Righteous Judgment

There is a lot of talk about deception lately. The reason it is so prevalent is because there are quite a few people who are coming forth, who had itching ears, having listened to some bogus doctrine of a false preacher and are telling about how they were led into a position where there is now a large pile of dog poo on top of them. It ruined or harmed their lives in a terrible way. 

Here is how it starts most of the time:

You have a person - there have been both men and women -  who claims they have some great message. Or maybe sometimes they just start teaching things that are really pretty good and praiseworthy things. They manage to hook and reel in a few people who hear the truth they have taught. 

They begin to teach you that they have obtained a higher law from heaven. You can now become a raging whore and sleep with people who aren't your spouse because, well it's just a higher law and, well I have taught you the truth before! Why would I lead you astray now?

A common teaching of these people is that you are not supposed to judge. They love quoting Jesus when He says "Judge not, that ye be not judged" and leave out "but judge righteous judgement".

Here is what that teaching does: when the teacher's heinous teachings are revealed by people outside of their group, their disciples propound that "we will not judge them, for it is not ours to judge, but Gods!" and then feel justified in continuing their whoredoms, secret abominations, lyings, priestcrafts, and so on. Their idol can not be touched because we are not supposed to judge and therefore I have no right to say that they are right or that they are wrong. 

Duuuuuudeeee....

Let's take a look at the last part of what Jesus said about judgment - that you should judge a righteous judgement.

What does righteous mean? If you were a little child and were viewing the word, what would you make of it? 

It has the word "right" in it. I know that right is the opposite of wrong. I know that right means correct. 

Ok. Judge not that ye be not judged, but judge the correct judgment. Judge the things that are right to be worth acting on and the things that are wrong not worth acting on. 

If we read the scriptures prayerfully this would not be so confusing.

Here is also part of a marvellous discourse by Moroni on judging correctly:

      "For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be servant of the devil. Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; for the devil is an enemy unto God, and fighteth against him continually, and inviteth and enticeth to sin, and to do that which is evil continually. But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God.

      Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God, or that which is good and of God to be of the devil. For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him. 

     And now, my brethren, seeing that ye know the light by which ye may judge, which light is the light of Christ, see that ye do not judge wrongfully; for with that same judgment which ye judge ye shall also be judged. 

     Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ."

I am so grateful for that last statement. Search diligently in the light of Christ. Are the scriptures Christ's words(D&C 84:45)? Good, search them diligently. 

Earlier Moroni says that whatever persuades us to believe in Christ is good. Would something that tells to to do anything against the scriptures persuade you to then believe what Christ has said, or disbelieve what He has said? 

Forward, And Not Back

Was watching "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter" at work today(a classic) and towards the end, the Gettysburg was addressed by Honest Abe himself.

In lieu of all that is going on, I thought it worthy of repetition here:

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Abraham Lincoln
November 19, 1863

There is a reason this is a famous speech. The work is still unfinished. There still remains a great task before us. Go forward, and not backward. On, on to the victory!

A Good Conversation

One of my best friends (and only friends... err) is a brilliant scriptorian. In a good way. Not a scholarly way. He makes good use of the big HG(2 Nephi 28:26).

He called me up the other day after he read something in the Lectures on Faith about God cursing Adam and Eve after their disobedience. He realized something in response to something my mother-in-law had said to us a few days earlier that "[she] doesn't know much about prophecy, but she knows that when a woman is in a leadership position, it's a bad thing." The thing he realized was that before our first parents' transgression, they were both accountable to God and God only. After their transgression, Adam was made to "rule over" Eve(Moses 4:22). It was the curse placed on them - both of them - by God as a result of the woman obeying someone other than God. Therefore, she was to be "ruled over" by the one who was willing to obey Father. This is not to say it is good for man to rule over woman. But for now, it is right. And you have to understand, "rule" in it's most pure form takes on the role of a servant, ministering truth to those who aren't getting it directly from God yet. Some who have occupied this role in past generations have certainly misused it to get gain, praise, and to harm others. This is the way of the Gentiles... but we are way off track now.

I have, unfortunately, encountered a "prophetess" who was able to gather a small following. She sells classes to people for hundreds of dollars, claiming that they will bring people to God. She was able to get some of her followers to commit adultery, claiming that it would bring them "higher light and truth" than they previously had.

Shit man...

There are thousands of stories of men doing equally horrible things as "leaders", I know. This was just a fresh, personal example of my own.

Anyway. We have one Hillary Clinton running for America's presidency. Eesh.

This is where my friend and I continued our conversation:

"So Hillary is trying to rule, right? And I noticed" he said "that it is the way of the world, not to be redeemed from God's curses, but to reverse them. And that just makes things worse than they were! The perverse curse is worse than the first!"

You see, if we wanted to be redeemed from the curse, then man and woman would both be accountable to God again. No one "rules" over anyone else.

Well, we went down the list of curses that God pronounced on Adam and Eve after they fell and sure enough, we are busy down here trying to reverse them all.

An Angel of Light, Eh?

An old legend:

"When Satan, the hater of all good, saw how they continued in prayer, and how God communed with them, and comforted them, and how He had accepted their offering—Satan made an apparition.

He began with transforming his hosts; in his hands was a flashing fire, and they were in a great light. He then placed his throne near the mouth of the cave because he could not enter into it by reason of their prayers. And he shed light into the cave, until the cave glistened over Adam and Eve; while his hosts began to sing praises.  And Satan did this, in order that when Adam saw the light, he should think within himself that it was a heavenly light, and that Satan's hosts were angels; and that God had sent them to watch at the cave, and to give him light in the darkness.  So that when Adam came out of the cave and saw them, and Adam and Eve bowed to Satan, then he would overcome Adam thereby, and a second time humble him before God.

When, therefore, Adam and Eve saw the light, fancying it was real, they strengthened their hearts; yet, as they were trembling, Adam said to Eve:—  "Look at that great light, and at those many songs of praise, and at that host standing outside who won't come into our cave. Why don't they tell us what they want, where they are from, what the meaning of this light is, what those praises are, why they have been sent to this place, and why they won't come in?  If they were from God, they would come into the cave with us, and would tell us why they were sent."

Then Adam stood up and prayed to God with a burning heart, and said:— "O Lord, is there in the world another god besides You, who created angels and filled them with light, and sent them to keep us, who would come with them? But, look, we see these hosts that stand at the mouth of the cave; they are in a great light; they sing loud praises. If they are of some other god than You, tell me; and if they are sent by you, inform me of the reason for which You have sent them."

No sooner had Adam said this, than an angel from God appeared to him in the cave, who said to him, "O Adam, fear not. This is Satan and his hosts; he wishes to deceive you as he deceived you at first. For the first time, he was hidden in the serpent; but this time he is come to you in the likeness of an angel of light; in order that, when you worshipped him, he might enslave you, in the very presence of God." Then the angel went from Adam and seized Satan at the opening of the cave, and stripped him of the pretense he had assumed, and brought him in his own hideous form to Adam and Eve; who were afraid of him when they saw him.

And the angel said to Adam, "This hideous form has been his ever since God made him fall from heaven. He could not have come near you in it; he therefore transformed himself into an angel of light." Then the angel drove away Satan and his hosts from Adam and Eve, and said to them, "Fear not; God who created you, will strengthen you."

And the angel left them. But Adam and Eve remained standing in the cave; no consolation came to them; they divided in their thoughts. And when it was morning they prayed; and then went out to seek the garden. For their hearts were towards it, and they could get no consolation for having left it."

(Platt, Rutherford Hayes (2011-03-30). Bible. O. T. Apocryphal books. English

Joseph Smith said,

"We may look for angels and receive their ministrations, but we are to try the spirits and prove them, for it is often the case that men make a mistake in regard to these things. God has so ordained that when He has communicated, no vision is to be taken but what you see by the seeing of the eye, or what you hear by the hearing of the ear. When you see a vision, pray for the interpretation; if you get not this, shut it up; there must be certainty in this matter. An open vision will manifest that which is more important. Lying spirits are going forth in the earth. There will be great manifestations of spirits, both false and true." (STPJS 161)

We are only saved as fast as we get knowledge though (STPJS 217)

We get knowledge by visions, dreams, visitations, through the power of the Holy Ghost (See 1 Nephi 10:17-1 Nephi 14; D&C 76:116-118).

So we need to have experiences with the other side of the veil, but if we are not careful, we may be deceived. 

A strait and narrow path indeed.

An Email Exchange With My Stake President

Here are some emails I exchanged with my home-ward stake president. Sorry for my horrific writing skills. I hope it's coherent:

4/15/15

President ------,

Hi, how are you? I remember a conversation we once had where you were explaining to me that there can be no more dispensations of the gospel because we are in the "last dispensation". I think my last stake president in the singles ward had a similar conversation with me.

I was reading in the book "Words of Joseph Smith" which is just a consolidation of all of the unedited/in their original un-spell corrected from Nauvoo era discourses, letters, etc. and I came across this passage from a talk that Joseph gave October 5, 1840(ten years after the church was established and over four years after Elijah came to the Kirtland temple in 1836) which says:

"Elijah was the last Prophet that held the keys of this priesthood, and who will, before the last dispensation, restore the authority and delive[r] the Keys of this priesthood in order that all the ordinances may be attended to in righteousness. <It is true that the Savior had authority and power to bestow this blessing <but the Sons of Levi were too predjudi[ced]>>
And I will send Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of the Lord &c &c." (Joseph Smith Papers Project;http://josephsmithpapers.org/paperSummary/instruction-on-priesthood-5-october-1840?p=17&highlight=keys%20of%20this%20priesthood)

The part that caught my attention what the part that talks about how Elijah WILL come BEFORE the last dispensation which hasn't happened yet if Joseph is saying this in 1840. It is just interesting to me that Joseph speaks in a future tense after the revelation of Elijah in 1836 and after he had clearly received a dispensation of the gospel years previous.

This says to me that Elijah still needs to come to do a work, and that the "last dispensation" maybe hasn't happened yet.

I looked on LDS.org for quotes and sources where Joseph called his dispensation the last dispensation and the only thing I could find was a quote from section 112:30 which says:

"For unto you, the Twelve, and those, the First Presidency, who are appointed with you to be your counselors and your leaders, is the power of this priesthood given, for the last days and for the last time, in the which is the dispensation of the fulness of times"

It doesn't call it the last dispensation, but "the dispensation of the fulness of times"

And then the only other quote I found was from the song "Praise to the Man" but that was written after Joseph died and he had no hand in it.

I guess I am just wondering what your thoughts are on that. It would seem that there actually might be another dispensation of the gospel.

I hope that the email makes sense and I a sorry for my lack of articulation.

I hope you are well and miss being in the Bountiful stake.

Best wishes,

Chris Park

4/15/15

Hello Chris,

Good to hear from you. All is well for me and my family.

I would be happy to share my thoughts with you. It may take a week or so as I am buried with work and committed to a youth training on the 25th which I am not as prepared as I would like to be. However, I will get back with you shortly after that.

Thanks

President ------

4/15/15

No problem. Thank you for being so quick to respond!

Thanks,

Chris Park

5/19/15

Chris,

I hope all is well. Thanks for allowing me to take care of some matters before responding to your email.

I would share two thoughts with you. When the Aaronic priesthood was restored Joseph was told that it would not be taken from the earth “until the sons of Levi do offer again an offering unto the Lord in righteousness”. This would indicate to me that this dispensation of the fullness of time was here to stay.

Also, in a revelation about the sacrament the prophet was instructed by Jesus Christ that He will partake of the sacrament with Joseph Smith, Moroni, Elias, and others which include Peter, James and John. The Savior also reminds Joseph that it is by them that he was ordained an apostle. And that the keys of His kingdom were committed to Joseph for this “dispensation of the gospel for the last time; and for the fullness of times”. (D&C 27:13)

So from these I feel that our understanding that this dispensation of the fullness of time is the last dispensation.

I have faith that Jesus Christ is leading His Church and I trust in his ways.

Thanks for the opportunity to share my simple understanding with you.

Sincerely,

President ------

5/31/15

Heya President,

I guess I get what you're saying about the Aaronic priesthood (D&C 13 right?), but that priesthood is not the "fullness of the priesthood"(D&C 112:30) so I have a hard time equating "fullness of times" with "lesser priesthood". John had the lesser priesthood to baptize and preach repentance, but it was not until Jesus came with the fullness that all the authority was there.

Also, referring back to my last email, Joseph Smith equated the Spirit of Elijah with the higher, or Melchizedek priesthood (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 337). Joseph said in 1843 that Elijah was yet to come before the last dispensation. Would this not suggest that the Melchizedek priesthood will come, or be dispensed, again with Elijah, even if we believe it is already here?

As for what your second point suggests, I looked at the scriptures and at the History of the Church version of that revelation. When you quoted it, there was an "s" missing at the end of the word "times". Your reply read, “dispensation of the gospel for the last time" rather than the original "dispensation of the gospel for the last times". Before the portion you quoted there is an "a". All together it reads "a dispensation of the gospel for the last times". This suggests to me that it was only "a" dispensation that is for the "last times" rather than "the last dispensation". Going back to my original email, Joseph saying that this is the last dispensation is nowhere to be found in either church history or in the scriptures.

I guess I am just having a hard time reconciling these things. What do you think?

Thank you very much for your response, it got me thinking and searching for more.

Chris Park

6/1/15

Christopher,

Sorry about not properly quoting the scripture as I was hurrying to reply and get back to work.

I don’t think there is anything I can say to make it a black or white point of doctrine. I know that we do not have a full and complete written history off all Joseph Smith taught. But we do have those that lived with him and were taught by him personally and many of those people came west following Brigham Young and other Church leaders who continued to teach what Joseph taught as well as the revelations they received from God.

I believe that we have had continued prophets on the earth leading the church of Jesus Christ under His (Christ’s) direction. I believe the principle of line upon line, precept upon precept and have seen this in the Church and in my own life. So if a prophet tells me this is the last dispensation, I am going to believe him.

I guess this is the best answer my simple faith can give you. I hope you can find an answer that can build your faith.

Sincerely,

President ------

6/5/15

President,

Thank you for your insight. I understand where you are coming from I think, but if later leaders say that this is the last dispensation when Joseph said there would still be another, who is right? Can one president simply discount Joseph's words when God said that this generation will have His(God's) words through Joseph(D&C 5:10)?

I know that Spencer Kimball called some of Brigham's teaching's "false doctrine" and presidents have discounted each other since, but I feel like Joseph actually knew what he was saying, rather than just theorizing, because of visions and visitations from God and angels, whereas Brigham Young and those after never had seen the Lord and been taught by Him. Heber J Grant said himself in a letter to one sister:

"Dear Sister:

Answering your letter of the 12th.

I know of no instance where the Lord has appeared to an individual since His appearance to the Prophet Joseph Smith.

Sincerely your brother,

[signed] Heber J. Grant"

(Heber J. Grant, letter to Mrs. Claud Peery, April 13, 1926, typescript in Lester Bush papers, University of Utah Archives.)

So would those after Joseph have the right to claim things about him that he never claimed about himself if they never had this authoritative learning from the Lord?

I think if we are going to learn the truth we ought to listen to President Joseph F. Smith's advice that, "We have accepted the four standard works as the measuring yardsticks, or balances, by which we measure every man's doctrine." and ask if the scriptures and the man who brought them forth are saying that he brought forth the "final" or "last" dispensation. Right?

What are your thoughts?

I am always grateful for your answers as they send me to God seeking for the truth.

Thanks

Chris

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Now, I'll admit, I was baiting a little with that last email. I didn't understand how all that could be said was "follow the prophet" when we had this very interesting conversation material to pick up on. So, to my stake president I say sorry for baiting. He never responded after that last email. To everyone else, open up your eyes. These things at important.

An Email Exchange With My Mission Companions

The Spirit doesn't always feel "good". I would be willing to say that the Spirit doesn't actually cause any "feelings" at all. I don't mean that you can't feel it. I just mean it doesn't stir certain emotions.

When someone says something to me, I can choose to "feel" a certain way about what was said. I can be happy, I can be mad, I can be whatever the heck I wanna be about whatever was just said. What the person says to me has no control over my emotions. I do.

Joseph said:

"This first comforter or the Holy Ghost has no other effect than pure intelligence" (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith pp. 149)

He also said:

"And he [Christ] being the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and having overcome, received a fulness of the glory of the Father-- possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son, and these three are one, or in other words these three constitute the great, matchless, governing and supreme power over all things..."(Lectures on Faith by Joseph Smith Jr. 1835; Lecture Second verse 2 pp. 53)

There is nothing here that describes and cozy, fuzzy, happy feeling you get as a confirmation from God about something. Perhaps we can react happily to a testimony from the Spirit, or in other words, mind of God; but that feeling is not the Spirititself.

Consider Nephi in 1 Nephi 4 when asked to kill Laban:

"6 And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do.

7 Nevertheless I went forth, and as I came near unto the house of Laban I beheld a man, and he had fallen to the earth before me, for he was drunken with wine.

8 And when I came to him I found that it was Laban.

9 And I beheld his sword, and I drew it forth from the sheath thereof; and the hilt thereof was of pure gold, and the workmanship thereof was exceedingly fine, and I saw that the blade thereof was of the most precious steel.

10 And it came to pass that I was constrained by the Spirit that I should kill Laban; but I said in my heart: Never at any time have I shed the blood of man. And I shrunk and would that I might not slay him.

11 And the Spirit said unto me again: Behold the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands. Yea, and I also knew that he had sought to take away mine own life; yea, and he would not hearken unto the commandments of the Lord; and he also had taken away our property.

12 And it came to pass that the Spirit said unto me again: Slay him, for the Lord hath delivered him into thy hands;

13 Behold the Lord slayeth the wicked to bring forth his righteous purposes. It is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief.

14 And now, when I, Nephi, had heard these words, I remembered the words of the Lord which he spake unto me in the wilderness, saying that: Inasmuch as thy seed shall keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land of promise.

15 Yea, and I also thought that they could not keep the commandments of the Lord according to the law of Moses, save they should have the law.

16 And I also knew that the law was engraven upon the plates of brass.

17 And again, I knew that the Lord had delivered Laban into my hands for this cause—that I might obtain the records according to his commandments.

18 Therefore I did obey the voice of the Spirit, and took Laban by the hair of the head, and I smote off his head with his own sword." (1Nephi 4:6-18; Emphasis added)

OKAY. I am telling you right now, Nephi did not feel fuzzy or happy about killing this jerk. He "shrunk". Cowered in fear that he might not do it. Nevertheless, Nephi, having a good acquaintance with the Voice of God, for His sheep know His voice(John 10:27) and knowing that God has his back(2 Nephi 4:18-26) sliced the guys head off and that was that. We have all the scriptures after this point because Nephi chose to follow the Lord's voice and he was greatly rewarded for the obedience(1 Ne. 11-14). Good on ya Nephi.

Consider Alma when the angel came to declare repentance to him. He says of the incident that he was "racked with eternal torment" he felt "inexpressible horror" and the "pains of a damned soul". But don't you think that the angel spoke by the Spirit? After all, angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost (2 Nephi 32:3).

Of course, after calling upon the Lord for mercy and receiving forgiveness of his sins by the same voice that called him to repent, he felt "joy as exceeding as was [his] pain".

WE react to the Spirit.

What of D&C 84:44-45?

"44 For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God.

45 For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ."

A=B=C=D

"Guilty take the truth to be hard"(1 Nephi 16:2) Truth =Spirit. Again, no fuzziness about this.

Now, as the whole of the Book of Mormon testifies, when we follow God's voice, His mind and will, or His Spirit despite the fact that maybe it asked us to kill our own son, lead a hard hearted people in wilderness for forty years, or declare repentance to a people who will abuse and possible kill you, we will receive something far greater than the sacrifice we are asked to make.

D&C 93:1

"Verily, thus saith 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"

For to know Him is eternal life (John 17:3). The greatest of all God's gifts.

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thats really cool man! I just have one question. What about the fruits of the spirit in Galations 5:20? doesnt it say that the fruits of the spirit are love, peace, joy, etc. ?

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Hey man! Good question.

First I would ask the question- what is a fruit? Dont seeds have to be planted for fruit to grow? What does Alma 32 say thst the seed itself is? Doesn't the "seed" have to be buried in darkness, fight toward the surface and be nourished before fruit comes? Do some plants bare fruit faster than others?

I would next refer you back to the email and look a little closer at Alma and Nephi.

The Spirit caused them anxiety. The seed, or word, was planted in them. Despite the difficulty placed before them, they talked back, and listened, then acted. Or "let it work in them" until fruit was born and they did ineed have peace, love, joy etc. In the end.

Yes, you are right about the fruits. But the fruit is not the seed.

Just some things to ponder about.

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so if i'm understanding correctly love, joy, feelings, etc. come from the spirit but you're saying that they are not a direct fruit of it? they are just something you feel when you follow the spirit because you know you did something right not something that prompts you to do something? So with Nephi obviously the spirit doesnt send you feelings of love and joy when you are in a hazardous situation such as an event where a person is warned by the spirit he's got to do something to get your attention and help you to stop doing what you're doing or to do something differently I understand that but cant the spirit both speak with a voice of warning and cause feelings of peace and love to influence us? As for Alma, he said he was racked with eternal torment because he felt guilty of his sins. I dont think the angel specifically caused him to have those feelings I think Alma, because he was chastised so severely by the angel, started to rethink his way of living and humbled himself to the point of allowing himself to see the wrongs he'd done and thats when the eternal torment came in. correct me if i'm wrong those are just my thoughts on it all. Like when I first came to know the book of mormon was true it was a powerful experience in which I felt Love like I've never felt it before and I still havent felt love that intensely since. the same goes for when I got my second answer that the book of mormon was true. It was in winnebago YSA's apartment after you left. I literally finished reading the BOM and I went into our closet, closed the door, and prayed to know if it was true. My answer this time was not as obvious. I did feel an overwhelming peace come over me and continued with me the entire rest of that day. I feel that those experiences were no doubt the spirit manifesting itself to me. What are your thoughts?

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Hey brother, Ill get back to you when I am off work. Not quite what I am saying. Just re-read the first email. I think we have the same idea.

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okay :) will do. i'll save it then read it again next week.

The Probelm With Verses

I've discovered another way to read the scriptures, or anything, that expanded my mind quite a bit -

In context.

I don't mean reading the three verses before and after the one you are looking at. I don't mean reading the chapter before and the chapter after the one you want to read. I mean starting at the beginning of a thought and not stopping until you reach the end.

Ultimately, you'd find yourself reading all of scripture in one sitting, but since that's impossible, we can break it down a little further.

In the middle of page 23 in the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon, Nephi is wanting some knowledge for himself from God. He is not satisfied with what his prophet/father has given him so he sits pondering and is caught away into an exceeding high mountain. What follows is a prophecy of a portion of the history of the world. The prophecy doesn't end until you reach the top of page 35(or the end of the book of Revelation, really).

This happens again and again throughout the book of Mormon. A couple more examples are pp. 86-102 and 102-122.

Rather than focusing on small portions of a great big thought, you are getting the whole picture. It's like being able to understand the planet Earth, and the things that go on here by just thinking "Earth" rather than needing to think about each individual thing separate from the one great whole it is a part of. You still see the tiny individual parts and they are still important, but you see them as being intertwined.

I do think there is a place for focusing in. I think portions of thought travel across scripture, allowing links from page to page, connecting ideas, broadening the understanding of words or phrases. But when it comes time to understand who you are in relation to what is going on in the world and what God is doing and what He wants to do, context is indispensable. Full context.

It helps to read these things in paragraph format. That way, thoughts that shouldn't be broken up by verses or chapters, aren't. You can find all the scriptures online in paragraph format or copy/paste and edit them yourself.

Good luck.

Happy reading

Mormon History

One of my favorite quotes is, "I don't read fiction because I get it confused with fact. History is much more interesting anyways. History is perverse man - it will twist you." This isn't verbatim, but it's pretty close.

As I read through the Joseph Smith papers(minus some of the opinions in the inserted essays), it is apparent to me how twisted my understanding of those times was. Real, first hand, contemporary accounts twisted my brain, scratched out my eyes, and scratched them back in. It's far better than any novel I have read.

I end up liking people I disliked before(Sidney Rigdon). Pitying people I thought were wretched(John C. Bennett). Being disappointed in people I thought ought to know better(Oliver Cowdery). And standing in awe at people I thought I were great before, but are now magnificent(Joseph and Emma).

It becomes apparent where God was working, where He wasn't, where He wanted to. True history shines a bright, and sometimes unwelcome light on why we are where we are today. It helps me understand where we wanted to go(Zion) and where we went(the desert). And I'm compelled to agree with the quote. True history IS more interesting. It IS more perverse. It will twist you. But it will, if you'll accept it, always bless you.

There are very few people I trust to write commentaries on history. It is easy to "write in" your own opinion as you take quotes out of context, or "elaborate" on some written account, even if it is only your assumption. This is why everyone who wants know what happened needs to put in the work themselves. It sucks. It takes time. You have to sacrifice some things. It's fine though - you're always left with more than you bargained for anyway.

Start now: http://www.josephsmithpapers.org/