Beyond the Mark.

Satan would like to have us believe that the Lord’s ways are complex.  That exalted understanding or lofty abilities are required in order to follow after Him.  He seeks to disorganize our vision so that as we look at the pathway which leads to home, it appears as though it is a difficult and unachievable summit.  He designs this corrupted perception that insecurities may take hold of our hearts, and fear of being insufficient may encourage us to flee.  However, the truth of it all is that the Savior’s ways and His gospel are plain.  His words are not weaved with obscure messages that only a chosen few can correctly interpret.  They are released with a simple order, outlined without intricacies, and have exclusions to none.  The Lord and His prophets speak plainly that we may know how to satisfy our expectations, and that we may fulfill the very measure of our creation.

It is true that parables and poetic expressions are utilized throughout the scriptures, and quite frequently are given by the Savior Himself, but they are not presented to produce perplexity.  Commonly these forms of expression are employed to veil the depth of the message to those who are spiritually unprepared.  Contemplation and sincere reflection will be essential, but as we align ourselves with the Spirit, and supply an environment, both internally and externally, where He can exist, we find that what we originally perceived to be mystifying becomes clearly manifest and easily understood. 

Additionally, our tender Heavenly Father and beloved Savior, Jesus Christ do not display exclusivity.  They do not only seek after those with an expanded intellectual capacity or an extended scripture mastery.  They do not search after only the supreme, nor secretly desire an elect collection of individuals who have a heightened comprehension to the ways of the gospel, or who have the ability to majestically interpret or expound.  Our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are astoundingly inclusive, and truly desire each child to share in receiving all that the Father hath.  Satan and his ways are the ones which are always exclusionary.  He craves to leave others behind, and intensely labors to have us feel ostracized.  Indeed, he is the original exclusionist. 

When we begin to truly understand and gain testimony of the ways of the Lord, we may find ourselves amazed at their simplicity.  We may be astonished that so much is given from our Father and Savior, and comparatively, little is required.  We may doubt that such mercy could be delivered upon a sinner such as ourselves, or that holding firmly to the straight and narrow path is complied of uncomplicated and intelligible steps.  We may be entirely startled when Satan’s deceptive confusion relating to the complexity of the Divine, begins to melt away, as we recognize the truth of the Lord’s plainness.  Truly, our hearts will swell with the fiercest version of love when we discover the clarity that exists within the gospel, recognizing that it is His most honest demonstration of how dearly He wants us back home. 

Evidence of His Plainness

A perfect example of such simpleness exists in the story of Moses and the serpent of brass.  During a moment of unfaithfulness among the children of Israel, as they moved towards the promised land, the Lord sent fiery serpents as a consequence of their murmuring and disbelief.  As those they and their loved ones began to perish and wither from the venomous attacks of these snakes, the Israelites quickly recognized the errors of their ways and turned to their leader, Moses, to plead with the Lord for deliverance.  The Lord’s response is a evidence of the plainness of His works, yet the cruciality of existing with a heart full of faith.  The Lord directed Moses to create a brass serpent, then to perch it upon a tall pole.  He declared that if the affected would look upon the brass serpent they would be healed.  The Lord’s cure was not twisted with a hidden agenda or entangled with concealed requirements.  His curative ways were not burdensome nor complex.  The merciful Lord simply requested that His wounded children look upon the serpent made of brass, with a believing heart, to be restored, to be saved.

We know the resolution of this story.  Some believed and followed the instruction given by Moses, which was delivered by the power of the Lord, yet many, because of the simplicity of its ways, turned away.  They did not allow their eyes to glance upon the serpent.  They did not accept the simple request, nor did they follow the divinely manifest pathway which led to rehabilitation.  Their faith lacked the ability to believe in the clear and straightforward ways of the Lord and the result of such defiance was severe.  Their bodies, as well as those they so cherished, were delivered to the dust of the earth. 

We may look upon this story and ponder, How could they deny such a miracle?  Why would they not partake of such forgiveness for their sin of grumbling against the Lord, and not have joy in such mercy?  However, we can liken this story so clearly to a specific opportunity of compassion which is offered to us today.  One that if accepted brings about remission of sin, healing, strength, and hope.  The gift I speak of is that of the Atonement. 

Our Extended Mercy

The Atonement has been, and will forever be, a major focus of study and wonder for me.  My mortal mind and limited comprehension cannot fathom the majesty of this blessing.  To understand that the only One who never sinned, who never made error, who never spoke guile, who never surrendered to temptation, who never sought His own will but instead desired the Father’s, whose heart never welcomed malice, jealousy, lust, or evil, was the One who willingly and voluntarily suffered an agony so extreme it cannot even be described as pain, for its torment far exceeded anything that encompasses pain’s definition.  He existed and endured through every sadness, heartache, torture, distress, misery, despair, and was more than just familiar with the deepest throbbing of the body, mind, soul, and heart.  Our perfected brother, flawless in every way, accepted and sought after, such an experience that we may be freed from the sins which mark us.  His love for us was so boundless and so overwhelming, that He chose to suffer such a fate that we may be cleansed, that we may be free. 

As we think upon this incredible blessing, we may consider on the price.  In a temporal setting where payment matches the reward, we may prepare ourselves for a powerfully heavy fee, one that is filled with unfathomable requirements.  We may fear that in order to be worthy of the blessing of being cleansed from the immorality and wickedness in which we have entertained, that we, too, must pay the price, which most certainly would be filled to the utmost brim with complexities and unbearable necessities.  After all, it is only just.  However, reflect on the magnificence and the unbelievable simplicity of gaining this reward.  We will not be required to atone for these errors and sins which have clouded our divinity.  We will not be asked to carry the burdens because the Lord has already accepted and carried them for us.  We will not be requested to endure anything that will parallel with His torment.  No.  All that He asks is that we accept Him as our Savior, that we follow His commandments, and that we have faith in His words, timetables, and ways.  It is clear.  It is plain.  It is crowded with simplicity. 

These are only two outstanding examples, there are a multitude which live and breathe within the pages of our scriptures.  Find them.  Gain testimony of them.  And most of all, liken them.

Looking Beyond the Mark

So, if we understand that our Father works in simple ways, and that the gospel of Christ is plain, why then does it appear convoluted to the eyes of the world?  The answer lies with Satan, it always exists with the master of deceit.  It becomes complicated when we allow Satan to rearrange our perspective.  When he becomes our ruler, which is anytime we are not following after the Savior, he emerges into our lives with redefinitions and alterations of every kind.  He perverts the simpleness by enhancing the natural man, enticing with practices of slothfulness and temporal leisure.  Here we allow his darkening confusion to cloud our personal revelations, and we find that what we once knew to be straightforward and clear, has become disturbed and seems to appear skewed.  He is the author of chaos, so when we see through the spectacles which he has constructed for us, everything seems disorganized, and righteousness gives the impression of being an unobtainable and undesirable attainment.  It is interesting that perhaps, at times, we find ease in jumbled perspectives created by the devil, instead of the order which is created by the plainness of the true Master.

Would I be terribly off target to suggest that perhaps we ourselves become apprentices of Satan, seeking, whether we are conscious of it or not, to obscure and add complexity to gospel truths?  Probably our first response would be, Never!  Why would we do such a thing?  However, have we ever found that we, much like the ancient Israelites, have not accepted the simple, basic truths of the gospel?  Perhaps, we feel that more is required, and quickly disregard clarity which has been divinely delivered.  Maybe we seek after compounded and intricate understandings, or necessitate glorious revelations and manifestations, or possibly, we desire heightened comprehension to stand as a symbol of worthiness to the world.  Have we ever found ourselves here?  I know I have.  When we recognize where we are surviving, we must immediately understand that in these moments we have sided with the lines of evil and are encouraging the corruption of something which is celestially simple.  Eternally perfect.

Perhaps, our ancient prophet Jacob, who assisted in compiling only the most precious portions of truth in the Book of Mormon for us today, feared that we may become blinded by such things.  As an example of what such behaviors can lead to he shared this example of the early Jews:

But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand.  Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it.  And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble.  Jacob 4:14

Many of the Jews, including a shocking number of the Jewish leaders whom declared to be masters of the scriptures and their meanings, became imperceptive and insensitive to the simple, basic principles of truth because they sought after something more.  Their fascination with complexities and intricacies bounded them with Satan.  The terrifying outcome of such a corrupted desire: they could not recognize Christ for who He was when He arrived.  Instead of being their Messiah, their Redeemer, He became their stumbling block. 

I adore this explanation of this scripture given by Dean L. Larsen:

[The Jews] in ancient times got themselves into great difficulty because they placed themselves in serious jeopardy in spiritual things because they were unwilling to accept simple, basic principles of truth.  They entertained and intrigued themselves with things they could not understand.  They were apparently afflicted with a pseudosophistication and a snobbishness that gave them a false sense of superiority over those who came among them with the Lord’s words of plainness.  They went beyond the mark of wisdom and prudence, and obviously failed to stay within the circle of fundamental gospel truths, which provide a basis for faith.  They must have reveled in speculative and theoretical matters that obscured for them the fundamental spiritual truths.  As they became infatuated by these things that they could not understand, their comprehension of and faith in the redeeming role of a true Messiah was lost, and the purpose of life became confused.

Do We Receive, Realize, and Accept?

Contemplating these things, we must assess ourselves, identifying if we have become captive to Satan’s snares.  Has he pulled us away from Christ, seeking that we look beyond Him, the mark of all goodness, of all greatness, of all glory?  These are thoughts that came to my mind as I reflected:

Do I receive the Savior and the Father, and without reluctance, accept Their methods?  Do I recognize the importance of following every command, no matter how simplistic, having faith that it is what will be my saving grace?

Do I realize and embrace the plainness of the gospel, or do I seek after doctrine that is built upon enigmatic philosophies and abstract teachings in order to prove its accuracy? 

Do I receive and abide by Christ’s pure and clear ways, or am I searching for a religion that praises exclusivity based on elevated and selective behaviors? 

Am I conscious of the significance of  my callings, and work to magnify them every whit, or do I find myself constantly craving an assignment which, in my eyes, holds a heightened role in the Lord’s work?

Do I seek for answers to my prayers that produce miraculous circumstances, yearning for experiences that coincide with astounding events recorded in scripture, while disregarding the personally customized marvels that come to me with a quieter, but no less significant, delivery? 

Am I looking past Jesus Christ, my Savior, and focusing on a self-constructed God or self-assembled religion, which lacks the One which has been given to stand as my bedrock?  Am I loosing faith in the redeeming role of my Messiah?

The gospel of Christ is plain.  The gospel of Christ is pure.  The gospel of Christ is uncomplicated.  The gospel of Christ is perfect.  It does not need to be modified, revised, adjusted.  It does not need to be adapted to better meet the standards of the world, nor does it change to honor what the world deems is right or wrong.  Following after the Father and the Savior is not as difficult as Satan would have us believe.  They love us.  They adore us.  They cherish us.  They want us home.  They are merciful and devoted in being a constant part of our missions here on this earth.  Their ways will bring us joy beyond expression, release from sorrows, anxieties and fears.  Their ways will bring temporal blessings, and will keep in store for us, celestial blessings which will attend us in the eternities.  These blessings are so divine and glorious that our hearts simply cannot grasp them at this given moment of time.  Truly, they are beyond anything a telestial world has seen, heard, or witnessed.    

Exertion Does Not Denote Complexity

I cannot end this testimony without recognizing that although full of divine simplicity, following after the Lord will require labor.  This is a wonderful thing, and should never be viewed as burdensome.  For through our endeavors, and the endurance of trials we are better aligned with our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Sustaining through this mortal experience is essential in becoming as They are, which is our ultimate objective.  When we study and learn what is required to be a disciple of Christ, Satan will immediately throw red flags as though to scream, I told you-COMPLICATED!  Don’t believe him, he simply despises his inability to navigate the mortal journey to receive the divine blessings of exaltation. 

We cannot, and should not, correlate the necessity of exertion with complexity.  Although Christ’s words and ways are simple, it does not mean that we will not need to place forward effort in order to gain a full and complete understanding.  For persistent energies will be essential.  In a world which seems to entertain lackadaisical habits, we may mistakenly label anything that necessitates labor as complicated.  We would be wise to recall that this is a temporal definition, created by the master of diversion, not a celestial one explained by our very Creator.  Requiring work in order to fully comprehend or comply to the workings of the Lord, does not elucidate that His ways are convoluted, tangled, or burdensome to follow. 

The Majesty of Simplicity

Lastly, and most importantly, explaining the Father and Savior’s words, ways, and commandments as simple, does not suggest that they lack power, or to imply that they are not profound.  For there is nothing that can be released from another tongue that matches the intensity and exquisite nature of Their words.  There is nothing that can equal the strength of Their hand, nor the grandeur that attends to miracles which leave the very tips of Their fingers.  They carry a divinity and a celestial competence that is unsurpassed in this earthly domain, and They reign upon high in the heavens.  And this is where the majesty of it all is recognized, Christ’s words, and His ways, do not need to be adorned with the highest form of eloquence, nor must they entail esoteric phrases to hold magnificence.  They are sublime, beyond measure, in their simplicity.  Truly, through small and simple words do great things come to be known.  Through small and simple acts do great things come to pass.  They are entirely glorious, thoroughly wondrous within Their simplicity. 

Realize the simplicity of the gospel.  Receive the plainness of Christ.  Accept the simpleness of His ways.  Allow Him to be your steadfast foundation.  The very one which holds you firm and immovable.  Don’t ever cause Him to become the stone which you stumble upon.  And never, ever look past Him.  For He is the mark.  He always has been.  He forever will be.  Look to Him.

Read More

I Knew That It Was a Poor Spot.

Many of the most challenging portions of life come from unfavorable circumstances that are beyond our control. These may come by way of our placement on this earth. 

Perhaps, you were positioned into an environment which produces the greatest sorrow your heart will know. Blessed relationships that should have been experienced, and enjoyed, are forsaken by the very ones who were predetermined to lead and guide you. Your situation could be one of danger and peril, with hands that carelessly break your frame or shatter your soul. Your setting may be crowded with hardship, devoid of temporal or spiritual necessities which create an agonizing form of tribulation. Perhaps, those you love make impetuous decisions which demolish your hopes, and leave you breathless with the sins, which not only mark them, but also decay portions of your own life. Or maybe, your familial foundation, the unit which has been described as being the closest thing to celestial joy in this telestial sphere, is defective, fractured, or destroyed. It may be the most grim portion of your journey to endure through a life that was altered and transformed by the choices of another, whose consequences you, too, must now withstand.

It may be living within these circumstances or enduring such a misery that make us lose faith in the love of our Heavenly Father. Many of these situations may seem to void promised blessings, or may convince us that the shortage of what we so yearn for is a demonstration of His lack of devotion to us. We may question our self worth, analyzing the deficiencies within us, and concluding that we must be unsuitable for the affection of our Creator, of our Father.  

Perhaps, we define ourselves with terminologies that identify us as flawed or defective, and we begin to consider that perhaps His adoration passes such an imperfect and unworthy child. We may fail to develop a testimony, or may stray from the faith we once stood aside, believing that we are inadequate for His favor. However, a simple parable can liberate this type of burdened heart. It can release us from the chains which Satan has bound us by, which seek to drag us to the depths of hell where misery reigns. It can illuminate truth and help us to discover that perhaps our heartbreaking circumstances stand as the very symbol of His ever-present, His ever-abounding, His highest form of love, one which is filled with trust and duty.       

I have always delighted in parables. I appreciate the way they develop and expand each time they are read. Never do I study a parable with an identical outcome. They have the ability to adapt to the happenings of life and can be likened to an aching, craving, or perplexed heart. The parable given by the Old Testament prophet Zenos, retold by the prophet Jacob in the Book of Mormon, provides revelation relating to the challenging positioning of life.

In this parable Zenos tells of the olive tree. The olive tree stands as a metaphor for Israel, but can also stand as a representation of any son or daughter of God. Many profound truths are held within this parable relating to the scattering and gathering of Israel. When the olive tree begins to corrupt, the Lord takes branches off the tree and scatters them throughout His vineyard. In time, the Lord and the servant, which represents the prophet, comes to examine the branches of which He has spread. When the servant reaches the first and second branches which have been planted, he turns to the Lord and declares:

How comest thou hither to plant this tree, or this branch of the tree?  For behold, it was the poorest spot in all the land of they vineyard. Jacob 5:21

The Lord replies to His concerned servant, saying:

Counsel me not; I knew that it was a poor spot of ground; wherefore, I said unto thee, I have nourished it this long time, and thou beholdest that it hath brought forth much fruit.  Jacob 5:22

The Lord and servant go onto the second branch, and the Lord reveals:

Look hither; behold I have planted another branch of the tree also; and thou knowest that this spot of ground was poorer than the first.  But behold the tree. I have nourished it this long time, and it hath brought forth much fruit… Jacob 5:23

Three phrases brilliantly radiate throughout this parable which help us understand the majesty of our placement in earthly life.

I knew that it was a poor spot of ground.

I love the words, I knew. It reaffirms the personalization of our positioning. The Lord did not randomly send us to earth, dropping us into whatever setting we fell into. No, our tender Father does not work in such a way. His devotion to us surpasses all understanding, and He has been apart of every moment of our existence, helping us assemble and construct who we are destined to become. 

Because I have a testimony of this dedicated love, I have a firm belief that our Heavenly Father carefully and consciously places us into our earthly settings. He observed and delighted in us as we prepared ourselves for our opportunity on earth, and when we were organized, He provided our call. I believe that He attentively chose where we should be sent, taking all things into consideration, and supplying us with an invitation to produce good fruit unto Him. 

By accepting this understanding does it suggest that our Heavenly Father, the one who supposedly holds such love for His child, intentionally sent us into situations that are painful, upsetting, or even perilous? The answer is a powerful, Yes. Yes, He placed you in a difficult place. Yes, He knew that it would break your heart. Yes, He knew that it would try your faith. Yes, He knew that inequitable circumstances, some so intense that they have the ability to make you fall to your knees in desperation, would have to be endured. Yes, before Heavenly Father sent you through the veil, He knew it was a poor spot. 

Recognizing this we may cry out, Here! Here is proof of a faulty love, of a defective belief system, or even, an imperfect God! How quickly we seek to substantiate such things to reassure a throbbing heart. How rapidly we overlook the divine meaning of it all, and seek justice for a life that seems so unfair. This hunt for retribution is shepherded by Satan, and robs us of the ability to become refined because of the setting and placement of life. 

Indeed, the words spoken by the Lord of the vineyard to his wondering servant can resound with us, when He said, Counsel me not. When we seek to direct God and modify His decisions, we become subject to pride, and are deprived of the opportunity to be led and guided by His divine understanding, which enables us to acquire who we are meant to become by accepting and obeying His supreme wisdom. 

Do we ever stop to ponder on the other end? Do we ever reflect from the perspective of a Father who has let His child, the one He adores with a love that is illimitable, one whom He cherishes beyond comprehension, enter and exist in an atmosphere that will burden their souls? The most sincere form of heartbreak must accompany such an experience. 

As a mortal parent with young children, I exhaust myself in laboring to protect and safeguard them. I seek to dispel any harm and to ensure that their surroundings are filled with the sweetest form of joy and peace. However, I know that there will come a time when I will have to let them embark on their own, and assuredly, as I allow them their agency, will have to observe them suffer grief as they develop throughout the essential events of life. If I am an incomplete being, and feel an intensity of heartache over such a situation, how much more does a perfected parent grieve?

To build our testimony of His love, we must gain a firm belief that our assigned places upon this earth have not happened by unplanned or casual selection from a careless hand. Nor, were we situated because of a deficiency of love, or because we hold a lesser significance. Our positioning is the greatest indicator of His commitment to us. The customization of our lives is the surest way to recognize our divine possibilities.  

It Hath Brought Forth Much Fruit

The Lord has specifically chosen our placement for this mortal test because of His faith and heartfelt confidence in our abilities and potentialities. He knows us through and through. There is not a portion of who we are or what we can do that He is not aware of. Indeed, He knows and understands our souls and hearts far better than even we know ourselves. The depth of His knowledge, of who and what we are, stands as an emblem of His admiration and commitment to us. We are so dear to Him that He desires to have a firm understanding of every portion that establishes who we are. 

While in the premortal sphere we all prepared for this earthly life to prove ourselves worthy, but also rejoiced in the opportunity to labor in, and for, His kingdom. We yearned to produce good fruit unto Him. Our all-knowing Father knows exactly the circumstances we necessitate to bring forth that goodness. 

We must accept this opportunity boldly and cling to our calling fiercely, being constantly invigorated by His trust in us. We must stand strong against the torments of our heart, and dispel Satan who seeks to have us believe that what we have encountered comes from an unloving, inattentive Father. We cannot allow Satan to steal this individualized blessing from us. We must exert and surpass our surroundings, not allowing them to diminish our efforts in bringing forth that good fruit. We cannot let down our Father, but must continually seek to meet His expectations and achieve what He hopes for us. 

It is essential to note that this scripture is not implying that only those who have been sent to poor spots have a heightened ability to produce good fruits, nor that because one has been delivered into an advantageous existence that they are less able. Absolutely not. We have all been divinely positioned that we can bring the most good out of our specific circumstances. We are the best person to bring forth righteousness in whatever situation we reside. In fact, the Lord planted His third branch in a good spot of ground. His love, affections, and expectations for this branch duplicated that of the first and second. We all have the responsibility to utilize our positioning to further the work of the Lord.  

Lastly, we must never allow our circumstances to stand as an excuse for our lack of obedience. We must never hide behind them, employing them as a justification for our unrighteous decisions. The uncontrolled factors of our life cannot condone behaviors that do not align with the Lord’s commandments. Excusing ourselves of our duties because of our placement is nullifying the opportunities bestowed by our Father. We must allow our situations, especially our discouraging ones, to be a motivating force towards magnified righteousness. We must seek to allow our challenges to forge virtues of compassion and tenderness that we may console another who may exist in an identical existence. Truly, our disheartening circumstances can be the very source of spiritual elevation in our lives, if we will but allow it.  

I have nourished it this long time.

The most prized portion of this scripture: I have nourished it. 

The Lord does not deliver us into our earthly positions and then abandon, nor does He watch from the sidelines. Although this is a test, it is one in which He is intricately woven. The Lord never strands His child, and I believe, never more is He there then when our hearts are burdened. 

Our concerned Father, and loyal Savior, are present in every moment, through every hardship, during every portion of our tribulation. There is not a cry, no matter how dark the night, that They do not rush to soothe. There is not a physical or spiritual wound that They do not dash to heal. There is not a minute we are without Their reparative love. With every desire and yearning that goes unmet, aside every anxiety and worry, through every calamitous moment we must withstand, They can be found, and never in the background, but with Their hands enclosed on our own.  They are there.  

They carry us when burdens oppress our ability to continue onward. Indeed, if we trace back our lives, especially during our greatest moments of heartache, we will find Them. Their presence will illuminate so brightly and our ability to recognize Their existence will be so tangible that it will stun our hearts and astound our weakened souls. We will find that He truly nourished us, every moment of every day. He cared for us. He never allowed us to fall, nor did He permit the anguish of our positioning to overcome His child. He did not send us into difficult circumstances then leave us to withstand on our own. 

He was, and is, there. 

Recognizing that He is always present, helps us to realize that in order to experience His cultivation, we must allow it. We must permit Him to nourish us. We must enable Him to uplift us and buoy us during moments that we simply have to bravely endure. Gaining an understanding and testimony of the Atonement of our Savior is the surest way to empower His succor.

The Atonement is not one-dimensional, and it should not be viewed as such. True, the Atonement is our rescue from sin. Through, and by it, is the only way that we can secure a repentance of our transgressions. However, it is also the only source of complete solace that can be found on earth. It provides total relief from loss, deprivation, sorrow, and torture. Truly, there is absolutely nothing we will encounter in this lifetime that He cannot mend, repair, or make right. His sacrifice for us covers every single portion of pain or suffering that we will be faced with. 

Allow Christ into your life. Not in a when-I-need-Him way, but in an every-single-moment-I-simply-cannot-exist-without-you way. His hand will nourish and sustain us throughout our hardships. 

Regardless of our circumstances, with His love and nourishing hand we can sustain through anything. There is no form of abuse or neglect we cannot conquer. No abandonment or void of sustenance that we cannot overcome. We are under His care, the one who can move mountains with a single command and change the patterns of the drifting sea. The one who produces miracles and provides blessings that the eye hath not seen, nor the ear heard. We can dispel fear of our circumstances by relying on His hand to uphold us. We can endure. We will discover unmatched courage, unyielding fortitude, and unwavering tenacity. 

We have heard it declared that life was never meant to be fair. That can be such a difficult phrase to swallow when you are the one sitting at the inequitable end. However, as we have faith in our divine placement, acquire a testimony of our Father’s purposes, and depend upon the tender and all-encompassing aid which comes from our Savior, Jesus Christ, we will come to find that we are able to not only bear our unfair circumstances, but to completely defeat them. 

After all, He knew it was a poor spot, but He also knew we could be the metamorphosing element, so He sent us.  We must seek to be those who utilize the poor spot of ground in which we have been planted to become a majestic tree of good. 

Read More

All Things Shall Be Made Known.

The promised blessings that the Lord commits in releasing to His children during the Millennial days are individually remarkable.  When I study the chapters of scripture that describe this period of life, it sends my heart into a palpitating frenzy.  I yearn to be numbered among those who experience life at the Savior’s side, where enmity cannot be found, death, as we understand it, does not transpire, and where the only tears that spill from our eyes are produced from the euphoric beat of our heart.  The brilliance of such an existence is so contrastive from where we currently reside, that it may seem as though it is nothing but a beautifully woven fable, but it is not.  It is an assured and certain reality for those who encounter life with devoted loyalty to the Lord.  Perhaps, that is why I have my heart set upon it so firmly.  My solid trust in the words of my Father do not waiver, so I recognize that only time must pass away before the words which exist in the books I so cherish, become a current time reality. 

The grandeur of each blessing our Heavenly Father and Savior have covenanted to, create difficultly in identifying a favored one, but I believe my heart has dedicated itself to its dearest: the endowment of absolute knowledge and understanding.  Listen to the majesty that describes this gift:

Wherefore, the things of all nations shall be made known; yea, all things shall be made known unto the children of men.  There is nothing which is secret save it shall be revealed; there is no work of darkness save it shall be made manifest in the light; and there is nothing which is sealed upon the earth save it shall be loosed.  Wherefore, all things which have been revealed unto the children of men shall at that day be revealed; and Satan shall have power over the hearts of the children of men no more, for a long time… 2 Nephi 30:16-18

I have a soul that craves knowledge.  I have been aware of this appetite for as long as I can recall.  I have a deep love for learning, and an extensive devotion to study.  I appreciate the way it enables me to utilize pieces of my spirit that are in an undeveloped state.  When I examine a topic which was once unfamiliar, and find that it becomes elucidated, I can almost feel the enhancement of my being.  I appreciate the new insights I discover, and the way my discernment is sharpened.  I have always enjoyed applying this to temporal learning, but realized the intensity of my adoration when I implemented it in spiritual study.  I have become consumed in immersing my soul in the things of the gospel, allowing my mind to comprehend the messages my spirit conveys, and enabling my heart to absorb the light it discovers.  I have recognized the way it connects me, piece by piece, to who I was before I crossed the veil.  My hunger for understanding attaches me to the premortal daughter of God my heart remembers. 

Knowing that this is a portion of my composition, it is easily understood why this promised blessing would be dear to my heart.  However, as I have observed events that have emerged, especially in the short span of this past year, I find myself wondering if this blessing will not be correspondingly cherished, standing as one of the greatest for many of us. 

A Time of Testing

Lack of understanding has always seemed to be the spark which ignites the flames of opposition against things of the Lord.  Our mortal minds seek for logical pathways.  We want to know, we want to understand, we want to unravel the uncertainty before we follow.  This desire is not surprising.  This reaction is entwined with our gift of agency.  We seek for comprehension because our innate spirits want to use the agency we were endowed.  We want to ensure that we are making decisions, and engaging in commitments, that are true.  This is good, and our Heavenly Father thoroughly rejoices in our employment of this celestial blessing.  However, we must not forget the way our experience here on earth is defined, for it is continually described as a mortal probation, a time of testing. 

Distinguishing this as a testing period, suggests that we are here to demonstrate what we already know to be true.  This test is dissimilar to other assessments we may participate in within a temporal setting, for our earthly trial is covered by a veiled remembrance.  We were not sent to earth to be taught new truths.  This is not a primary step within our perpetual experience to teach us of Him, His existence, or of His plan before, during, or after this life, for we have already been instructed of these things.  We learned at His side, by His hand.  That is why it is just that we can come to this earth through the veil.  We knew the truth so perfectly, that it was ingrained into our very core, truly embedded into every inch of who we were and are.  It is fair that we do not recall all things at this time because we have been supplied with all we need to recognize the truth when it is revealed to us.

This is exact reason why the word restoration is utilized when describing the gospel.  Restoration signifies the return of something to its former condition.  The gospel and its certainties are not new understandings, they are returned truths.  No, this test is not to gain new knowledge and then to illustrate them, but instead to exemplify our ability in recognizing the truths we have previously been taught, and to walk by faith when the fullness of that precept has yet to be unveiled.  Indeed, we can define this earthly opportunity as the application portion of our celestial assessment. 

The word faith summarizes the difficulties of our test.  Our mortal desires seek to dispel this part of the trial because it is hard.  We find inconvenience in not having a perfect knowledge of all things, and when full understanding is not immediately delivered, we conclude that it is erroneous.  The world simply does not want to walk by faith, but instead seeks to be steered by logic.  The only complication with this is that rationality is created by the wisdom of man, and man holds such a restricted comprehension.  Their knowledge is created by what they can feel, see, and reason with.  Anything that requires loyalty without sight, obedience without extended explanation, and commitment which violates popular ideologies, is seen as fallacious.  The terrestrial mind necessitates palpable proof, with detailed blue prints, before dedicating their heart.   

Our memory must never leave behind the certainty that this experience was meant to be complex.  It was designed to stretch our souls to new horizons, reaching to the heights where our Father and Savior prevail.  The challenging circumstances, which most commonly blanket our lives, enable us to become more like them.  They empower us to obtain all that is essential to emulate Their abilities, echo Their capacities, and to have a paralleled mastery of comprehension with Them.  It is an inescapable pathway to attain perfection.  We labored intensely during our premortal existence to acquire a secured foundation of knowledge, one that would reinforce us throughout this mortal test.  We must exert as fiercely as we did then to perpetuate the innate understanding that currently resides within us. 

Knowledge-it is a gift

The greatest treasure I have discovered, and will forever more protect within this scripture, is the awareness that knowledge is a gift.  A divine blessing from our Heavenly Father.  It is such an exceptionally remarkable and uniquely precious bestowal, that it is given as one of the final rewards for abiding faithfully.  This realization is extraordinarily significant because it alters our perspective on the acquisition of enlightenment, and is contrastive to the way the world acknowledges this endowment.  For the carnal man believes that they are instantaneously entitled to an unabridged understanding.  They do not accept faith as a prerequisite to acquisition, and view obedience that is led by trust in the divine to be blind compliance.  As always, man’s way is not a replica of our Father’s methods.

Knowledge is not supplied if we are unworthy of it.  Revelation is provided bit by bit, as we are prepared to receive it.  If we demand understanding so that it may stand as a symbol of personalized verification of our doubts, it may never transpire.  We may find that commands or orders of ultimatums surrounding a possession of heightened comprehension may be withheld.  However, If we truly crave revealed understanding, are diligent in our efforts to have mysteries unfolded, and seek after wisdom with pure intent, guided by a virtuous heart-it will come.  A loving, tender Father desires to share His advanced illumination with His child.  Knowledge is conferred through acts of obedience, and in my experience, is poured upon us while dutifully endeavoring even, and especially, when our understanding meets a current boundary.  When we endure through these moments, our parameters will be extended, our knowledge becoming limitless. 

Now, this is not to say that the Lord disregards His children which struggle with faith.  He is always seeking for His lost sheep.  He is aside them continuously, matching every footstep.  Although they may misinterpret the symbols of His presence, He never retires.  I believe that He repeatedly delivers a divulgence of truth to these individuals, but because of a hardened core, His messages are obstructed.  The problem with many who seek understanding as a sign of proof is that as quickly as the illumination is delivered, it is dispelled because of a forbidding heart.  One cannot perceive the whisperings of the Father, given through the Holy Ghost, if their communication centers have become frigid, rent of spiritual vitality.  He seeks to provide the personalized enlightenment that is being requested, and desires to supply cornerstones to begin the construction of spiritual foundations, but finds that these divine transmissions reach untouched ears and vacant souls.  He simply cannot get through, nor does He force to be heard, for He fiercely defends our agency of choice.  Indeed, the receiver must permit the teachings of the Holy Ghost to obtain the witness of truth that they have determined they need before following after the Savior.   Regrettably, because of the pride which is suffocating their supernal sensitivity, many are unable to secure what they necessitate.

It Comes As a Whisper

Our Father-He is not a God of secrets.  Although our understanding is not complete within this earthly probation, it is not by reason of a reticent Lord who seeks to conceal or hide away truths for His security, nor to keep us under His command.  Rather, we are not ready at the current state for the awakening and return of the absolute collection of celestial truths.  However, as we prepare, we will reach arranged positions, and the Lord will deliver personal revelation so astounding our hearts will bulge from our middle.   Our knowledge banks will expand and will spill into our souls, filling us to our very brim. 

It is our duty to be alert and active in recognizing these dispatched insights.  Most regularly they will not arrive in over-elaborate displays.  Rarely, does the Lord work in such ways, for it is Satan that constantly seeks for a show to attract attentions.  Instead, more commonly, they will be recognized in quiet moments where the confusion is wiped from the mind, wisdom is manifest, and the beat of the heart becomes unrestrained.  For these discoveries are communicated by the Holy Ghost, and His voice is but a whisper.  But for those of us who have heard Him, we know that the whisper is anything but small, for it has the ability to light a fire within us which engulfs the soul.  We must not let these communications go unnoticed because we are too distracted and determined in observing a miracle.  One is being supplied, and it is extremely personalized, down to the smallest detail.  Our illumination will be intensely incredible, and will stand as phenomenal entries in our intimate memories, equal to recordings of visitations of angels within scriptural accounts. 

The Last Inning

Faith is being target in an immense way.  The world’s mumblings are becoming strong, and can, at times, seem overpowering.  Articles displaying ferocious antagonism towards our beliefs, posts eloquently spun to convince us of the falsity of our religion, and personal opinions which emphasize and linger on the lack of perfect understanding signifying it as a corrupted religion seem to be appearing at a rapid pace.  I am astonished to see how many emerge and whirl through social media feeds, and am severely saddened to witness many I cherish become subject to their persuasions.  There is no coincidence that fierce opposition is accelerating at the same speed as the hastening of the work of the Lord.  Satan realizes that this is the last inning, and he is employing all of his prepared techniques and carefully constructed strategies.  He is desperate, because he knows the outcome does not end in his favor.  As a plot of revenge he desires to seize as many of his righteous brothers and sisters as he possibly can, bounding them to his side to share his miserable fate. 

It can be extremely difficult to sustain faith and to extinguish doubts with such a collision of opposition being thrust towards us.  However, we can be buoyed and strengthened by the clarity that our Father delivers about these events, for He speaks about them specifically.  Many scriptures, particularly in the Book of Mormon and Doctrine and Covenants, explain that Satan will target the gospel and seek to make us question the Lord’s ways and plans because of our currently limited comprehension.  They clearly state how intense it will become in these last days.  They very ones in which we currently reside.  It is a clever attack that Satan is utilizing, for lack of understanding can produce feelings of vulnerability, and vulnerabilities can make us susceptible to his snares.

We cannot allow our doubts to trump our confidences, but instead should permit our convictions to dwindle our uncertainties.  These carefully placed scriptures can increase our fortitude and deepen our commitment to our faith, for they are perfectly provided that we need never worry, fear, nor become startled by what emerges around us.  They also assist us in recognizing how flawlessly the Lord knows Satan’s tactics, and how strongly He protects His righteous children.  What strength His words provide as we receive heightened discernment, which rescue us from Satan’s most advanced deceptions.  Nothing is new, nor surprising, to our Lord.  His love and devoted shield of defense have the ability to invigorate our hearts, and reinforce our tenacity to stand as a light within a darkened sphere.  As we feast upon His words and as we authorize the Holy Ghost to teach and guide us, our righteous desires will be entrusted unto us.  This knowledge will have the power to melt the forces of objection and block the ever-chattering sources which attempt to shatter our hope. 

We must accept that there will be sections of understanding where we will be required to walk by faith.  These portions of comprehension may be veiled even up to our last breath.  These areas may seem to defy logic, but always have a divine purpose.  We cannot meet these current unknowns with anger, frustration, or insecurity.  We must remember that these are the precisely placed portions of our test which we must overcome to receive exaltation.  If we are steadfast and sustain with unequaled devotion, in time, all knowledge will be conferred and our understanding will be entirely restored.  Our focus must be placed on being worthy of such a incredible blessing, instead of stopping our progression until we have acquired every last fact.  For if we insist on standing still until all has been reinstated, we may find that our grip is weakened upon the rod of iron, and we become captive to the vast darkness which steals souls.    

Keep Your Eyes Fixed

Do not be unfaithful to your heart, cleaving to things which only currently produce logical clarifications.  Our souls, which hold divine restorations of understanding, were made to bear and master sacred comprehensions, not mundane interpretations.  Do not accept a pathway which limits our ability to receive revelation and halts the delivery of blessed enlightenment.  Stay true to your beliefs even, and especially, when they are being targeted or victimized.  Satan desires to have us believe that we follow the Savior in a sightless manner, and utilizes others around us to magnify his voice until it reverberates in our ears.  However, we can powerfully declare that although the world may be unperceptive to divine manifestations, we are not.  The unveiling of our spirit has begun, and we cannot deny the witness of truth which has attended the many glorious revelations which have been endowed to us.  We delight and are dedicated to them. 

Allow your heart to be a source of light, one where His voice is frequent, clear, and intelligible.  Go to Him with your doubts, not to man who builds fabricated factualities and defines them as infinite actualities.  No matter how eloquently twisted words may be, if they detach us, or urge us to be removed from Christ, they are not words worth absorbing.  Defeat discouragement on your knees.  Conquer fright by searching His reassuring words which grant simplifications to expanding confusion.  Triumph over Satan by diminishing his presence and depleting his voice, and superseding him with anything, and everything, that encourages and sustains the Spirit.  Stay strong in your convictions and remember the moments that awakened your soul, for these are your personal communications, spoken from your Father, which constructed your foundation.  When you are backed up to the wall of faith, conserve your loyalty and confirm your devotion, it will allow you to climb it.  And above all, labor continuously and ache virtuously after the immeasurably perfected gift of knowledge.  Exerted efforts will grant you a lack of unutilized time, which will liberate you from aimless activities which rob you of divine development.  Instead of being swallowed by the careless expressions of worldly “understanding”, keep your eyes, and ears, fixed upon the Millennial moments, the ones where all things shall be made known.

Read More