever.) 
7. After (sometimes during) the Sacrament is a time to be taught by angels, receive revelation, etc.  Many people in the congregation receive revelation and speak by the power of God. 
8. The benediction is given under the sign of the High Priesthood, during which the Lord is thanked, the angels are released to resume their normal duties, and a blessing is often offered. 

This past Sunday, during Sacrament Meeting, some of the children in the congregation saw angles there with us.  There were angels actually present, and even Heavenly Father himself was watching.  One person spoke by the Holy Spirit, and we were edified.  It was a lovely spiritual experience. 

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Perfecting Ourselves

There is something bothering me tonight.  I have friends that are seeking an audience with their Saviour, and from time to time there seems to be frustration that their goal has not yet been realized.  And I worry that they will give up on their goal, or perhaps give up on their faith.  The reason I am worried is because it seems to be the only thing that matters to my friend, at the expense of other gospel principles. 

I have noticed several people who have seen the Saviour, talked to Him face to face, were not necessarily directly seeking an audience with Him at that time, yet they saw Him.  They saw Him when they were focusing on repentance, when they were focusing on self correction, on fixing themselves, fixing their hearts, and on serving others. 

"As I have loved you, love one another." 

"Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him."

Please do not give up!  Keep working on your goals.  Keep working on all the aspects the Saviour taught.  

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My Doctrine

Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.

Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.

And now, behold, whosoever is of my church, and endureth of my church to the end, him will I establish upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.  

~ D&C 10:67-69 

I love this scripture!

The Lord has His own church, and all those who repent and come to the Messiah, are His church.  Even though this is a huge order, no other qualifications are necessary.   And anyone who says so, is not of God.  Oh, how comforting!  We no longer have to wonder at all the strange things that various churches ask us to do.  All we need to do is what Yesua did; what He does!  Then we are of His church. Yet we must endure, and remain in His church.  We must maintain that repentance and stay with the Lord. 

And the promise, that if we are of His church, and endure of His church to the end, He will establish us upon His rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against us! 

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Glory To God!

For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him. 
~ D&C 3:4 

No matter how high a person rises, it is still possible to fall.  Remember the fallen angels, Lucifer, and the prophets who fell.  There is a fallacy that a person can be sealed up and therefore can never fall.  But remember King David, and Solomon, etc, who fell and lost all they had.  Where much is given, much is required.  The higher a person rises, the further the possible fall.  The more a person knows better, the more strict the commandments to that person, the less leeway that person has to waiver.  As Jesus said, "Those who have ears to hear, hear." 

Of the person who knows better, it is required to do better, and that person will be judged according to what they know.  The person who does not know better, will only receive a few stripes, according to their actions, according to their heart.  Of course, each will only progress as much as they know and follow too.  So, it is a two edged sword, for a person cannot be saved in ignorance. 

We must always beware of pride, for the moment a person seeks to gratify their pride, their priesthood is gone, then they are left to kick against the pricks. 

Let us all remember, it is from God that all good things come.  Let us be ever so wise in the use of the gifts that He gives us.  Always keeping in mind, the one from whom all blessings flow, the one who trod the wine press and was perfect, the one who exists independent of all things, in whom is all things, from whom all things exist. 

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