Over the last few weeks I have stumbled upon numerous Near Death Experience testimonies in which the person having the encounter said that they were shown Hell, and were taught something very surprising.
In one particular testimony, a man shared that while visiting Hell, the Lord had shown him a woman who resided there and was reading her Bible.
The man asked, "Who is this woman, and why is she reading a Bible in Hell?"
The Lord replied, "During her life on Earth she was an incredible evangelical missionary - the very best. In fact, she brought more people unto me, than any missionary that has ever lived!"
"Then why is she in Hell?" the man asked in a puzzled tone.
Somberly, the Lord replied, "Because she could not forgive."
Doctrine & Covenants 64:9-10
9 Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin.
10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men.
None of us are perfect and if we fall short in this life, we can rest assured that if we have extended the hand of mercy to those who have offended us, there is hope for us.
Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
In another testimony, a woman was shown many Christian saints who were suffering in a state of agony and darkness. She was told by the Lord that these Christians attended church every Sunday, read their scriptures daily, prayed often, and kept the commandments. When she asked why they were in Hell, the Lord replied that even though they said and did all the "right" things to resemble a good Christian life - they never knew Him. They were void of the Spirit. The religious symbols and rituals became their idols. They loved and worshiped the lifestyle & images, more than the Lord.
Matthew 7:22-23
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
After writing this blog post, I was reading the other day in Days of Awe (which I have shared on this blog before), and I found it interesting that the author brought up the Parable of the Sower and mentioned three personality types. She said,
"The final, lingering question that Latter-day Saints ask is always the same.With all this clear, testifying imagery, why didn’t the Jews recognize their own Messiah? The Savior Himself answered that question with the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:3; Mark 4:3; Luke 8:5). Many Jews did recognize the Messiah. They were those who received the seed into fertile ground. Many of those were the valiant founders of the Lord’s Church, willing to face any hardship
to serve the Christ."
"The Savior speaks of a second type of personality — he who receives the word, but fails to nurture it. The “fear of the world” overcomes this person, and he fails to be valiant."
"The third personality in the Lord’s parable is a hardened one who might actively fight against the truth. Such were those certain wicked priests of the Sanhedrin, desiring to protect their power and position by any means available to them. Such a person was Saul, the Pharisee and lawyer, who became the Apostle Paul when his eyes were opened."
The second and third personality type sound very much like the second and third types of tares that I have listed below. In the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares we learn:
Doctrine and Covenants 101:65-66
65 Therefore, I must gather together my people, according to the parable of the wheat and the tares, that the wheat may be secured in the garners to possess eternal life, and be crowned with celestial glory, when I shall come in the kingdom of my Father to reward every man according as his work shall be;
66 While the tares shall be bound in bundles, and their bands made strong, that they may be burned with unquenchable fire.
Doctrine and Covenants 86:1-7
1 Verily, thus saith the Lord unto you my servants, concerning the parable of the wheat and of the tares:
2 Behold, verily I say, the field was the world, and the apostles were the sowers of the seed;
3 And after they have fallen asleep the great persecutor of the church, the apostate, the whore, even Babylon, that maketh all nations to drink of her cup, in whose hearts the enemy, even Satan, sitteth to reign—behold he soweth the tares; wherefore, the tares choke the wheat and drive the church into the wilderness.
4 But behold, in the last days, even now while the Lord is beginning to bring forth the word, and the blade is springing up and is yet tender—
5 Behold, verily I say unto you, the angels are crying unto the Lord day and night, who are ready and waiting to be sent forth to reap down the fields;
6 But the Lord saith unto them, pluck not up the tares while the blade is yet tender (for verily your faith is weak), lest you destroy the wheat also.
7 Therefore, let the wheat and the tares grow together until the harvest is fully ripe; then ye shall first gather out the wheat from among the tares, and after the gathering of the wheat, behold and lo, the tares are bound in bundles, and the field remaineth to be burned.
The darnel weed (" Lolium Temulentum" AKA the "tares") grows plentifully in Syria and Palestine. Before it comes into ear is very similar in appearance to wheat. It grows right in with the wheat blending in and going undetected until the ear appears - that's when the difference is noticed. It actually uproots the wheat. Even then, the farmers do not try to separate it from the wheat. If eaten, it produces convulsions, and even death.
"Zizania", another type of tare, has been supposed to be degenerated wheat. On the near approach of harvest it is carefully weeded out from among the wheat by the women and children. Zuwan is commonly used as chickens' food; it is not poisonous to human beings unless infected with the mold ergot. http://www.biblestudytools.com/dictionary/tares/
In these last days, the tares are Christians and members of the Church who blend in and appear on the outside to be faithful and true. However, on the inside they hold opposing beliefs which are counteractive to gospel and doctrine of the Church. As they become attached to true and faithful members of the Church, they become destructive, and slowly pull their roots from the gospel. Once their roots have been pulled, a spiritual death begins.
As the harvest goes forth, the angels (the reapers) pluck out the wheat and burn the field.
Doctrine and Covenants 45:57
"For they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the Holy Spirit for their guide, and have not been deceived—verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day."
In our day, the tares have come to ear and are currently being exposed from the wheat. Through political upheaval, local and national turmoil, dislike and non-support of the counsel of local leaders, prophets and apostles, and leaning to blur the lines of black and white (right and wrong), there is a process happening. Many members have lost their testimony of the true doctrine of the gospel, and are inwardly void of the Spirit. As these events of the last days unfold, the tares seek to uproot their fellow church members from the gospel.This apostasy can have three outcomes - their own free choice of leaving the Church (tare #1), unwilling excommunication (tare #2), or slipping quietly into inactivity (tare #3).
It's important to be clear that the tares symbolize a wicked & rebellious heart. Not all who leave the Church are a tare. Some may be deceived and others may have fragile hearts, some may have experienced abuse or unkind treatment from other members (tares). We cannot judge another's heart - only our own. In the end we are judged by what's in our heart. If we know Christ, He will lift us up to be with Him.
Tares can also belong to other churches (other Christians). The parable is to say that tares are those who love wickedness more than righteousness. It's not members vs. non-members or less active. It's about our hearts. In these last days, the Lord is gathering the pure in heart into Zion.
“Charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ” (Moroni 7:47-48).
I have recently witnessed this week, the separation of wheat and tares happening on a wider scale. I have noticed a large number of people being offended by recent conference talks, people fighting over differing views and opinions on growing political matters, people fighting over differing opinions and views on philosophical matters, medical matters, doctrinal matters, educational matters etc. to the point that marriages are being broken up, family relationships are being broken, friends are no longer speaking, professionals are verbally attacking their colleagues, and people are vocally leaving the church. I counted fourteen people just today, who have declared they no longer want to be members of the Church. Perhaps tares who had already apostatized inwardly and tarried until the "right moment" to make their exit. As the various matters for contention continue to increase I keep hearing in the back of my mind..."And the love of men shall wax cold".
President Joseph Fielding Smith pointed out that the tares are not just limited to certain church affiliations. He said, “even in the Church the tares are to be found. It is the tares which are to be gathered up and burned from all over the world, but those in the Church will also be gathered out and find their place in the fire. (Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:354.)
In 1894 President Woodruff stated: “God has held the angels of destruction for many years, lest they should reap down the wheat with the tares. But I want to tell you now, that those angels have left the portals of heaven, and they stand over this people and this nation now, and are hovering over the earth waiting to pour out the judgments. And from this very day they shall be poured out. Calamities and troubles are increasing in the earth, and there is a meaning to these things. Remember this, and reflect upon these matters. If you do your duty, and I do my duty, we’ll have protection, and shall pass through the afflictions in peace and in safety.” (Young Women’s Journal, Aug. 1894, pp. 512–13.)
Years later in response to President Woodruff's statement above, President Joseph Fielding Smith said, “The Lord said that the sending forth of these angels was to be at the end of the harvest, and the harvest is the end of the world. Now, that ought to cause us some very serious reflections. And the angels have been pleading, as I have read it to you, before the Lord to be sent on their mission. Until 1893 the Lord said to them no, and then He set them loose. According to the revelation of President Woodruff, the Lord sent them out on that mission."
“What do we gather out of that? That we are at the time of the end. This is the time of the harvest. This is the time spoken of which is called the end of the world.” (Signs of the Times, pp. 116–21.)
https://www.lds.org/manual/doctrine-and-covenants-student-manual/section-81-89/section-86-the-parable-of-the-wheat-and-the-tares?lang=eng
Three Types of Tares
Last week the Spirit impressed upon my mind, three types of tares that we are to be aware of.
1) Wicked - These are those whose hearts' desire are pure wickedness. They have chosen the other side of the fence. The wolves in sheep's clothing. They knowingly do evil and willfully sin. They desire to lure and persuade others away from the truth. Led away by sin without a desire to repent. These are those in the Great and Spacious building - mocking things that are sacred.
3) Ignorant - These are those who refuse to learn and accept truth because of fear. They have received the word but fail to nurture it. They live the gospel when it's convenient. Often they are the ones who are easily lured away from the iron rod, by those in the Great and Spacious Building. In their mind it is safer to be "in the dark" to avoid accountability. They want to participate in Babylon without feeling "guilty" for doing so. They want to be on both sides of the fence, but because that is not possible, they settle for the middle. Their hearts are rooted in the world instead of the gospel. They enjoy the benefits of being a member of the church - the traditions, the social aspects, the fun activities; but they also value the opinions of the world. They try to serve two masters.
Conclusion
The purpose of this post is not to go about your day looking to label those in your family, ward, and community with these tare titles. We are commanded to love one another. Rather, it is to help you look inward at your own faults and short comings and seek to improve. Do you see yourself in any of these descriptions? What is written in your heart? How can you change?
We can love ourselves and all of God's children without tolerating the darkness. I have experienced recent bullying from all three types of tares in the last month. The Spirit has impressed upon me to not publish their comments, to block their contact, and then pray for them. Pray that they will be able to encounter the real love of Jesus Christ. That they will no longer be void of peace and happiness. I try my best to see them through the eyes of my Heavenly Father, and the truth of who they really are and the potential of who they can become.
Though we are not called to judge, we are called to warn our neighbor. Elder Christopherson has wisely counseled, "While the duty to warn is felt especially keenly by prophets, it is a duty shared by others as well. In fact, “it becometh every man who hath been warned to warn his neighbor." We who have received a knowledge of the great plan of happiness—and its implementing commandments—should feel a desire to share that knowledge since it makes all the difference here and in eternity. And if we ask, “Who is my neighbor that I should warn?” surely the answer will be found in a parable that begins, “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves,”and so forth."
We have seen amazing examples of tares transforming into wheat such as was the case of Saul of Tarsus and Alma the Younger. The real battle is not between God's children, but between good and evil. Without the influence of evil, we would experience all of our brothers and sisters in God's truth. No, it's not our job to judge, but rather it's our great responsibility to warn and to bring Light into this world. That Light is God's truth. Our job is to reflect the Light of the Lord and shine it throughout the world. Only the Light and Love of Christ can change this world. In the end love conquers all.
The harvest is happening now. We are seeing the separation take place. Let us find peace in the words of President Woodruff, "If you do your duty, and I do my duty, we’ll have protection, and shall pass through the afflictions in peace and in safety.” Though we may not be immune to every coming storms & affliction, and we most likely will experience some level of discomfort, inconvenience, sorrow & loss; we certainly don't have to suffer. We can experience the peace that is promised through our Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ. He is mighty to save. He can make us whole.
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