What Happens to Those Who Die Without a Knowledge of Jesus Christ?

A couple months ago, I came across a video on YouTube where a preacher and a college student were having a conversation about what happens to people on the earth who die without ever having learned about the gospel or Jesus Christ. What the preacher said made me sad, and I just felt that I needed to make a video to share the truth about this topic.

The day that I recorded the video, a video conference video popped up of President Nelson talking about this very topic. I had planned to add this into my video, but I forgot. He said, 

“Even those who died without a knowledge of the gospel. Who would have received it, if they had been permitted to tarry, shall be heirs of the Celestial Kingdom of God. His plan is also merciful. He will judge all men according to their works, according to the desires of their hearts.” (meaning he will judge us for our actions and what we did, but what will trump all of that is what’s in our hearts.) 

Yes, if you didn't get to hear about the gospel while living on this earth, but you would have received it had you learned about it, God knows this and He has a plan. 

A Message of Most Importance!

Last night as I was on the treadmill, this conference video of President Nelson popped up and it really spoke to me as I had been reflecting on a new video I had just made about what happens after we die. These words particularly jumped out at me as I listened.

"The spirit in each of us naturally yearns for family love to last forever. Love songs perpetuate a false hope that love is all you need if you want to be together forever. And some erroneously believe that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ provides a promise that all people will be with their loved ones after death.

In truth, the Savior Himself has made it abundantly clear that while His Resurrection assures that every person who ever lived will indeed be resurrected and live forever, much more is required if we want to have the high privilege of exaltation. Salvation is an individual matter, but exaltation is a family matter.

Listen to these words spoken by the Lord Jesus Christ to His prophet: “All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise … are of no efficacy, virtue, or force in and after the resurrection from the dead; for all contracts that are not made unto this end have an end when men are dead.”

So, what is required for a family to be exalted forever? We qualify for that privilege by making covenants with God, keeping those covenants, and receiving essential ordinances.

I feel to say to my reticent friends:

'In this life, you have never settled for second best in anything. Yet, as you resist fully embracing the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, you are choosing to settle for second best.

“The Savior said, ‘In my Father’s house are many mansions.’10 However, as you choose not to make covenants with God, you are settling for a most meager roof over your head throughout all eternity.'"

I absolutely love this talk and feel it is one of the most important messages we could be sharing right now with our friends, loved ones, and the world! 

Why Don't Latter-day Saints Wear the Cross?

When I did my Q&A, a question came in by a subscriber, "Why don't Mormons wear the cross?" I didn't plan to address it in a separate video, but everything happens for a reason. It's amazing how much I learned from this one question, in addition to my personal opinion. 

Job 41 and the Leviathan Spirit: Exposing the Enemy's #1 Tactic!

God's plans for each of us individually are too amazing to comprehend. Satan knows this and is doing all he can to thwart those plans. There is one tactic that the enemy has in full force right now, because it is the most successful tactic at deceiving us. Learn what it is, and how to recognize it, so you can be powerful in stopping it's effect over your life!

   

When the Lord Knocks

We are always taught to ask and receive, knock and it shall be opened - but what about when the Lord comes knocking, and He asks of us? Do we recognize the ways in which He knocks and are we letting Him in to hear His message?

I love this week's video message, and it's no surprise that the Adversary is already working hard to take it down. As soon as I clicked on "publish" in YouTube, an instant copyright claim popped up from a Middle Eastern musician. It took me to the frame in the video where the copyright violation was, and it was a frame of me talking about a scripture in D&C. I filed a dispute. Watch it while you can! It's an important message :)

The Savior's Companionship - Did You Know?

A great message for the younger generation :)

   

The Sacred Mystery of Blood Sacrifice

This may be one of the longest posts I have ever written. The science of blood and the mysteries surrounding blood lines have always fascinated me. I often speak about it in workshops and in my books. So, I thought I would put together a collection of all of my thoughts and research, and see what conclusions you might make for yourself.

For this post, I have chosen to focus on the connection between blood sacrifice and eternal life. My apologies in advance if this essay seems to jump around quite a bit. I have laid out the dots that I have discovered (and there are so many), but am still trying to understand how they all connect.

This post is a little different than what I usually write about on my blog, but I feel there is some importance in sharing it. Though there are no concrete conclusions, and I share some things that may be a bit on the fringe, ponder as you like and if the Spirit takes you in any certain direction while reading this - I recommend that you go with it! :)

The Sacred Mystery of Blood Sacrifice

There's an age old fascination among children that you've probably heard of or participated in yourself. "Blood brothers" or "blood sisters". Sound familiar? Pricking your fingers and promising loyalty to each other for life. As children, did we really have any idea what that meant and what we were doing? 

Throughout time;  blood, sacrifice, oaths, covenants, and the mysteries of life, all seem to interconnect with one another. Whether used for good or evil - it's clear that there is some kind of underlying force at hand when it comes to blood. A force that seems to hold the keys and secrets to life. Throughout the ages, men have relied upon this knowledge to learn more about salvation, eternal life, and their personal relationship with God; or on the flip side - to obtain personal gain and power.

Mysterious Blood

About a year ago, after a blood donation I began to ponder about my blood type. I am A negative. Because of what’s called the “RH factor” (which makes my blood negative), my blood is usually in high demand at the American Red Cross blood bank - which is why they call me A LOT. A donor (a form of sacrifice) sacrifices their blood to save the life of another.

Now, RH negative blood is very interesting because not only do scientists have no clue where it originated or "evolved" from (they speculate that it was introduced in Europe and spread from there), many believe that it is of non-human origin. This mysterious blood produces antibodies that will fatally attack a mother’s new born baby if the baby’s blood type is positive. In fact, up until 1973 (after the Rhogam shot was discovered) it’s estimated that RH disease claimed the lives of 10,000 babies each year in the US alone. By 1973, it was estimated that in the US alone, over 50,000 babies' lives had been saved. The use of Rh immune globulin (the Rhogam shot) to prevent the disease in babies of Rh negative mothers has since become standard practice, and the disease has been virtually eradicated. Without it, all four of my children would not have survived birth.

Joseph Smith Jr.

My mother was married in the late seventies and began having children. She is also RH negative - (as is her mother) and were it not for the Rhogam shot, my siblings may not have survived. While pondering on this I began to wonder why I was the only child in the family with RH negative blood and why it didn’t pass on to any of my four children. Also, why would a mother’s blood attack and kill her own children? I began to think about all the women prior to the 1960’s who lost their babies at birth and had no idea why. I thought of Joseph and Emma Smith – they had four children who died at birth. I later discovered that I was related to Joseph Smith as a distant cousin through my mom’s side of the family. I began to wonder if Joseph had RH negative blood?

Shortly after I began to ponder on the strange “coincidences” through my mother’s family bloodline. The line that is related to Joseph’s father’s line and descends from Suffolk England. Her grandfather was an orphan and up until about eight years ago (when I cracked the mystery), we had no idea who his parents were and where they descended from. That side of the family has struggled with faith and low self-esteem for many generations. The last few generations left the church as did their posterity. Who would have ever imagined that they descend from Joseph Smith’s family in addition to one of the most powerful families in Northern England, who built and lived in Raby Castle. In this castle, my 19th Great Grandfather’s daughter, the mother of kings Edward IV and Richard III. Cecily Neville, was born. It’s almost as if Satan did not want that generation to know their incredible heritage. He didn’t want them to know who they really are. When Satan keeps us from knowing our true identities (even in a spiritual sense as children of God), He keeps us from our purpose.

Bloodline Theories

During my research on RH negative blood, something interesting I discovered was that my freckles and blue eyes are considered mutations. Having blue eyes, blond hair, and freckles is apparently rare. I am also the only child in my family covered in freckles. I didn't pass the freckles on to my kids.

Though this combination is rare, I learned that red hair (which is more rare), freckles, and green, hazel or blue eyes are reported as more common among RH negative carriers. I don't yet understand how that works scientifically/genetically (though I read various explanations) but I did read that in ancient times, red heads were considered very special and holy - red being the color of blood/life/creation. I find it interesting that throughout history they have been a target for ostracizing and bullying. Wherever and whomever Satan attacks, you can rest assured that there is something good he does not want us to discover. Some truth he does not want us to figure out.

The more I pondered about blood and my blood type, I realized just how many theories are circulating about RH negative blood. I had no idea. Many of these theories are pretty wild so I won’t go into detail but I will say that they cover everything from copper blood, iron deficiency (which I used to have for years), gods, to aliens, to the Nephilim from the Book of Enoch, and to legends of the Holy Grail. There has even been research done on personalty types connecting with certain blood types. In fact, one site listed the following traits being connected to those with RH negative blood:

• A feeling of not belonging
• Truth seekers
• Sense of a "Mission" in life
• Empathy & Compassion for Mankind
• ESP Ability
• Increased of psychic/intuitive abilities
• Predominantly blue, green, or Hazel eyes
• Piercing Eyes
• Tend to be Healers

I immediately thought of our Savior Jesus Christ and then of the prophet Joseph Smith who was known as a seeker of truth and described as "a tall, elegant-looking man, with piercing eyes, and features, which if not handsome, were imposing”. I then thought of a comment my husband had shared with me early in our marriage. He told me that it was my eyes that first got his attention and drew his attraction to me. 

Orson Hyde

I thought about how Jesus' blood was part mortal and part God. His DNA would have been very different from those ancestors before Him. 

Around this time I discovered the book, Dynasty of the Holy Grail: Mormonism's Sacred Bloodline by LDS scholar and BYU graduate, Vern G. Swanson. After studying it’s 576 pages, I learned of the many teachings of the early leaders of the Church who openly testified of Christ having offspring and many of the leaders receiving personal revelation that they were descendants of that bloodline.

At the October General Conference of 1854, Church apostle, Orson Hyde spoke of the literal seed of Jesus Christ.

In 1859 Brigham Young clarified,

Brigham Young

“Hidden in the blood of many LDS runs the blood of Israel from numerous directions, including that of the Savior. But it is specifically through the divine blood-right of Christ through Joseph Smith Jr. that all members of the Church are lawful heirs of the promise.”

George Q. Cannon

According to Vern's research, many early church leaders openly spoke of being literal descendants of Jesus Christ and spoke of the prophet Joseph also receiving this revelation for himself. Vern cites that in 1899, member of Congress and LDS Church apostle George Q. Cannon reportedly told a Salt Lake Temple assembly,

"There are those in this audience who are descendants of the old Twelve Apostles - and shall I say it, yes, descendants of the Savior himself. His seed is represented in this body of men."

Joseph Smith once said,

“Many men will say I will never forsake you, but will stand by you at all times, but the moment you teach them some of the revelations (mysteries) of the kingdom of God that are retained in the heavens and are to be revealed to the children of men when they are prepared for them, they will be the first to stone you and put you to death. Would to God, brethren, I could tell you who I am! Would to God I could tell you what I know! But you would call it blasphemy, and there are men upon this stand who would want to take my life.”


President of the Church, Joseph Fielding Smith was the last to make mention of the topic when his response to a question about Christ having children was,

Joseph Fielding Smith

"**Yes! But do not preach it! The Lord advised us not to cast pearls before swine!"

Today, the Church has no official position on this subject and has made it clear that Christ having offspring is not Church doctrine. The First Presidency has said,

"Not every statement made by a Church leader, past or present, necessarily constitutes doctrine. A single statement made by a single leader on a single occasion often represents a personal, though well-considered, opinion, but is not meant to be officially binding for the whole Church."

I would like to add to that, the importance of personal revelation. We know that there are many truths yet to be revealed to the Church as a whole, which is all apart of the restoration of these Last Days. However, through personal revelation, the Spirit can reveal any truths to us that we desire to know for ourselves. We are often encouraged by the Church to ponder and seek out further revelation for ourselves. It is wonderful advice!

An interesting side note: In his book, Vern Swanson suggests a connection between the Bloodline and the Priesthood line - King and Priest as Joseph was ordained a King over the immediate House of Israel by the Council of Fifty. Vern also mention’s his own theories based on over 30 years of research. He suggests the possibility that the literal descendants of Christs bloodline, have natural healing gifts in their DNA, and that in the Latter Days, these gifts may possibly be activated and these children (the lost seed, AKA Holy Grail), will discover who they really are as they assist in the gathering of restoring the House of Israel.

Over the last five years I have personally witnessed a large gathering and movement in the healing arts especially in the LDS church. Many members are fascinated with learning and practicing different healing modalities and natural medicines. I am aware of 6,000 LDS members alone who are activating and nurturing these gifts to bless their friends, families, and communities. I found this correlation very interesting.

Mysteries of DNA

Through a remarkable discovery linking Biblical alphabets to our genetic code, author and scientist Greg Braden discovered a code written in the DNA of every human being. This code reveals an eternal message which reads "God Eternal within the body." The meaning: Humankind is one family, united through a common heritage, and the result of an intentional act of creation!

Greg believes that just as an artist will paint their signature on a painting or a sculptor will stamp their name on the bottom of a vase, God has placed His stamp/signature on each of us in our DNA.

Romans 1:19-20

Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

A few years ago, in my own research, I had discovered a powerful connection between our DNA and the atonement. I was so intrigued that I shared this in my book, You Were Meant to Prosper. Studies conducted by the U.S. Military in the late 1990's, showed that our feelings and emotions actually change our DNA. Researchers watched as blood samples changed right before their very eyes while study participants miles away were experiencing powerful feelings – negative and positive. Several more scientific articles have since been written about trauma being passed down to generations through DNA. This would mean that those who share our same DNA are also effected when we heal ourselves of negative emotions. When we use the atonement to cast out sin, it blesses all who share our DNA. We’ve heard of families being cursed with addiction, illness, depression, abuse, crime, etc. and when someone is born into the family and heals the patterns, future generations are healed. It’s a new way to look at being born into a family of “problems”. Maybe you were sent to be the victor – the one who heals the family and breaks the patterns – rather than the victim.

Back to the mystery of RH negative blood. Researchers say that among the world population, only 15% is RH negative. The Basque people of Spain and France have the highest percentage of Rh negative blood per region. About 30% of their population has Rh negative and about 60% carry one (r) negative gene. There is also a theory circulating that this is a location where some of the offspring of Jesus went into hiding during the great Christian persecution.

There is something to be said about the sacred mysteries of blood. It is lambs blood (symbolic of the blood of the Lamb) that the Israelite people painted on their doorways during Passover to protect them against the destroying angel.

In scriptures we read,

Numbers 18:17

But the firstling of a cow, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat, thou shalt not redeem; they are holy: thou shalt sprinkle their blood upon the altar, and shalt burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a sweet savour unto the Lord.

There is a connection between the blood sacrifice of the Firstborn Son and the firstling blood sacrifice.

Leviticus 20:9

For every one that curseth his father or his mother shall be surely put to death: he hath cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him.

I believe this relates to bloodline curses and patterns. When we introduce sin into the bloodline we introduce death (spiritual and physical). As spoken of in my recent posts, sin equates to death as repentance equates to life. We are either going forward or backwards, progressing or regressing, living or dying. We are never standing still. Our own blood will testify against us at Judgement Day, (as mentioned later in this essay) our DNA being the Book of Life according to Bruce R. McConkie.

We often read in the scriptures about the blood of the innocent crying out.

Doctrine and Covenants 135:7

...their innocent blood, with the innocent blood of all the martyrs under the baltar that John saw, will cry unto the Lord of Hosts till he avenges that blood on the earth. Amen.

Mystery of Blood Sacrifice

According to the Bible Dictionary, blood was regarded by the Israelites as the seat of the life or vital energy of all flesh. The atoning power of a sacrifice was in the blood because it was regarded as containing the life of the animal and because the sacrifice was a type of the great sacrifice who is Jesus Christ. Scripture says that “almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission". Joseph Smith, as have many other prophets, sealed his testimony with his blood that the righteous might be honored and the wicked might be condemned. In the Old Testament, often a covenant was sealed with blood.

In the book of 3 Nephi chapter 9, we see a significance of blood testifying and pleading for justice, as the Savior speaks five times of:

"that the blood of the prophets and the saints whom I sent among them might not cry unto me from the ground against them."

In occult practices blood sacrifice is used to gain power over life. In Old Testament times, blood was forbidden as food which restriction was continued in the Church in New Testament times.

The Essenes were a sect of Second Temple Judaism that flourished from the 2nd century BC to the 1st century AD, and have gained fame in modern times as a result of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are commonly believed to be the Essenes' library.

According to Joseph Lightfoot (an English theologian and Bishop), the Nazarenes were a sect within the Essenes. The Nazarenes were Jews who kept all the Jewish observances, but they would not offer sacrifice or eat meat.

Feodor Andrejewitsch Bronnikow - The sun hymn of Pythagoras

In the Essene Books, which were Hebrew and Aramaic texts translated and edited by Edmond Bordeux Szekely, and are believed to contain words spoken by Jesus and His beloved disciple John, we read in what is referred to as The Higher Law given to Moses.

26. Thou shalt not take the life from any living thing. Life comes only from God, who giveth it and taketh it away.

It is believed that the Essenes including the Nazarenes were vegetarian.

In the Word of Wisdom, we have been counseled about meat, “to be used sparingly”.

JST, Gen. 9:9–11

...And surely, blood shall not be shed, only for meat, to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands.


In March 1831, it was revealed to the Prophet Joseph Smith that though vegetarianism was not to be enforced as a doctrine for mankind, men were still responsible for their killing of animals.

“And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God;

“For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance.


“And wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.” (D&C 49:18–19, 21.)

Lorenzo Snow

President Lorenzo Snow preached multiple times about his preference for vegetarianism, saying that “it was not right to neglect one part of the Word of Wisdom and be too strenuous in regard to other parts.” In 1897 he “introduced the subject of the Word of Wisdom, expressing the opinion that it was violated as much or more in the improper use of meat as in other things, and thought the time was near at hand when the Latter-day Saints should be taught to refrain from meat eating and the shedding of animal blood.”




In October 1978 General Conference President Spencer W. Kimball said in regards to hunting for sport,

Spencer W. Kimball

“I do not believe any man should kill animals or birds unless he needs them for food, and then he should not kill innocent little birds that are not intended for food for man. I think it is wicked for men to thirst in their souls to kill almost everything which possesses animal life. It is wrong, and I have been surprised at prominent men whom I have seen whose very souls seemed to be athirst for the shedding of animal blood.”

"It is quite a different matter when a pioneer crossing the plains would kill a buffalo to bring food to his children and his family. There were also those vicious men who would kill buffalo only for their tongues and skins, permitting the life to be sacrificed and the food also to be wasted."

In the days of the Law of Moses (the lesser law), the Israelite people were permitted to eat certain meats. The book of Leviticus covers the specifics. In Jewish law, the mixture of dairy products and meat products is forbidden. I once heard a rabbi explain that it was because death and life were not to be mixed. Milk symbolized life and meat symbolized death. For this reason you will not see a practicing Jew eat a cheeseburger.

Furthermore where meat is concerned, according to the Torah, a kosher species must be slaughtered by a "Schochet," a ritual slaughterer. Since Jewish Law prohibits causing any pain to animals, the slaughtering has to be effected in such a way that unconsciousness is instantaneous and death occurs almost instantaneously.

After the animal is slaughtered, the Kosher Supervisor and his team treiber the carcass by removing certain forbidden fats and veins. After the meat has been treibered, it is soaked in a bath in room temperature water for a half hour. To draw out the blood, the soaked meat is then placed on special salting tables where it is salted with coarse salt on both sides for one hour.

The connection of sacrifice, blood, and life, is quite intriguing. With what I am about to share, there seems to be a correlation in regards to the feelings an animal experiences at the death, and carries in the blood, and the effect of those feelings on our own mind, body, and spirit when we consume that flesh and blood. If DNA is the Book of Life, would consuming another's DNA write their Book of Life into our own? Or at least, could we be effected by it? In addition to that, sacrifice made in vain may warrant negative consequences.

Research studies have shown that promiscuous women hang onto the DNA of their sexual partners. Their body stores the DNA and the altered effects are passed on to their offspring. It has also been said that men's DNA is also effected by multiple partners.Virtue truly is holy. When disregarded, a person not only participates in sin, but inherits the sin of various other partners and their bloodlines, having a negative impact on future generations (bloodline curses). A person who commits adultery, also introduces sin/foreign DNA into their spouse's DNA. Every time a person engages in this act, they truly give a piece of their soul away.

In My book, You Were Meant to Prosper I have said,

"If you Google “organ transplants and inherited memories”, you can read about the many different cases in which donor recipients experienced personality changes, unexplained memories, new talents, new interests and likes, all after receiving their organ transplant. In nearly all cases, those changes mirrored traits of their donor. Researchers seem to attribute this to “cellular memory”. This phenomenon, though still not considered 100 percent scientifically-validated, is supported by several scientists and physicians. The Spirit has born witness to me that we inherit other’s cellular memory, when we inherit their DNA.

It’s a fascinating concept, and one of those things that you tuck away in a folder in the back of your mind and save for a rainy day. However, as my mind usually does, it began thinking about so many other possibilities related to this subject. In fact, I was walking into the grocery store when the thought popped into my head about animal meat. Would consuming DNA also carry with it similar consequences? Science validates that the acids and enzymes in our stomachs destroy the DNA, but is there room for error? Could there be an unseen influence that we are unaware of? Could this be a factor as to why we are counseled to eat meat sparingly in the Word of Wisdom?

 In Genesis 9:3-4 God says to Noah,

3 Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

4 But flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall ye not eat.
JST, Genesis 9:10-11

10 But, the blood of all flesh which I have given you for meat, shall be shed upon the ground, which taketh life thereof, and the blood ye shall not eat.

11 And surely, blood shall not be shed, only for meat, to save your lives; and the blood of every beast will I require at your hands.

It sounds as though the Lord is telling Noah not to eat raw meat, and to only eat meat when necessary for survival. In addition to the many foodborne illnesses that come from eating raw meat, could the Lord be implying an added meaning? Could “flesh with the life” be referring to the Book of Life (DNA) of that creature? Could this be an additional reason as to why we are to cook our meat, eat it sparingly and why we should bless our food?

Though research is still fairly new on the topic of DNA swap and cellular memory, I believe there is something to it – some kind of incredible connection. Not to create worry when eating sushi, needing a blood transfusion or borrowing someone’s lip balm, rather this is a topic that’s meant to emphasize the importance of keeping God’s commandment and following His counsel in all things – even when we don’t understand the deeper reasoning behind it.

Shortly after pondering on this subject, the Spirit led me to Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s own words on the topic. One day while trying to pass time during the hour that my girls were in dance lessons, I had felt prompted to go to the library. While browsing the shelves, there was a book sticking out, so I grabbed it and checked it out. The day that I found this passage in the book, I was amazed at this second witness. Elder McConkie says,

“In a real though figurative sense, the book of life is the record of the acts of men as such record is written in their own bodies. It is the record engraven on the very bones, sinews, and flesh of the mortal body. That is, every thought, word, and deed has an effect on the human body; all these leave their marks…” (Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 97.)

Now, read that scripture from Revelation 21 again from above. To be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, is to be written in His blood. The blood of the Lamb saves us. He is perfect, and when we receive Him, we too can be made perfect in Him. When we use His atonement and our sins are erased from the Book of Life – they are erased from our DNA. Wiped clean! That is how be break those family patterns. That is how we can heal generations."

Women and Sacrifice

During this time that I felt prompted to study blood (and had not shared with anyone), a friend of mine out of the blue messaged me a link to an LDS institute teacher's podcast. She told me I would love it. As I listened, one day I came across a podcast that spoke of the sacred connection to women and sacrifice. The Spirit covered me from head to toe and I felt there was something about this I was to learn.

The teacher pointed out that there is a strong correlation between women and sacrifice. When a woman marries, she sacrifices her name and takes on a new name - that of her husband. She sacrifices her time to take care of the needs of her children and family. He suggests that the shedding of her own blood each month is an additional sacrifice in connection to bringing life into this world. Her menstrual cycle is a type of  sacrifice and atonement. Blood sacrifice has a powerful connection with life.

As I pondered this, I began to think about the law of Moses. Women who were shedding blood were considered unclean.  It was viewed that as she passed the potential for life from her (the egg), this represented a form of death/sin. A man was not to touch his wife during this time as not to mix life with death. Just as the Jews are not to mix meat with dairy (life with death). In Leviticus 12 it explains how a woman is unclean after childbirth, and how she is doubly unclean after giving birth to a girl. The Bible is filled with examples of how a woman's body (especially the blood she sheds), is unclean for seven days. So unclean in fact, that just being around a woman who is bleeding can make you unclean.

Could it be that women serve as a form of proxy Savior for their family bloodline? Similar to Lent, the menstrual cycle is a time to give things up to purify ourselves. The church has set the first Sunday of each month as a fast Sunday. A day of sacrifice. We give something up for something better. One week out of a 30 day cycle. I have learned that patterns serve as flags to help us make connections. It's important to take note when you see something repeat.

As this concept has continually crossed my mind I can't help but feel that it is not my own thought, and not on my mind by accident. The number seven represents completeness and wholeness. After she sheds, it is complete. During a menstrual cycle a woman is shedding and considered unclean. Scriptures teach us that sin causes us to be unclean. Science teaches us that negative actions, thoughts, feelings, and emotions (sins), change our DNA. As the "unclean" blood is purged, the woman must be quarantined until the seven days are fulfilled. The shedding of blood makes is possible for new life. If there is truth to this, then how powerful would it be to perform generational cleansing during that week of shedding?

If this is true, then it would make sense as to why Satan would attach such a negative stigma around menstrual cycles and being female. The "dreaded time of the month." Why he has attacked the identity of women all throughout the ages through oppression. What if instead of a menstrual cycle being something to dread it was rather something to embrace? What if there is such spiritual power and significance behind this natural and physical ritual, that if we understood it, we would change our entire perception about what it means to be a woman, a daughter of God, and a Savior on Mount Zion?

In relation to the DNA research study mentioned earlier, if women take on the DNA of their sexual partner - then when done inside of the marriage covenant, a woman partners with God and her husband and they become one. Is it possible that by proxy/generational healing - she is also cleansing the DNA of her husband and his bloodline? In addition to hormones, could this be an added to factor as to why women are so emotional during this time? As they shed blood, they experience sorrow, pain and suffering. As the Savior took on our own sins and pain, He experienced great suffering which caused Him to sweat great drops of blood. There seems to be a connection here.

I once heard an interview with a renowned Rabbi who said that women experience sadness during their menstrual cycle because their spirit is sorrowing over the lost possibility for life with each egg that is passed. Their is a sadness at the subconscious level as her spirit mourns the undermining of her divine destiny as a creator of life.

While further pondering on this, I happened to be listening to a sermon of a renowned pastor while washing the dishes. I can't remember what the topic was about, but it had nothing to do with the topic of this post. However, somewhere in his sermon he said something that caught my attention. He said that when a woman sheds blood on her honeymoon night - it seals the covenant between husband, wife, and God. Blood is required for that covenant. He then went on to say that when a baby is born in blood and water, it seals the covenant of family and God. He said the purpose of blood in regards to covenants is to seal.

Saved by Blood

“We literally become saviors on Mount Zion. What does this mean? Just as our Redeemer gave His life as a vicarious sacrifice for all men, and in so doing became our Savior, even so we, in a small measure, when we engage in proxy work in the temple, become as saviors to those on the other side who have no means of advancing unless something is done in their behalf by those on earth” Gordon B. Hinckley

We have been taught that it's far more difficult to repent in the spirit world, without a physical body. Could it be that as we are separated from that blood, we no longer have a physical stewardship over it? While separated, we cannot release sin from the body and blood we no longer possess and give it to our Savior for healing - therefore we are bound. However, our progenitors share our blood and as they choose to heal it of family addictions and negative emotions that have been passed down, we can be freed from that pain. After forgiveness takes place, the blood is healed, and restitution goes forth. I believe this to be part of the definition of proxy saviors. Our work in the physical, assists the Savior in the great Plan of Salvation.

A few years ago, I had a personal experience in which I began growing a strip of red hair right out of the center of my scalp. My friend at the time who was doing my hair was very curious about it. She had never seen anything like this before in all her years of working with hair. Generally when hair color changes it's gray hair - not bright red. As the months passed by, she continued to point out my read strip of hair and even asked to take a picture of it.

Months later as she brought it to my attention again, I felt there was something spiritual connected to it. The Lord was trying to get my attention about something and so I began to ponder. Through the Spirit, I began to learn that there were trapped and inherited emotions in our family line. They originated from an ancestor who had emotional issues related to a traumatic head injury that took the life of her baby. I believe the red strip of hair was symbolic of that head injury. There were many other physical signs popping up in our family that all pointed to the same issue. As I went to the Lord and offered up forgiveness to this ancestor, and pleaded for our bloodline to be healed of these inherited emotions, something incredible happened. All of the physical symptoms within our family - related to blood and to this issue cleared up that day. We felt a physical, emotional, and spiritual change come over us. The following month as I went back to my hair dresser she pointed out that the red hair strip was now growing out normal root color. She could not make any sense of it. So, I shared this story with her and then it made sense. The bloodline was healed and therefore the strip of red hair was gone.

The thought has also crossed my mind, that as a blood donor - I feel good about donating my blood, especially when I am one with the Lord and using the Atonement each day to cleanse my blood. I can only imagine that my blood not only blesses the recipient with physical life, but with spiritual life. But what if you receive a blood transfusion from a donor immersed in sin? Will your own blood be tainted? Again, I view this as a blessing in disguise. By using the Atonement, cleansing your blood (according to the DNA studies) will also cleanse those who share your DNA. I don't believe in coincidences or fate. Could it be that God so perfectly orchestrates our lives in such a way that deadly accidents line us up with a blood donor whose blood exchange, somehow blesses the lives of both the donor and recipient? Another form of proxy Savior? I think it would be an added benefit if families and doctors prayed over blood transfusions and organ/marrow/tissue transplants. We should be blessing anything that enters our body. Our body is the tabernacle that houses the Holy Ghost.

While writing this article a video popped up in my YouTube feed that had just barely been published. I had not been searching for any videos related to this topic. The title of the video had nothing to do with blood but the Spirit prompted me to watch it, so I did. To my astonishment this video is all about the saving power of the blood of Jesus Christ. The guest being interviewed wrote a book titled, "This Blood Is for You". It's amazing how the Lord works. When we are pondering certain topics and questions, He will always put answers in our path and the Spirit will prompt us to take notice.

You can't ponder on the topic of blood sacrifice and salvation without including covenants. Covenants and blood go hand in hand. A blood covenant is a promise made by God that He will choose a people for Himself and bless them. The Abrahamic Covenant  and Mosaic Covenant of the Old Testament were “shadows,” of the better covenant to come. The atoning power of a sacrifice was in the blood because the blood was regarded as essential to life.

When the destroying angel passed over Egypt, the children of Israel who had painted unblemished lamb's blood on their doors were saved. It is only pure and sanctified blood that can save us. Jesus Christ is the unblemished Lamb whose blood saves us from the eternal destruction of our own sins.

Remission of sins under the law of Moses required the shedding of an animal’s blood. In setting forth the laws respecting sacrificial ordinances in ancient Israel, the Lord explained: “For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.”

As the ancient high priest entered into the Holy of Holies on earth and sprinkled the goat’s blood upon the mercy-seat, so Jesus Christ entered the sacred sanctuary of heaven itself, there to intercede before the Father in behalf of those whose penitence makes them eligible for his act of mercy.

“… In legal usage, a testator is one who leaves a valid will or testament at his death. The will or testament is the written document wherein the testator provides for the disposition of his property. As used in the gospel sense, a testament is a covenant. Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant or testament, that is of the gospel which came to replace the law of Moses. …

“… In other words, Christ had to die to bring salvation. The testament or covenant of salvation came in force because of the atonement worked out in connection with that death. Christ is the Testator. His gift, as would be true of any testator, cannot be inherited until his death. Christ died that salvation might come; without his death, he could not have willed either immortality or eternal life to men.” (McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp. 784–85.)

The gospel was a “better covenant” because it offered the principles and ordinances of salvation in their fulness, while the law of Moses did not. The Israelites, in general, rejected the fulness of the gospel on both occasions when it was offered to them, first while wandering in the desert under Moses and later when Jesus came to earth in the meridian of time. Joseph Smith once said: “This covenant has never been established with the house of Israel, nor with the house of Judah, for it requires two parties to make a covenant, and those two parties must be agreed, or no covenant can be made.

"Thus after this chosen family had rejected Christ and His proposals, the heralds of salvation said to them, ‘Lo we turn unto the Gentiles’; and the Gentiles received the covenant, and were grafted in from whence the chosen family were broken off: but the Gentiles have not continued in the goodness of God, but have departed from the faith that was once delivered to the Saints, and have broken the covenant in which their fathers were established [see Isaiah 24:5]; and have become high-minded, and have not feared; therefore, but few of them will be gathered with the chosen family.” (Smith, Teachings, pp. 14–15.)

Moroni says that the faithful saints are "sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission’ of their sins, that they become holy and without spot. (Moroni. 10:33.)”

“To be sanctified is to become clean, pure, and spotless; to be free from the blood and sins of the world; to become a new creature of the Holy Ghost, one whose body has been renewed by the rebirth of the Spirit. Sanctification is a state of saintliness, a state attained only by conformity to the laws and ordinances of the gospel."

“… Those who attain this state of cleanliness and perfection are able, as occasion may require, to see God and view the things of his kingdom." (D. & C. 84:23; 88:68; Ether 4:7.)

The word covenant appears about thirty times in the New Testament. The word not only summarizes God’s relationship with the Church, but it is also prominent in connection with the most frequent early Christian public ordinance—the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.

 Jesus not only paralleled Moses’ words in speaking of the “blood of the new covenant,” he also required the same pledge of repentance of the ancient covenant. Through Christ there is indeed a “miracle of forgiveness”—extended to those who seriously seek to know and follow his teachings.

The baptismal covenant is summarized in Moroni 6:3, which declares that disciples take upon themselves “the name of Christ, having a determination to serve him to the end.” That commitment is paralleled in the sacrament promise to “take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him.” (Moro. 4:3. [Moro. 6:3])

The Savior unfolded the meaning of the bread and wine that should be administered “unto all those who shall believe and be baptized in [his] name” (3 Ne. 18:5); then he said: “Ye shall do it in remembrance of my blood, which I have shed for you, that ye may witness unto the Father that ye do always remember me. And if ye do always remember me ye shall have my Spirit to be with you.” (3 Ne. 18:11; see also 3 Ne 18:7.)

In the September 1990 Ensign, Hugh W. Nibley wrote an article titled, The Atonement of Jesus Christ (Part 3) in which he wrote regarding religious ceremonies,

There is one expression connected with the ceremonies that seem strangely paradoxical. It is having one’s garments washed white with the blood of the Lamb. Washed white with blood? The Book of Mormon clarifies the apparent contradiction. Alma tells us that “there can no man be saved except his garments are washed white; yea, his garments must be purified until they are cleansed from all stain, through the blood of him of whom it has been spoken by our fathers, who should come to redeem his people from their sins.

“And now I ask of you, my brethren, how will any of you feel, if ye shall stand before the bar of God, having your garments stained with blood and all manner of filthiness? Behold, what will these things testify against you?

“Behold will they not testify that ye are murderers, … guilty of all manner of wickedness?” (Alma 5:21–23.)

Being guilty of the blood and sins of your generation, you may not “have a place to sit down in the kingdom of God, with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, and also all the holy prophets, whose garments are cleansed and are spotless, pure and white.” (Alma 5:24.) This is nothing less than the yeshivah, literally “sitting down” in the presence of God. 16

Note that there are two kinds of blood-stained garments here—the one showing the blood and sins of this world, the other attesting (for Alma expressly states that “these things testify”) that Aaron and his sons have completed the sacrifice of the Lamb and thus cleansed the people of their defilements, and their garments are white. The blood that washes garments clean is not the blood that defiles them, just as the serpent that healed the people in the wilderness was not the serpent that killed.

Summary

The mysteries surrounding blood and sacrifice are intriguing. There is so much to explore and so many stones un-turned. There is definitely more to our DNA than meets the eye. If our DNA truly acts as our own recorded Book of Life, then our own blood as well as the blood of others surely will testify against us at Judgement Day. All memories, feelings, thoughts, and acts are stored there.Truth is written.

Regardless of how the dots connect, one thing is concrete above all else. We are saved by the blood of Jesus Christ (God's grace) when we repent and forsake our sins - period. His atonement can alter our DNA and wipe clean the sin that has been recorded. We don't have to live a life of pain and suffering - we can be cleansed and healed! We can claim the blood of Jesus and by drinking of it we may always remember Him and what He has done for us, and always have His spirit to be with us. We may be blessed children in God's eternal family. This I know to be true. In His holy name, Jesus Christ - amen.

The Power of An Open Mind

 The most valuable wisdom I have learned on my life's journey is the importance of keeping an open  mind. You may have heard the saying, "When your heart is open, love will always find it's way in." - Jane Seymour. The same is true for knowledge, "When your mind is open, truth will always find it's way in." - Lindsey Rietzsch :)


While doing the dishes this morning in my kitchen, the Spirit impressed upon my mind the importance and urgency of writing a post about this topic today. I think this may be one of the most important blog posts I have ever written.

There is a real spiritual warfare going on right now and when we are ignorant to it, we become victims. I believe that Satan wants us to be ignorant to it. He wants us to become consumed by life and all the stress and distractions. He wants our eyes to be covered and our minds to be loud and busy. Because if we were in-tune enough to see, still enough to hear, and open enough to receive, then we would be filled with such truths and knowledge about the Spirit World, how Satan operates, and the Kingdom of Heaven, that we would would become powerful against the enemy. Knowledge is power, truth is light, and light is Jesus. The greatest weapon against the adversary is light, truth, and our Savior Jesus Christ.

Through the Holy Ghost, Christ dwells within us. When we are filled with light, truth, and love, we are filled with Jesus. When we are filled with Jesus we have His power within us. When His power is within us, there is nothing we should fear.

Doctrine and Covenants 93:36-37

36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.

37 Light and truth forsake that evil one.


"Faith in Jesus Christ propels us to do things we otherwise would not do. Faith that motivates us to action gives us more access to His power. When you spiritually stretch beyond anything you have ever done before, then His power will flow into you. And then you will understand the deep meaning of words we sing in the hymn “The Spirit of God”:

The Lord is extending the Saints’ understanding. …
The knowledge and power of God are expanding;
The veil o’er the earth is beginning to burst."  - Russell M. Nelson

I truly believe that there are many members of the Church and many followers of Christ who have limited their own progression of light, truth, and knowledge because of their disbelief. Fear has caused them to doubt, and doubt has led to disbelief. They are closed off to further light and truth, and content with the basics. It's a safe zone. Truth and light will never be forced upon us by God. If we are not ready for it, open to it, and are not asking for it, then when it does cross our paths we will dismiss it or turn from it. We will doubt it, fear it, and disbelieve it.

You may have experienced this, what the Savior calls "cast(ing) pearls". You may have shared something beautiful, personal, and scared with someone only to find that they did not believe your words, thought you were deceived or that you were confused. When someone is not ready for, or open to truth, they will not feel touched by the Spirit. One person may read a scripture verse and find it boring, yet another may read that same scripture verse and be overcome by the Spirit and brought to tears. When we seek and we are ready, the Spirit will testify.

There is so much more to God's Kingdom than we understand. It is up to us to pursue Jesus Christ, the Holy Ghost, and God the Father, and develop a personal relationship with each of them. They are the teachers of the beautiful Mysteries. There are many truths that have been sealed up and not revealed to the Church as a whole because as a whole they are not ready. However, if we seek with faith and an open and honest heart, there is nothing that the Lord will withhold from us. We can learn the sealed truths and mysteries if it is God's will for us to know them. I assure you, there is nothing more that delights God, than when we seek Him and we seek to truly know Him.

With our free agency we can choose to receive truth or repel it. However, each time we set aside fear and doubt and receive truth, we open ourselves up a little wider to receive more. Line upon line, precept upon precept until our belief and knowledge is so pure, and our faith is so strong that the veil can no longer separate us. Our belief leads to seeing, and when we see, we move from believing to knowing.

2 Nephi 9:28,42-43

28 O that cunning plan of the evil one! O the vainness, and the frailties, and the foolishness of men! When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish.

42 And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and come down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.


43 But the things of the wise and the prudent shall be hid from them forever—yea, that happiness which is prepared for the saints.

We learn from this scripture that even when we are knocking, when we are asking for answers, if we are not humble and do not realize that there is much we do not know or understand, then the Lord will not open. We will not find and we will not receive, because of our pride. We may refer to this as the Lord not answering our prayers. However, it is our own pride and disbelief that keeps us from receiving His answers.

Many view pride as strength and humility as weakness. If we admit that there is much we do not know, or that we have been wrong about some things, we fear that others may see us as weak and under-learned. That mindset is the very thing that closes us off to truth - further light and knowledge.

I can assure you from personal experience that there is nothing more liberating than letting go of all boundaries and paradigms, and just letting the Spirit be your guide. You may be guided to a book or article that you otherwise would have dismissed. In that article you may be led to a gem of truth pertinent to your purpose and mission. You may also come across error and deceit, yet with your gift of discernment you will know what to dismiss and what to grasp onto. The truth will fill you with warm light and exceeding joy, the error will leave you in a stupor of thought. Some truths you may feel are not for you to learn at this time.

Alma taught us how we can decipher: Alma 32:28

28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.

You may be guided to a person or teacher whose cultural background and beliefs differ greatly from yours, however there is something you are to learn from them that will will prepare you for the next gem of truth the Spirit would like to reveal. You will find that truth adds to your testimony of Jesus Christ and the Plan of Salvation. It never takes away from that. It fills you with peace, leaves you energized and with great clarity - it never leaves you confused or depleted.

You will find that all the people, places, books, videos, dreams, visions, etc. that you are led to, several years ago you would have ignored, dismissed, or overlooked. They may have appeared strange, unfamiliar, and out of your comfort zone. However, as you let down your guard and open yourself to the Spirit and all possibilities, you will find that the bits and pieces of truth that you learn here and there feel very familiar as if you had known all this before, and had just forgot.

There is truth spread all across this vast wilderness, and one day it will all be circumscribed into one great whole - but until then we have to seek it piece by piece, relying on our compass (the Holy Ghost) to be our guide. As you continue seeking, you'll soon find that you no longer approach truth with a sense of caution or fear. You are drawn to it like a magnet. You can feel it before it arrives. Someone or something who others might see as strange or different, you see at first glance as beautiful and highly valuable. You are eager to learn and open to truth in whatever form it may come. Because of the gift of discernment you have no reason to fear. Your relationship with the Holy Ghost is so solid that doubt has no room in your heart.

When we are quick to judge and criticize others, that is a red flag that we are not open minded people. We are not as little children. We are not humble. Little children love unconditionally, and they believe whatever their parents tell them to believe. They don't need proof, evidence, verification, references, or approval of others to believe - they just believe.

Mosiah 3:18

18 For behold he judgeth, and his judgment is just; and the infant perisheth not that dieth in his infancy; but men drink damnation to their own souls except they humble themselves and become as little children, and believe that salvation was, and is, and is to come, in and through the atoning blood of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.

We cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven if we do not believe. Our spirit remembers all truth and hungers for our physical mind to catch on. When our soul truly hungers, it will be fed. Our spirit jumps for joy each time we seek truth, receive it, and believe it. The veil slowly peels back as truth begins to feel familiar to us. When we close ourselves off to truth because we don't understand it, we cause damnation to our souls. Because when we are not moving forward and progressing, we are moving backwards and regressing. There is no standing still. We are always in motion - either forward or backward. Forward is life, and backward is death. Truth is life eternal.

When our body is filled with sickness and pain, when emotionally we feel like we are "dying" inside - the physical is evidence of the spiritual. Are we open to truth, are we seeking light and moving forward? Or are we stuck in sin and moving backward? Are we content with the basics and stuck in false beliefs that hinder our progression. Beliefs that we are not worthy of God's love, we are not worthy of healing and miracles - they may be possible for others but not for us. Beliefs that God is punishing us, is angry at us, or has chosen a life of pain for us because we are to learn from it, or we were not worthy enough to be blessed with a life of joy. From the bottom of my heart, and from personal experience, I truly believe that these beliefs are false!

I have yet to meet a doubter who has received a miraculous healing. When I talk to people who are suffering from severe pain or illness they often talk about putting their faith and hope into finding the right drug, doctor, or medication - but I never hear them mention hope in a miraculous healing from the Lord. They don't believe it's possible that they could wake up the next morning and be miraculously healed. I remember asking a blind woman once if she had ever asked for a special prayer or blessing for the Lord to heal her eyes. She told me that she did not have the faith to ask for such a miracle, so she chose to accept her blindness instead. However her Great Grandmother had the same blindness and asked for a blessing in which she was instantly healed. The woman was aware of this miracle but told me her Great Grandmother had faith and she did not. She along with many others believes that she must accept this trial and bear it all her life - coupled with an underlying fear that what if they ask for healing and it doesn't work? Will they lose their faith in God all together? They feel it's safer to just not ask at all. We have access to the most amazing gift - the healing power of Jesus Christ and His Atonement, but many of us take it for granted.

In Doctrine and Covenants 29: 46-47 we learn that Satan has no power to tempt children until they reach the age of accountability. They are redeemed from the beginning through Jesus Christ.

46 But behold, I say unto you, that little children are redeemed from the foundation of the world through mine Only Begotten;

47 Wherefore, they cannot sin, for power is not given unto Satan to tempt little children, until they begin to become accountable before me;

Though Satan cannot tempt children (as they are not accountable), he certainly can torment and afflict them. He will jump at ever opportunity he gets. Devils and unclean spirits can and will attach to anyone who is vulnerable. Though Satan is given power to bruise our heel, we are given power to crush his head because of the Atoning Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When you truly understand the Atonement and how to use it, you break the chains that Satan has bound you in. Chains of sickness, depression, fear, doubt, unforgiveness, pain, addiction, abuse, anger and so on. We don't have to tolerate Satan and his tormentors. We don't have to accept pain and live a life dependent on medications, surgeries, and therapists. We can be healed. We can be freed!

God needs us to be whole, He needs us to be powerful in His Kingdom. Healing, wholeness, and prosperity are a manifestation of His Glory and Power. They are the signs and wonders that lead others unto Him. The Lord does not desire for the body of His church to be filled with sickness, sadness, pain, and torment. He is a God of healing, of miracles, of wonders, and these testify of Him and His Power. It is the marvelous works, miracles, and manifestations of the Spirit that lead people to Christ. The examples led by His followers. The sad, downtrodden, afflicted and weary are looking for hope.That desire to be healed, to be freed, to be saved. The Lord wants His Church to reflect that. It is through our own disbelief that miracles cease.

Pain, disease, and sickness are not of God and are not of the Celestial or Terrestrial worlds. You will not find it in His Kingdom. God is life. All things that promote life, happiness, joy, and love are of God. The City of Enoch bypassed death because they were already living the Celestial law and currently abiding in a Terrestrial world. They understood the Atonement and how to truly apply it. They understood the gospel of Jesus Christ and how to truly live it. Satan had no power over them. Death had no place among them.

Sickness, illness, disease, and pain promote death. Death is of Satan - it is of this fallen Telestial world. He is anti-life in any shape and form. Because of our agency, we sometimes make choices in our lives that result in pain, disease, and sickness. Whether we choose to harbor feelings that are negative and allow those feelings to take root in us, or we choose to watch or participate in activities that drive away the Spirit and invite darkness into our soul, this is all classified as sin because sin is anything that pulls us away from life and from God. We are always planting seeds in our soul. Good seeds fill us with life, and bad seeds corrupt us with death. Until we repent and give our pain, sorrows, afflictions and sins to our Savior, we cannot be healed.

The Jews of the New Testament referred to sickness as "devils" or "unclean spirits". We read of many accounts of the Savior casting out "devils". Often times we don't realized that much of our sickness can be healed from simply raising our right hand to the square and casting out evil. From simple headaches to terrible fevers, the sickness is a manifestation of the adversary. Through the Spirit we can learn how we became vulnerable to those afflictions (a negative song, a violent TV show, pornography, speaking curse words at someone), so that we can avoid making the same mistakes in the future. Satan stands by waiting for an opportunity to torment us. Our choices can invite him into our homes to not only affect us but also our children. When the Spirit leaves, Satan moves in. If we are ignorant to his presence, we will not cast him out. In addition to casting him out, we should always be up to date on applying the Atonement. We should be repenting daily of sin, and casting our sorrows, negative thoughts, and feelings to the Savior. They don't leave on their own, we must take action through the Atonement.

I remember once hearing a woman complain about her family always being sick. Virus after virus from colds, to flues, to strep throat and pneumonia. For six months her family had been plagued and she was fatigued. Soon she learned that her husband had a pornography addiction. As he addressed the addiction and together they used the Atonement to heal and forgive, the sickness left their home.

Affliction and torment is not of God and He does not send it to us. When we sin or harbor negative feelings (which is also sin) we pull ourselves away from God and His protection, allowing Satan to have power over us. Because of free will and agency God allows this to happen. However we must remember that what Satan uses for our harm, God uses for our benefit. No negative experience in this life is wasted. We can choose to learn what we need to through a life of pain and affliction or through a life of miracles, joy, and healing.

Because we live in a Telestial world it does not mean that we have to live a Telestial glory in this mortal life. This is what is meant by the phrase be in the world but not of the world. (John 15:17) We can physically live in this Telesial world but live in a higher state/glory. By becoming purified, holy, and sanctified, we are not of this world. Satan has no power over us. Physically our bodies are here, but spiritually we operate from a higher realm.

Humility leads us beyond this world. An open mind allows us to find the truth and knowledge that will progress our soul. We are commanded to try and be like our Savior. Our Savior emulated everything that He saw the Father do. As we try to be like the Savior, we also become like our Father in Heaven as they are one in purpose. The goal of our existence is eternal life and to one day attain all that the Father has. Our Father in Heaven is glorified through His children. Our happiness, joy, progression and exaltation, glorifies Him.

John 17:10-11

And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.

And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.

To illustrate the power of an open mind and heart, Jesus said in Matthew 13:15-17

15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

The Lord teaches us in these verses that His word heals us! If we are not truly converted and born again of the Spirit, He cannot heal us. When our eyes and ears are closed to truth, we close ourselves off from His healing power. We close ourselves off from miracles.

A couple verses down, Jesus then gives us the parable of the sower in which we learn that when people are given truth and they don't understand it, Satan comes along and "catcheth away that which was sown in his(their) heart." He explains that this is why He spoke in parables. He was protecting the unbelievers from Satan. This is why He counseled us not to cast our pearls before unbelievers. He then tells us that "he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty." Those who understand the mysteries of truth in the parables, are those who bring forth a bounteous harvest of fruit. By their fruits ye shall know them (Matthew 7). Marvelous signs and wonders follow those that believe (Moroni 9). These are believers who are converted to the Lord 100%. They have received a mighty change of heart. They are operating in a Celestial realm. Miracles follow them, and where they are - there is no place for sickness or pain.

Have you been truly converted to the Lord? Have you received that mighty change of heart in which you have no desire to do evil? Have you released all sin to the Savior, or are you currently suffering for your own sins? You will know this by the way you feel. The Atonement is for all! You do not have to reach a level of worthiness to use it or even be close to perfect. And don't fall for the lie that that there are certain sins you must carry and suffer for on your own because it's your purpose to endure those afflictions all the days of your life, or that you are being punished. Sin pulls you away from God and away from wholeness. It is not what He wants for you. But if you choose that path and change your mind later, He can and will use it all for your good because He loves you!

Our choices affect our lives, and our posterity. We may bring curses, illnesses, addictions, abuse etc. upon our lives that get passed down through the generations. But it doesn't have to be that way or stay that way. The Atonement doesn't just heal us, it heals our posterity, it heals generations! We can also pass on faith, belief, healing, prosperity, and miracles to our posterity.

In summary, it all comes down to our relationship with the Godhead, our understanding and use of the Atonement (even for feelings and emotions), and having an open mind and heart. How well do we know our Savior? Do we know Him as a God of Resurrection Power? What does that mean to us? Do we know that He can resurrect our dreams, our relationships, and our motivation? He is the Great Redeemer? What does that mean to us? He can redeem and restore lost blessings, lost opportunities, and our happiness. Do we know Him as the Savior? He saves us from sin, from pain, from sorrow and torment. He saves us from the Fall(death) and brings us towards life. Do you feel like you are full of life and zest and joy? Does passion for life and love burn within you? When you truly know the Savior you can't help but answer "yes"to all these questions.

We are not here to live mediocre. We are not here to stay inside our boxes and just learn the basics. Receiving the ordinances without receiving Christ in your heart doesn't do much good. Baptism without being born again of the Spirit is no different than baptizing a bag of sand. We have to open our minds and our hearts to the Spirit. We have to be changed from the natural man in order to experience the fullness. We have to be teachable and humble. We have to love unconditionally. And we must continue progressing this is part of "enduring".

Spiritual warfare is real. Are we doing all we can to cast out devils and unclean spirits every morning when we awake and every night before going to bed? Casting it out of our homes, our children, and our families? Casting out evil in all of its forms? Kicking it off of our property and calling on Heavenly protection to guard us? Blessing our homes and our families. Doing things to invite the Spirit into our bodies, our homes, and our lives? The battle is real and if we are ignorant to it we become victims rather than victors.

What we learn in this life will give us all the more advantage in the life to come.The greater truths that are going to help us progress, are not written about in books, or taught over the pulpit, they are taught by the Spirit. It is my hope and prayer that we allow the Spirit to become our guide and teacher. That we don't settle for mediocre, but instead set aside all fear, all doubt, and all disbelief and surrender ourselves to the Savior and all that He has for us. As we seek Him we will find Him and He will become our greatest teacher! We will have Divine experiences that we never thought possible. We will receive the mighty change of heart. I say this in Jesus' name amen.

Claim Your Blessings Today!

Several years ago I wanted to run a promotion for my skin care product that I had newly re-branded. I met with the owner of a popular coupon magazine that circulates monthly here in Utah. After receiving advice from a successful local business owner, I decided it would be a fantastic idea to offer my product for free in this magazine! A shipping fee of $9 would cover the cost of the manufacturing on each product as well as packaging, the cost to mail it, and hopefully the cost to place the ad. This same idea with this same shipping amount, offered in this same magazine, is what launched this certain business owner's success. I was so excited to follow suit!

Because my product had been an As Seen on TV product, I had that advantage over the other business owner. I was sure that I would have just as much, if not more success with this offer. I paid the large amount of money for my ad to be featured with fingers crossed that enough people would claim the free product to cover that cost. The ad was big, beautiful, had striking colors and font and my very best before and after pictures. The title of the ad was FREE!! The details explained the coupon was good for one free product (excluding shipping) and explained the benefits of the product with bullet points. I was very excited for it to run.

Without any doubt, I was certain that several hundred people or more would claim this free offer. It was an incredible deal because the product truly was free. The product sold for retail at $20 a jar. In fact, in order to be eligible to place the ad, I had to have 2,000 products made as the magazine owner told me I could expect to surely get half of that as a minimum claimed on my offer.

The day the magazine came in the mail, I opened it up to find my ad. I was so excited! I checked my online store several times a day to see the status. And....as the hours, days, and weeks passed by...nothing. No one claimed my offer. I could not believe it! Towards the end of the month I was amazed to see that one person had claimed my offer. A couple years later when we moved, I became her neighbor and when she learned I was the owner of this product, she told me she had a jar that she had claimed on the free offer. She told me how much she loved it. She had no idea that she was the only one who had claimed the free offer.

For several months I could not wrap my mind around this. I could not believe that only one person saw the value of this offer and claimed it. There were so many people who saw the ad, saw what it could do for their feet, saw that it was free, and all they had to do was go to the link and enter the code. It was so simple! There would never be such a good deal offered again.

Years later, I ran a similar promotion on social media and again, this time, no one claimed the offer. Months passed and I ran another free promotion in which I went to the fan page of my product. I notified everyone on social media that all they had to do was like, share, or comment on the post, and they would be entered in a drawing in which I would pick several winners  to win free product with free shipping! They could enter as many times as they liked and the contest was only 24 hours.

Again, I was amazed. Only a handful of people responded and so every person who entered won. I could not believe how many loyal customers and fans did not make the easy effort to get the product they always purchase for free. I wondered if they doubted they would win, or doubted it was actually free, or just too busy to take the step.

Lastly, I recently held a promotion where I drew several winners who each won $50 of free product plus free shipping. The winners were very excited to have won, however to this day not one of them have claimed their prize. On the contrary, for the past several years, whenever I offer a discount such as buy 5 get 5 free or 50% off, my orders explode. I have learned that when something is free, people do not associate value with it. However, when something  is slightly discounted and the customer must also pay for shipping, they attach a value to that and jump on the opportunity.

As I have pondered this, I made a connection to the Plan of Salvation and our blessings that the Father has in store for us. Salvation is for everyone, you don't have to earn it or pay for it. Jesus already paid the price and His gift is free to all who will just accept it. As simple and incredible as it seems, many do not jump at the opportunity.

Spiritual gifts are also free, they are a gift to us. However, many of us do not claim them.

There are mountains of blessings being stored for each of us, all we have to do is claim them. However, many of us never make the simple effort to claim them. I imagine giant warehouses all over Heaven full of blessings, just sitting on the shelves, waiting to be claimed.

Maybe we are deceived to think that there is catch, nothing can really be free can it? Or, do we think if something is free, it must not be very valuable, so what's the point of checking it out? Or are we simply lazy, thinking it seems like work to have to claim an offer. You have go to the link, click on it, enter your information. Maybe we'll just wait until we have some free time or wait until the next offer comes around.

Living the gospel can seem like work at times. Going to church every Sunday, giving service, paying tithing, studying scriptures, praying, and the list goes on. Sure what's being offered sounds wonderful, but we'll get around to it when we have more time.

Are you claiming your gifts, your blessings, and your place in God's Kingdom? It's there for the taking, and you don't even have to pay for shipping. What are you waiting for? I know that when you claim all the Father has to give you, it is then you find your greatest peace and happiness! I say this in the name of Jesus Christ amen.