Mosiah 18:9 - Yea, and are willing to mourn with those
that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as a witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be
redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection that ye may have eternal life
My friend Kristy sent this to me and I somehow skipped over it in my video message. I had been talking about how signs and messages always come to me in threes, and I shared my story this week of the broken blow dryer, car battery, and water pipe and the message the Lord had for me. When my friend sent this to me it was a witness of what I had already planned to talk about in my video. It's another confirmation of signs coming in threes.
What's interesting about this video is that it relates to the burning cathedral having an important message from God. I have also included the other video below of the two women who had planned to get married until God intervened with three signs that this was not right and not what He wanted for them. Amazing!!
Please keep my channel in your prayers. YouTube continues to disable comments on my videos. I have been talking back and forth with their customer service and have had an open case for over a month now. As I check in daily for updates I am told, "we are still looking into it" and that a team has been actively trying to figure out why all my videos have been blocked for commenting. Should be a simple fix. My views have dropped 87% in the last 30 days. I believe that my channel is being censored.
Here it is! What a powerful and important message I have taken away not only from General Conference, but also from the top news stories of last week. It all fits together. Did you notice too? After 18 hours of filming, editing, and uploading, I'm happy to announce that my 10-day social media fast begins right now! See you all after the 22nd. :)
Lately, I have been pondering the droughts in which I plan to share more about it an upcoming video message. The headlines continue to speak of farmers having to sell their cattle because they can't feed them. Farmers letting their crops die because they can't water them, and this effecting the Utah economy, and councils meeting about new Utah water conservation regulations for all of Utah.
It was no surprise when the other day I received an email from an acquaintance who shared this compilation of council and prophecy from Latter-day Saint leaders about this very topic in relation to keeping the Sabbath day holy. This is a topic I have written about many times over the past several years, and I feel it's ever so important in 2018.
Here is a video in which I shared my thoughts last year about the drought in the Southwest connected to blessings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsqoUvELwcg&t=4141s
Here are the summarized points and council I took away from this friend's email. I would love to hear any additional thoughts. Ucon, ID Stake conference, April 24 2016
(Anonymous Latter-day Saint) - Elder Sexton spoke and said, "I was recently taught by the first presidency a few weeks ago, just prior to General Conference and it's my responsibility to bring that spirit with me, to teach you the message they send to you. I'm not here teaching my own message."
Promised Blessings When Keeping it Holy
The protections promised us when we keep the Sabbath Day Holy and obey the
commandments as laid out in Leviticus 26:1-13 (reading theses verses will help you understand the notes):
Rain in due season = prosperous (scripture is talking in agricultural terms for the time period; but we can apply this to our day and whatever our needs are now or in the future).
Eat your bread to the full
Shall not want
Dwell in our land safely (Stake wide or individually, community of safety)
Elder Sexton renewed theses blessings upon our stake, but said these promises are perpetual to ALL that keep the Sabbath Day Holy and obey the commandments.
If we choose not to keep it holy:
I will appoint over you terror... terrorism (He asked if anyone had seen any terrorism happening in the world. He then said it gets worse and to read the rest of Leviticus (verse 14 & on) if you want to know... it's really bad but we don't want to dwell on that here today).
Faith will increase as we see the fulfillment of this promise. Sabbath observance is the great test of the faithful and shows the depth of our conviction.
The Blessings of Not Working on Sunday
A local sister bore her testimony about being in High School and wanting to do well. She said her father did not value education and if she was going to be able to go to college it was going to have to be on scholarships. She made the goal to do well enough to get as many scholarships as possible ensuring her a full ride to college. She also had made a promise to Heavenly Father early on to not do any work on Sunday, including homework. Her father owned a business and felt that hard work was
the only way to make it and the kids were expected to help daily with this business leaving little time to get homework done. In High School it was so hard for her to get all her assignments done, and she stayed up late many times so as to never miss one and never be late with one. One week in
particular her father kept them all very busy working long hours after school and it was this same week a huge report was due. One that was half the grade for the semester, not doing this report would give her a failing grade. Her heart ached as she went to bed very late Saturday night having
only finished the rough draft. She knew this particular teacher was a fair teacher, but that she was a teacher that did not budge on due dates. This sister kept her promise of never doing homework on Sundays, but went to school with a heavy heart Monday morning. When she got to this class she
was waiting for the teacher to ask for the reports to be turned in, but what she heard instead was,
"Wow, I’m not sure what’s up, but I’m in a terribly good mood today. I think I will give you all one more day to finish up and finalize those reports. They will be due tomorrow."
A Measure for Sifting the Saints?
Stake President said that the brethren taught that there is a great "sifting" going on right now - and that Sabbath Day Observance is the sifting - and that this is the sifting that was prophesied would happen just prior to the 2nd coming of the Lord. Also, they said that Sabbath day observance will offer protection - and those who do not honor it will, "see their faith disintegrate."
January 29th 2018 Raleigh North Carolina
(Anonymous Latter-day Saint) - I had a spiritual feast last night. I had some pretty cool dreams and some neat spiritual experiences. Before I went to bed though I was contemplating the Sabbath day and why such a huge push from the Lord on this. I know the brethren have pushed this as a very big thing and strait from the Lord. There are a couple things I have known and that are common sense.
1) The obvious blessing of taking the sacrament
2) The protection that comes from keeping the commandment
We all know that the Lord is using this as a tool to sift the saints. There will be great blessings and divine protection for those who do it. The old saying some people use for paying your tithing is like paying your fire insurance. So you don't get burned. Well with the Sabbath day it is like life insurance and will literally entitle people to divine protection.
As I was contemplating this the spirit also said. They will need to be independent and strong because there will be times when there are no church meetings. There will be great disturbances and chaos through out the world and times of sickness and distress. This will be the ultimate form of self-reliance. Those who don't have the foundation of strong Sabbath day observance will struggle and will fall. This gives them strength and a foundation to keep them focused on the savior as there are times away from church. It kind of surprised me.
"For members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, honoring the Sabbath is a form of righteousness that will bless and strengthen families, connect us with our Creator, and increase happiness. The Sabbath can help separate us from that which is frivolous, inappropriate, or
immoral. It allows us to be in the world but not of the world. .....
The Spirit will help us avoid temptations and dangers, and comfort and lead us through challenges. 'The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.'
Adherence to sacred gospel principles will allow us to be temple worthy, enable us to find happiness in this life, and lead us back to our heavenly home.
My dear brothers and sisters, life is not easy, nor was it meant to be. It is a time of testing and trial. Like the old ships in Bristol Harbor, there will be times when the tide goes out and it seems as if everything in this world keeping us afloat disappears. .......
Amid such trials, I promise you that living and maintaining temple-worthy lives will hold together all that really matters. The sweet blessings of peace, happiness, and joy, along with the blessings of eternal life and celestial glory with our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, will be realized."
"Two essential weekly signposts that mark our journey back to our Father in Heaven are the perpetual covenant of the ordinance of the sacrament and our Sabbath day observance. President Russell M. Nelson taught us last general conference that the Sabbath is the Lord’s gift to us. Our devoted weekly
observance of the Sabbath is our sign to the Lord that we love Him.
Each Sabbath day we witness that we are 'willing to take upon [ourselves His name], and always remember him, and keep his commandments.' In return for our repentant heart and our commitment, the Lord renews the promised remission of sin and enables us to “always have his Spirit to be with [us].” The Holy Spirit’s influence improves, strengthens, teaches, and guides us.
If, in remembering Him each Sabbath, we turn our hearts to the Savior through these two important signposts, our efforts are again more than matched by the Lord by His promised blessings. We are promised that, with devoted Sabbath day observance, the fullness of the earth will be ours."
"The world you're living in has some serious challenges. Today I want to emphasize a principle of the gospel that can* greatly bless your lives and protect you..........
I do remember what it was like to be your age. And I remember being confused a little about what I should or shouldn't do on Sundays. I want to speak with you about that for a moment, about understanding the Sabbath day and why it is so very important to keep it holy--more important than most of us ever realize.
In so doing, I plead with you not to see Sunday as a day of negative rules and stifling restrictions or a day of tedious duty or a day devoid of any pleasure or joy. Any such view could not be farther from the truth."
"...To observe it [Sabbath], one will be on his knees in prayer, preparing lessons, studying the gospel,
meditating, visiting the ill and distressed, sleeping, reading wholesome material, and attending all the meetings of that day to which he is expected. [Failure] to do these proper things is a transgression on the omission side.”
It's Our Covenant
Jesus taught, “The Sabbath was made for man. Wherefore the children of Israel [which includes all Latter-day Saints] shall keep the Sabbath … throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever.”
The Sabbath is More Than Just Church
John Taylor taught, " It is customary for men in the world from which we have gathered out, to
talk on Sunday about spiritual things, when they are dressed in their Sunday coats and at meeting, and then on Monday to pack up their religion with their Sunday clothes in their trunks, to have nothing more to do with it until next Sunday. … O, the folly of man in not acknowledging God in all
things, in laying aside God and his religion, and trusting in their own judgment and intelligence.
There is something that goes a little further than we think about sometimes; and that is, while we profess to be followers of the Lord, while we profess to have received the Gospel and to be governed by it, a profession will amount to nothing unless we have washed our robes and made
them white in the blood of the Lamb. It is not enough for us to be connected with the Zion of God, for the Zion of God must consist of men that are pure in heart and pure in life and spotless before God, at least that is what we have got to arrive at. We are not there yet, but we must get there before we shall be prepared to inherit glory and exaltation; therefore a form of godliness will amount to but little with any of us, for he that knoweth the master’s will and doeth it not shall be beaten with many stripes [see Luke 12:47]. It is “not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but He that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.” [Matthew 7:21.]
These are doctrines of the Gospel as I understand them. And it is not enough for us to embrace the Gospel and to be gathered here to the land of Zion and be associated with the people of God, attend our meetings and partake of the Sacrament of the Lord’s supper, and endeavor to move along without much blame of any kind attached to us; for notwithstanding all this, if our hearts are not right, if we are not pure in heart before God, if we have not pure hearts and pure consciences, fearing God and keeping His commandments, we shall not, unless we repent, participate in these blessings about which I have spoken, and of which the Prophets bear testimony.
It is our business to be Saints. And to be worthy of that character it is our duty to live by the principles of virtue, truth, integrity, holiness, purity, and honor that we may at all times secure the favor of Almighty God; that His blessings may be with us and dwell in our bosoms; that the
peace of God may abide in our habitations; … and that we, as a people, may be under His divine protection.
An interesting article someone shared with me today. I have similar thoughts about this change and felt inspired a few days ago to share in an upcoming video message.
Boy, this summer has really flown by. With the kids out of school and lot's of family activities, trips, and visitors, I feel like I haven't had a spare moment to write, read, and gather my thoughts. You can probably tell by the lack of posts over the past couple weeks. Sometimes I wish I could freeze time and get ahead, or I wish I could clone myself to at least six other me's, so I could get all the things done that I've been working on for so long. Always so many ideas but never enough hours in the day.
In this week's video message, I share the "how to's" of healing feelings and emotions, personal experiences, the gift of discernment, the coming changes, and what to do about modern day wolves in sheep's clothing. It's one of the longest videos I have ever recorded, and the heaviest topics I have ever shared. Would love to hear your thoughts!
A few months ago I shared in a video a response I gave to a mother's plea for advice. She had messaged me and expressed her sorrow and frustration towards her teenage son who was making choices that she was not pleased with and worried that his behaviors would rub off onto her younger children. She was angry, tired, exhausted and feeling hopeless. She didn't know how she could love him and put her foot down at the same time. After sharing her feelings with me, I wrote back a response and shared it in a video. Many were touched by the response and I've since had several requests for a transcript copy. I thought I would share it here on the blog so all can reference it anytime:
"Hi, you are so welcome! I'm so happy to hear that you are liking the videos and information that I have shared. Praising can be a difficult thing to do for issues that press so heavy on the heart. It's hard to watch loved ones - especially children go down difficult paths. I would suggest praising God for what this experience is currently teaching you and what it will continue to teach you. That you are learning unconditional love on a level you never anticipated. That you are starting to have an understanding for what it was must feel like for our Father in Heaven to watch so many of his children (not just one child) struggle and separate themselves from His love. That you are so grateful for His unconditional love for all of His children and that you are so grateful that you can experience what that is like as a parent. That you are learning trust in the Lord in all things. That you are truly believing that and grateful that God has your son and your entire family in the palm of His hands. Praise Him for the blessings that will come from this experience. The blessings that you may not even be aware of yet. Praise Him that you know that He takes what the adversary uses to pull you down or your son down, for your greatest blessings, and you know that some of your greatest blessings and son's greatest blessings will one day come from this experience. Praise Him that someday your son will be able to empathize and help others who find themselves on this same path - because he will know what that feels like. He will have the much needed perspective to be in a position to help without judgment. Praise Him for the opportunities He offers to put names in the temple, and to send angels for support and protection, and for opportunities for prayer and fasting. Opportunities for miracles. Praise Him that because of this experience you are growing even closer to the Lord and feeling such a need for His guidance and support more than you ever have before and because of that you feel so blessed and grateful to learn to rely on Him. Praise Him for the gift of agency and that you are so grateful your son is allowed his agency and that he is using it to learn the bad so that he can one day cleave to the good. He is learning the bitter so that he can one day appreciate the sweet. After all the praising I would do an intercessory prayer and imagine yourself standing before the counsels of Heaven pleading on behalf of your son. His spirit will very much appreciate this even though his natural man would not. In prayer plead you case before the Father and request divine intervention. State your case. Speak of your son how you truly know him when he is not under a dark influence. Refuse to see him any other way. Choose to see him in a state of wholeness always. That is who he truly is. State this in your case, and bring up all the good and wonderful things he has done and his best qualities. Speak this before the courts of Heaven and pray for mercy and grace to be upon your son. As the adversary works to accuse and prosecute, you can counteract his words when you speak truth about your son and who he truly he is, and what his destiny truly is. Tell the counsels you are ready for this trial to have closure. As his mother you have stewardship to plead on his behalf, since he is not in a state to do so for himself. I would also suggest increasing your fasting. Fast one day each week, or try a 3 day fast each month in which you Fast 24 hours and break it with a meal (dinner) and then fast another 24 hours and again break it with dinner and then one more day. There is greater power in 3 days - in which I am learning. Do this, and send love to your son all throughout the day. Send love his heart, send loving thoughts to his mind, and speak to his spirit. Even though it may seem like it's not getting through on the outside, it will strengthen his spirit on the inside. I would also be very specific and detailed in spiritual warfare prayer. Pray for the armies of Heaven to come down and cast out the enemy in every form around your son. Remove the enemy's weapons. Destroy every effort against your son, shred very blue print and plan that the enemy has for your son, tear down all strong holds, expose his plans, tactics, and lies, locate where his armies are encamped and scatter them, cast them out and bind them in a place prepared just for them. Bind them in cords of light permanently until the Lord sees fit fir their release according to His will. Send the hosts of Heaven to cause chaos and confusion in the devil's kingdom. Break it up. Pray for angels to locate any and all portals of darkness that have been opened up in your son's life, and close them and seal them up permanently, that they may have no more access. Pray for angels to open up portals of Heaven in their place, that Heaven may have access and freely flow into his life. Pray for angels and/or the Savior to break His chains. Crush every link. After praying this ask for cleaning angels to come dust away and clean up all residues of darkness left behind. Polish his spaces and places with the light and love of the Savior. Pray for a shield of light (a Heavenly bubble) to be placed around him with a 5 mile radius, that no darkness may penetrate it. Then pray that while he is in this protection that he remember the truth of who he really is, so he can break free. Pray that he will have a divine encounter with the Spirit, and with Heaven. That he can step forward into his destiny and into his truth as a righteous son in God's Kingdom. Pray this every morning before the day begins and every night before you go to bed. Their is so much power in a righteous mother's prayer. More power than we can even comprehend. Next to the Savior, you are the most powerful person in His life right now. As you do this each day, and increase your fasting - Heaven will respond to your request and you will see big changes begin to happen. They may seem small at first, but over time Satan will grow weary of this. It will wear the devil out and begin to terrify him, and he will decide to move on to someone else. Praise the Lord that He is working on your behalf each day to bring about break through and healing in your son's life. Praise Him for all the things going on in favor of your son that you cannot see because of the veil. All of the unseen miracles and interventions. Believe that your son is an amazing and honorable child of God, who has a very important role in God's Kingdom - otherwise the adversary would not work so hard to keep him from that. Believe that he will fulfill that role, and that he is counting on you to never give up on him. The anger and negativity comes from feeling separated from the love of God. It truly is a spiritual death. He just wants to feel that love and security, but isn't sure how to do it. Spiritually he feels like he is suffocating. Whoever has light and God's love - he will try to suck it from them since he is not getting it from the direct source. This is why power struggles and abuse happen. Shield yourself and your other children, and do your best to guide him back to the source - the Lord. Pray for angels to help guide him back. I know if you do this, you will be triumphant in your efforts! Spiritual warfare is real, and we have to remember that the Savior already won the victory on that third day, and because of that the adversary has no power over us. He wants us to forget that, and believe that things are hopeless. But when we remember it, and live as though we believe it, it truly terrifies him. I know that was a much longer answer than you probably expected, but you've got this! Keep your chin high and your eye on the Lord. Always look to Him. Keep His picture in every room of your home. Take that dominion over your home, it terrifies Satan and his minions. They cannot stand His image or presence. I'll keep you in my prayers."
Over the next few weeks I am going to share posts like this that show what "3rd day power in the 11th hour" looks like. These are testimonies of those who are being gathered in through miraculous means. The inactive, the anti-mormons, and those who never thought they'd ever consider reading the Book of Mormon. It is happening, and you will see it speed up with this new shift!
2018 is going to be quite the year! I had a profound dream about a personal forecast for the new year that can be applied to all. Part of that message is how loving your enemies is crucial to your spiritual growth and success. I'm amazed at the feedback I've already been receiving about this video in private messages. It truly is inspiring!
During conference I had the thought come into my mind that I needed to write a post titled, "The Three Types of Tares". Right after this thought, three different personality types came into my mind of people I had recently encountered last week, and I felt the Spirit teach me that in the parable of the Wheat and the Tares, there is more than meets the eye.
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."
I am reminded of the prodigal son. The second brother had stayed true and faithful to his father yet was filled with bitterness. The prodigal son however, made error but repented and was welcomed into his Father's Kingdom to receive an inheritance.
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.
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 activelyfight 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.
So, what exactly are tares and why are they so undesirable? I did some research and here's what I discovered;
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.
"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.
2) Self-Righteous - These are those who often are unknowingly doing the devil's bidding. They believe they are on the right side of the fence, but are deceived. They actively and unknowingly fight against truth, and are easily offended. The pharisees of our modern day. They twist doctrines and present themselves as faithful members of the Church but are in reality servants of Satan. Often hypocritical, and quick to point out the faults of others. They are on a mission to attack other members who do not share their same perspectives. A justified crusade of self-righteous anger displayed through manipulative tactics. So passionate are they about being "right" that they lose the Spirit as it swallowed up in their own pride. They become a source of temptation to the faithful and tend to choke or corrupt the word of God, or the good seed that is sown.
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.
Today's post is probably the most eye opening and important message I have shared this year! There is so much that the Spirit has impressed on my mind over the last year about a false traditions that are unknowingly wreaking havoc on marriages and families. I have felt so strong that this very tradition is the number one tool Satan uses that opens up the door to a spirit of rebellion, a spirit of adultery, a spirit of promiscuity, physical & spiritual attacks, and addictions of every kind.
This message will be very to difficult to hear and I truly believe that 1 out of every 6 people who hear it will feel the truth of it, but only 1 out of every 20 people will act. I have never been prompted so strongly to share a message as I have with this one. It's a message that won't be well received by those who are not spiritually prepared to hear it.
With the day and hour that we are living in, we have to make some powerful changes in our lives and put off the natural man. This means also putting off the false traditions that have been loved and celebrated by the natural man for so long. It means stepping into a completely new life. Forsaking old ways. This will be difficult for many to do as these traditions are so deeply rooted in Babylon and for many of us, our roots run deep - but I really feel that the Lord is guiding us in this direction!
A couple years ago I was led by the Spirit to learn about an Indian Christian minister named Sadhu Sundar Selvaraj. He travels all over the world delivering messages to churches of different nations. Sadhu often has visions of the last days that he shares in his messages. There were some things I was to learn from his messages, and I found them to be very profound for my life. Because his name his difficult to say, I call him the "Indian Prophet." He truly looks like an ancient prophet straight out of the Old Testament.
When I first learned of him, I was a little uncertain because he was not familiar to me, his appearance was unusual, and I was uncertain as to what his beliefs were about. Still, the Spirit pressed on my heart to watch some of his videos. I was reminded of my gift of discernment and that it has never led me astray. His sense of humor and great humility easily won me over. As I have learned from and shared many times before, I am often led to the best gems that are most helpful to my journey when I'm stepping outside of the box.
It had been several months since I had watched any of Sadhu's messages, however after the recent eclipse, the Spirit put this minister's name back into my mind and I was told there was another message I was to hear. The video below video popped up in my feed shortly after it was published on August 30th. I found some very good counsel, pearls of wisdom, and important warnings in his message. After sharing with my family and hearing their feelings about how "in tune" and well timed this message is, I felt prompted to share it here with you.
This video is from a conference that was held in Moravian Falls, North Carolina called, "On Earth As It is in Heaven". There are other parts to this message on YouTube that are not in this video, and there are many other videos on YouTube of different conferences he has spoken at in the United States and all around the world. I feel that his message is another trumpet that God is sounding to reach His other children. Regardless of who his audience is, this message truly is relevant and inspiring for all!
I would love to hear your thoughts. What gems did you take away from this message?
The Spirit has impressed upon my mind and heart so much lately. Things are happening so quickly and yesterday my sister texted me and said, "It feels like a movie. You just can't make this up."
I feel very strong that now is the time to get our lives and our homes in order. Remove all the clutter, all the distractions, and the things that are eating up valuable time. Teach your children how to really pray and how to have a close walk with God. Fast and pray on a weekly basis to be shown what the Lord's will is for you and your family. Ask Him to purify and sanctify your family, your home, and the land that you live on. Ask to receive the mantle of charity. Ask to receive the Spirit of peace.
It's time to finally put away the natural man. Things of the flesh block the bridge between you and the Lord. Clear the bridge and get to know your Savior Jesus Christ in a way you have never known Him before. Talk to God as often as you can, and do it often on your knees. Open up your heart and remove all forms of doubt and pride. Cease all judgement and criticism of those in your family, your ward, your neighborhood, your community and those in authority of the Church and government of this nation. Begin to build them up, pray for their protection, and extend unconditional love. Repent of all sins holding you back and keeping you from the presence of the Lord. Forsake the very sight of sin and evil. Fill your heart and home with the things of God. Your home must be a sanctuary and Holy like a temple. Stand ye in Holy places.
This is a season of change. With the arrival of fall, will come the fall of the old ways, the old man, and the old world. The wheat and tares are separating and the wheat is being strengthened and purified. This brief grace period is a gift from God to allow us to get our lives in order. To align with the will of the Lord in all things. Take advantage of this gift to the fullest that you can. Express gratitude all throughout the day for all of your blessings. As the world enters a period of chaos just remember that the Lord has a purpose for it all. He is doing a marvelous work and a wonder in preparation for His return. Don't allow fear to enter into your heart. Trust God in all things and through all things. Smile, have hope, and keep your eye single to the glory of the Lord. :)
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.
Last weekend was the semi-annual worldwide General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Conference has 6 sessions that are spread out over the course of a week and is broadcast via TV, satellite, and internet. Prophets, apostles and leaders speak about topics that the Holy Ghost inspires upon them and the church comes together from all over the world to listen.
I went into this conference with prayer and fasting hoping to receive inspiration and counsel from the Lord through the conference messages. I received so many answers! There were so many talks that stood out to me, I don't know where to even begin. So, I thought I would share the link and you can take a listen to the talks that stand out to you.
The themes I enjoyed were Jesus Christ and His power, the Holy Ghost, and the power of being YOU and not trying to be someone else. I was also surprised that a new General Relief Society presidency was called, however I was extremely thrilled with the sisters who were called. When I heard the name of the first counselor, Sharon Eubank I jumped for joy. I wrote a post about her just two posts ago. I had discovered her on YouTube a couple months ago and was inspired by her messages. I remember thinking that she would be a great fit for the General Relief Society presidency and then it happened! I don't believe that was a coincidence. I believe that awesome things are in store for the church and we are going to witness some big things happening! I am so happy :)
