Hold to the Rod - Real Deception in Our Day!

This is probably the most important video message I have ever made, which is why I received more interference from the Adversary than any other video I have ever made. I experienced so many tech problems, that I almost wasn't able to publish it. It took 2 weeks! I'll save that story for another video.

Please watch these videos in order, and I recommend watching them at regular speed. ❤️

 

Did You Know? The Book of Abraham & The Book of Ether...

All I can say is that these videos contain some excellent treasures! I HIGHLY recommend you watch them. I would love to have both these guys as Sunday school teachers. 😄

Revolution Coming to the Church?

A couple weeks ago I found this article (The Coming Revolution Inside of Mormonism) and it resonated with me so much! The coming revolution that Greg Trimble speaks of, is what I refer to often as the separation of wheat and tares.

I feel blessed to lived in such a good community. I truly feel that the wheat outweighs the tares in my ward. However in regards to the whole (members throughout the world), I believe much in this article can apply. It goes beyond the boundaries of Mormonism and flows all throughout the Christian world.

The biggest issue I often tackle on my blog and in my videos is culture vs. doctrine. Sometimes we do certain things only because that's just how they've always been done. There were never any established rules, codes, or doctrines - it's just what Great Grandpa's generation started and so we continue it today. It's tradition! This goes for both things we do and things we don't do. Often times, we assume that because that's how it's always been done - then it must be the only correct way.

On my own path of getting to know my Savior on a very personal and real level, I have learned so many things that I now apply daily in my life, that I'm sure many would find very different and possibly odd. Things that were taught to me by the Spirit through the still small voice. Things that felt so right and have so deeply blessed my life and enriched my relationship with My Savior and Father in Heaven. Things that are so simple yet so sacred to me, that are not apart of mainstream culture or tradition. Things that have softened my heart, humbled me, and caused me to yearn for a day when the focus of all that we do is love.

I once told a friend of mine who often coordinates humanitarian trips to South America, "I would love to come along sometime, but not to teach English, build water pumps, or assist with medical care, I would just want to walk around the village and hug everyone. If you need someone to just love the people - I can do that, and I can do it very well!" She smiled, and said that would be a much needed role.

When I came across this article, it expressed everything I have been feeling over the past few years. To think of all the changes that have been made within our church just within the last five years is evidence of more changes to come. Many of these changes were a big shift away from tradition, and even were difficult for some members to accept. One recent change that comes to mind is the way in which Relief Society is now taught - chairs in a circle and more discussion. I have not experienced this change because I am a primary teacher but it's been interesting to hear perspective from those who have. Some love it, and some not so much. I remember reading comments on a facebook post of women who were struggling with this change. Whether it increased their anxiety, or they felt their babies were now more of a distraction, many had different reasons. Some even said they stopped going to Relief Society because of it. I wondered if small changes such as chair arrangement were to turn someone away from church, how much more would future changes on a larger scale impact a person's testimony and obedience?


Change often instigates the final straw. Many who struggle with testimony and obedience will use change as an opportunity for an exit. The small changes prepare us for the big changes. Our attitudes about small changes foreshadow our attitude about the future. We know that preparing the earth, the church, and the people for the Savior's return, means that there is much more change on the way. The first time the Savior came he brought with Him a revolution within the church, and I believe the second time He comes, He will again bring revolution to the church. But I believe this time, He will bring that revolution before His appearance to all the world. He will bring it as part of the preparation for His return. We live in that day and hour right now.

Here are the highlights I pulled from the article. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Article Highlights

Do you remember what was happening in Israel right about the time that Christ came on to the scene? Israel had started to live by their own set of oral laws and traditions, or what we might refer to today as “culture?” The “culture” in Israel when Christ showed up was one of the most judgemental and hypocritical cultures the world had ever seen. It was a very isolated and unaccepting culture. But Christ showed up and cast a net over all types of people. The Greeks, the Romans, The Samaritans, and every other nation across the globe. His net covered even the worst of repentant sinners. The only people that were excluded or damned were the unrepentant elite… the “scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites” who “strain at a gnat and swallow a camel.” 

It was Christ who brought with him a revolution of love, empathy, and compassion. He built a culture that was geared toward the lowly of heart and revolted against those that spent their lives pointing out the flaws in others. “For ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.” (Matt 23) The bulk of Israel was living according to their culture and their superstition. This has been the bane of each and every covenant society, which caused Joseph Smith to say: “What many people call sin is not sin; I do many things to break down superstition, and I will break it down.” (History of the Church, 4:445 (7 November 1841) The doctrine of this church doesn’t lose people. It’s the culture and superstition that causes unnecessary strife.

I see a place where people have study groups again to provide support for those that need friends to talk to about the things they hear on the internet and social media. I see a place where people support one another, ask questions, resolve concerns, and speak honestly about the things that give them trouble in life and in the church. I see a time where “home-teaching” is just referred to as “ministering” and more lessons will revolve around love and not quotas. I see a time where “fellowshipping” will be replaced by “friendshipping” and where pure love is a stronger motivator than guilt.

I think we’ll see a time where programmatic meetings are cut by 50% and where the efficiency of those meetings are increased by 50%. We’ll spend less time behind closed doors meeting about all the stuff we should be doing, and more time ministering to the proverbial fatherless and the widows. We’ll get back to true religion and root out any programmatic religion. 

Members will increase their personal studying of the scriptures again. Missionaries will actually start memorizing scriptures again so that there will be water in their well. And callings won’t be looked at as promotions where congratulations are in order. Any form of pageantry will die with this revolution during the uprising of the greatest generation of saints this world has ever seen.

Uncovering the Mysteries and History of Prayer - The Questions We Have All Wondered

Over the past five years, I have observed the various differences across many cultures when it comes to prayer. Some cultures pray with hands clasped together and fingers interlocking, some pray without fingers interlocking, some pray with hands crossed, some pray arms crossed, some pray with arms bowed down to the ground and other pray with arms extended towards the Heavens.

HATS ON OR OFF?

Women in the southern states and women in England, often don Sunday hats to church fastened tightly with hair pins which are not expected to be removed during prayer. At girls camp it's common along with men to see some women remove their hats for prayer. In the 19th century, pioneer women prayed in their prairie bonnets while pioneer men removed their hats. Pagan traditions taught the contrary - men were to cover their heads when praying. Though the Hebrew Bible and Talmud taught men to pray uncovered and women to cover, the Pagan traditions were adopted and later confused as Jewish tradition with Hebrew origins (see reference). And we've all seen the famous painting of George Washington in prayer at Valley Forge with his hat off. In one version his hands are open and his head is raised with eyes closed, in another version he is depicted on one knee with head bowed. So, what does scripture teach us about this?

I remember about five years ago reading my scriptures and coming across this curious passage from Paul to the Corinthians;

1 Corinthians 11:4-7

Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.

But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.

For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.

For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Why would a man dishonor God by praying with his head covered? Because the blood of Jesus was the final sacrifice and covers all as it serves as our atonement before God. It is believed that to have covered his head would have been to undermine the Atonement. (See reference).

As for women, it was tradition to veil their heads for prayer. Why? In the first century and the centuries before and after, for a woman to wear a head covering was an act of propriety in respect for her husband and his covering role for her as protector. Further, it recognized that the Lord Almighty was over her husband as well who covers man and woman with his rule and makes them clean by his atoning blood. If the woman acted improperly in respect to her husband by uncovering her head, Paul said, she "dishonours her head" (11:5). What is her head? The answer is three-fold:

1) Her own head - herself as a whole being.

2) Her husband.

3) The Lord God.

For a woman, wearing a head covering showed her "sign of authority on her head" (11:10). Paul was counseling the people on the importance of this tradition and what it symbolizes. Today we can liken it to a woman's cover being the protection of her husband through his priesthood. Paul reminds us of the patriarchal order in 11:3

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the ahead of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

We learn from Exodus (28:4, 37, 40), that the high priest covered his head and that it was
generally considered a sign of mourning to cover the head and face (2 Samuel 15:30, 19:5; Jer 14:3-4; Esther 6:12). Mourners and lepers covered their heads as to show uncleanness and unworthiness before God. Their unjustified state shown in the unclean state of death (see reference).

Paul then goes on to tell us in verses 14-15

Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

This is most likely where the cultural rule of thumb for it being appropriate for women to have long hair and men to have short hair stemmed from. Long hair acted as a covering.

Why then was Samson told not to cut his hair as it contained spiritual power? And why is Jesus almost always depicted with long hair, and also praying in head covering? 

Samson was a Nazirite, and in that he was given immense strength to aid him against his enemies and allow him to perform superhuman feats, including slaying a lion with his bare hands and massacring an entire army of Philistines using only the "jawbone of an ass". However, if Samson's long hair was cut, then his Nazirite vow would be violated, and he would lose his strength.

According to the Bible, a Nazarite (not to be confused with Nazarene) was one who voluntarily took a vow to abstain from alcohol, refrain from cutting hair, and be ritually pure (Numbers 6:1-21). Samson’s long hair was not the source of his strength. Rather, it was the symbol of his covenant relationship with God, who was the source of Samson’s strength.

Could Jesus have also have taken the Nazarite vow? A Nazarene Nazarite? It's possible and would explain the depictions of long hair. Otherwise according to Paul who taught after the teachings of Jesus, it was a shame for man to have long hair.

In Native American culture however, it is believed that long hair is a physical manifestation of the growth of the spirit, and some say it allows for extrasensory perception, and connection to all things. Some Native American tribes even believe that the hair is connected to the nervous system. That long hair reaches out like tentacles, and pulls energy and information from the world around us similar to a cat’s whiskers (see reference). In fact, during the Vietnam war, special envoys of the war department were sent to Native American reservations in search of Men with a reputation of having seemingly supernatural tracking abilities. Once the men were enlisted however, their extra sense and supernatural tracking abilities seemed to vanish. When the privates were asked about why they would fail to perform as before, they would consistently answer that their required military haircuts left them unable to harness the sixth sense that was previously very natural to harness. They could no longer sense an enemy approach, and felt as if their natural intuition was no longer reliable. After this was uncovered, further tests involving privates who were allowed to keep their hair against those who had received the required military haircut commenced (see reference).

Is there validation to long locks and spiritual power?

In Numbers 15:38-40 it says: 

Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:

And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.

Jews refer to this as a "tzitzit" and is worn as a reminder of their covenant with the Lord. Jesus wore a tzitzit as a practicing jew. In fact, Mark 6:56 tells us this about Jesus' tzitzit,

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

The word "tzitzit" comes from the root word for "flower" and originally meant a "tassel" or "lock", as in the Book of Ezekiel where Ezekiel is picked up by an angel and carried by a "lock" (Hebrew tzitzit) of hair (see reference). Interestingly, orthodox jewish men sport long side burn locks called a "peyot" which have a separate unknown purpose to the tzitzit. The Torah states, “Do not round off [the hair] at the edges of your heads.” The Talmud explains that the term “edges” refers to the hair between the ears and the temples. “Rounding out the edges” refers to removing the sideburns so that there is a straight hairline from the forehead to behind the ears (see reference).

When pondering on this tzitzit or tassel, I thought of the graduation ceremony and the square cap. In the Old Testament, the square symbolizes the four corners of the earth, the four angels, and the four living creatures that surround the throne of God. We use the sign of the square to sustain church leaders and according to Elder Robert D. Hales in 2008 April conference, "...even a covenant, to sustain and to uphold the laws, ordinances, commandments, and the prophet of God..." 

The gesture of moving the tassel from one side of the cap to the other symbolizes the individual’s movement from candidate to graduate. Prior to the ceremony the tassel is expected to be worn on the right. During the ceremony it should be moved to the left side. This reminded me of advancement in the priesthood from candidate to "graduate" and also advancement from glory to glory through our covenants we make here and in the realms hereafter. We can learn quite a bit in the temple through the guidance of the Spirit about the great symbolism in the ordinances we participate in.  

Many paintings depict the Lord with his head covered while blessing and praying. In today's western culture Christian men uncover their heads as a sign of respect and humility when praying. In these paintings it appears also to be a sign of humility to cover the head - as to cover your own glory when in the sight of God's glory. Whichever the case may be, it's universally agreeable that prayer should always be offered in humility - whatever that looks like between you and the Lord.

There is no official church doctrine on men and women covering or uncovering their heads or how our prayer stance and arm positions should be. Culture and tradition have led to arms folded, head bowed, and eyes closed. According to legend the origins of the pretzel had everything to do with teaching children to pray this way, when an Italian monk invented pretzels as a reward to children who learned their prayers. He called the strips of baked dough, folded to resemble arms crossing the chest, "pretiola'" meaning "little rewards."  Praying with arms folded, head bowed and eyes closed is taught in the church to primary children to help them maintain their reverence and keep from being distracted. Though this is what we are accustomed to, a much different custom of of raised hands during prayer can be traced to the early years of Israel. 

HAND POSITIONS?

Aaron, the first High Priest, raised his hands in prayer as he blessed the Israelites when the sanctuary was first established. The book of Psalms speaks of raised hands regularly:  "Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name." (Psalms 63:3-4). Further, the congregation is exhorted to lift their hands in worship of God: "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the Lord.The Lord that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion." (Psalms 134:1-2).

So, what does raised hands signify? For one, raised hands are symbolic of our dependence on someone else. Raising hands during worship can be similar to children who lift their hands to be picked up, comforted, protected, or carried: "I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah." (Psalm 143:6). Thus, raised hands in worship may suggest a reaching out for God's presence, blessing, comfort, or strength.

Another significant meaning of raised hands is to bless God, much like Aaron's blessing of the people. In Psalm 63:3-4 the psalmist says he raises his hands to bless God. "Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name." This symbolizes both gratefulness and joy for the blessings God has given. Indeed, many of the psalms indicate that hands are raised in song and prayer to show thankfulness and joy for God's great works (Psalms 134, 141).

The lifting of a hand may also signify a vow or covenant. This is practiced throughout scripture: "Therefore he lifted up his hand against them, to overthrow them in the wilderness:" (Psalms 106.26) and "And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven. And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:" (Revelation 10:5-6)

The raising and showing of hands can also symbolize clean hands before God. "I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?" Alma 5:19

The custom of raising hands during worship was a common practice in the early church, especially during prayer. In Paul's letter to Timothy he writes, "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." (1 Timothy 2:8). Indeed, according to some Jewish commentators, the Israelite practice of lifting hands during worship in the synagogues was stopped in reaction to the Christians who customarily raised their hands during prayer. (see reference)

The thought has crossed my mind that an unseen power flows from the Lord into us through our hands. It reminds me of a TV antenna AKA rabbit ears. These are used to pick up the stronger VHF signal (frequencies) which transmits the picture and sound onto your screen. The rabbit ear antennas are the strongest indoor antenna for picking up the best signal. One reason for the V shape is that when receiving channels at the top of the band with the rods fully extended, the antenna elements will typically resonate at their 3rd harmonic. In this mode the direction of maximum gain makes it advantageous to be able to adjust them to various angles.

I felt great symbolism in this as the "V" reminds me of a compass, and resonating in "3rd harmonic" reminds me of resonating in the third heaven, the Celestial Realm. Our hands are pointing towards Heaven and acting as an antenna picking up frequencies from our Heavenly home. Direct communication through the Spirit. 

In some churches, the congregation holds hands during prayer. Science can teach us much about the power of connection during prayer. I have shared before in books, videos, and blog posts the work of Greg Braden. He speaks about a scientific discovery known as the "Divine Matrix". This is the energy field in which thoughts, feelings, and emotions are transmitted, and how they travel. I will share more on this in my next blog post. In a Manila, Italy conference he conducted a live experiment in which he created a powerful circuit of energy by having the audience hold hands, creating one long chain together. He asked the audience to feel the feeling of love in their hearts. He then measured the calibrated frequency in the room when hands were connected before feeling love, during feeling love, and then disconnected while still feeling love. He demonstrated that hearts can be knit together without a physical connection. We can unite through love and prayer throughout the world without holding hands, and it is just as powerful!

In a the March 2017 Face to Face with Elder Eyring and Elder Holland, Elder Eyring mentioned that when praying you are approaching the throne and you should act as such. He said that he wears a suit or Sunday best when kneeling before God. On the contrary, a few years ago I was listening to Kirk Duncan speak at a conference, and he mentioned that when he thought of Heavenly Father as God on the throne he felt intimidated and unworthy. He found it difficult to pray and develop a relationship. So one day he asked God for to permission to think of Him more as God the Father - rather than God the Deity. He asked Heavenly Father if he could imagine him in a cabin in the woods and the two of them fishing together and wearing flannel shirts. He felt if he could imagine Heavenly Father that way, he would feel more comfortable talking to Him. He felt God's love surround Him and tell him that was just fine. God would take a relationship with Kirk in any way He could get it. That story touched me, as it reminded me of the fatherly, nurturing side of God.

In the Church, if a person has been found unworthy by the bishop to take the sacrament, he/she is usually asked to refrain from praying in church, until he/she is deemed worthy again. I have always pondered on this and thought it must have everything to do with being clean before God and having a pure vessel to be able to pray by the Spirit. The way to the Father is always though Jesus Christ. Personal prayer however, is never refrained from. We are always encouraged to pray to our Father especially when we need help and especially when we have sinned. Through Jesus and His Atonement, we can be made clean so that we can be worthy of the companionship of the Spirit. So that we can have clean hands and receive His signal. We are always worthy of the love of our Savior and our Heavenly Father, that is something we don't ever have to earn, but being worthy to be in the presence of the Father has everything to do with being clean. If Moses was asked to take off his shoes in the presence of the Lord, how much more mindful should we be about our personal cleanliness when we exercise our faith and approach the throne of God? Just think of what the brother of Jared may have missed out on, had he been unclean when petitioning the Lord. He was clean, he was pure, he had faith, and the veil could not constrain him. 

Elder Russell M. Nelson said in April 2003 conference in regards to prayer, 

"Jesus taught us how. We pray to our Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, by the power of the Holy Ghost. This is the “true order of prayer,” in contrast to “vain repetitions” or recitations given to 'be seen of men.'

Jesus revealed that we pray to a wise Father who knows what things we have need of, before we ask Him."

  

I often ponder on the way in which we are taught to pray in the temple when petitioning the Lord for greater miracles on behalf of the names of those who are afflicted whose names we write on the prayer roll. There is so much we can learn when we are in the temple. 

IN SUMMARY

I will say that the way I pray in my closet is much different than the way I pray in public. If we follow President Nelson's counsel, we can't go astray when we pray. Whether we prefer to clasp our hands, fold our arms, kneel, extend our hands, etc. when praying alone in our closets, what's most important is where our heart is and our intentions are. When we are humble, meek, and submissive before the Lord, He hears us. When we are repentant the Spirit can be with us during prayer, and miracles happen when we pray in the Spirit. 

Remember prayer is a two-way street. We can't just be good talkers, we must be good listeners too. I know this to be true, and I know that the Spirit can teach us more about prayer if we desire, if we ask, and if we are willing to listen and be taught.

Righteously Seeking God's Mysteries

A recent question was emailed to me this week, and I thought I would share my answer here on my blog, as it might be helpful to anyone else encoutnering the same question.

The question was in regards to my last video message, "When the Lord Knocks." The person expressed her concerns about seeking "outside the box" for spiritual growth.  She added, "I do not have the gift of discernment, and I have learned  that I am often wrong in what I feel are answers and promptings."

My Thoughts

One thing that is difficult for me, is being put in a position to where I am being asked to persuade someone. Unless it is to convince them to buy my children cookies for their school fundraiser, I generally avoid persuasion. I believe that the Spirit should do the convincing. If a person comes to me with doubts or confusion, I tell them to go to the Lord. Pray, ask for the Holy Ghost to be their guide, repent of anything that might be preventing them from feeling the Holy Ghost in their life, ask for wisdom, examine their faith - is it possible their faith is lacking and therefore the Lord is not answering them in the manner that they would like? 

From past experience, I have had friends ask me for what I believe to be true about a certain matter, and then go to another person and ask the same, and then pit our answers against each other. That is not how the Spirit works. When I receive a certain truth from the Spirit, it burns so warm inside of me that I know it is true. When something does not feel right for me, I feel "troubled in the spirit" which is a sensation I feel in the pit of my stomach. I never feel torn, confused, unsure...etc. I just know.  

Because the question that came to me was very sincere and came from a place of desiring to do the right thing, I decided to do my best to share the thoughts and feelings of my heart. 

In my video "When the Lord Knocks" I talk about the importance of having an open mind and an open heart while on the journey of spiritual progression. I also stress that it is vital to have the gift of discernment while on this journey. You would never go on a lengthy hiking adventure into the deep mountains without a compass and a map (GPS). The Holy Ghost is our compass. If we struggle to feel the Holy Ghost in our daily lives,  or we struggle to trust those promptings, as I mentioned in my video - it is much safer to walk the valley trails

Many times, I have used the Apostle Paul's analogy of milk and meat. In Paul's visit to Corinth, he addressed several church-related problems to the people in his first letter to the Corinthians. The main problem was a carnal one, and was evidence of the church members' spiritual immaturity. Some in Corinth had not only aligned themselves to certain teachers (Paul, Apollos, Peter), they were also causing contentions and divisions in the church by arguing which of these preachers was the most spiritual and best to follow (verses 3 - 23).

The heading to 1 Corinthians 3 reads: Milk comes before meat in the Church



1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.

2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.

3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

The word "milk" in the above scripture (Greek gala, (Strong's Concordance #G1051) means the basic, elemental teachings of true Christianity first learned by new converts. The word "meat" comes from the Greek word Broma (Strong's #G1033) and means "the more solid, complete and deeper spiritual doctrines of the Gospel".

The apostle Paul felt that trying to teach the church the deeper truths of God would be a waste of time so long as they continued to indulge in petty debates over which teacher was the greater teacher.

I see this happening quite often lately on social media. Members of the Church squabbling over which blogs, podcasts, authors, and even church leaders are "on" or "off track". Through their differing of feelings and opinions they become exhausted and overwhelmed as divisions are created. People become consumed in "being right" or by their fears of "being wrong". The fear of being wrong is so powerful that many find it easier to avoid anything all together that is not from a conference talk or the Ensign. 

In my video message and quite often here on this blog, I share a video from lds.org called "We Are Not Gods Only People" by Samuel Hislop. His message promotes having an open heart and open mind and being willing to learn from those who are not of our same faith. That they too, have experiences and words that can offer great value to our lives. But again, if you don't have the gift of discernment, how will you know which words, experiences, and teachers are going to enhance your journey? You need that gift to discern what is truth and what is error. What's important that the Spirit needs you to know pertaining to your individual mission and life experience, and what is going to be a waste of your time. Only you can know what the Spirit is telling you in regards to a green light or a red light. It might be the right timing in your life to learn some beautiful truths or mysteries, or you might not be ready and you are feeling something steer you away. 

The awesome truth is, everything we need to know for our salvation can be found in the scriptures - there is great peace and comfort in knowing and believing that.The basics of the gospel that we get on Sunday, in church magazines, and from conference talks are powerful. The basics can even be life changing! The gospel is pure & simple and should never be complicated.The basics are essentially the milk. They are all that the Lord has allowed to reveal as a whole to His church at this time. We know that there is much more truth that can be and will be revealed ( ex. the sealed portion).

Elder Richard G. Scott said in October 2007 conference,

"The best way of finding truth is simply to go to the origin of all truth and ask or respond to inspiration. For success, two ingredients are essential: first, unwavering faith in the source of all truth; second, a willingness to keep God’s commandments to keep open spiritual communication with Him. 

Try as I might, I am not able, even in the smallest degree, to comprehend the extent, depth, and stunning grandeur of what our holy Heavenly Father, Elohim, has permitted to be revealed by the scientific method...

... Were we to penetrate further into the mysteries of the most fundamental makeup of creation, we would come to the limit of our current understanding..there are yet more of Father in Heaven’s creations to be understood by the scientific method.

...The Lord said unto Enoch: Behold these thy brethren; they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, … and … gave I unto man his agency;

“… There are many worlds …, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them.”


A knowledge of truth is of little value unless we apply it in making correct decisions. Consider for a moment a man, heavily overweight, approaching a bakery display. In his mind are these thoughts: The doctor told you not to eat any more of that. It’s not good for you. It just gives you momentary gratification of appetite. You’ll feel uncomfortable the rest of the day after it. You’ve decided not to have any more. But then he hears himself say, “I’ll have two of those almond twists and a couple of those chocolate doughnuts. One more time won’t hurt. I’ll do it just once more, and this will be the last time.”

The Lord knows if we are in a place to correctly and righteously apply the knowledge He gives us. This is known as wisdom. If we are not prepared to receive new knowledge and truth, and we lack wisdom, then it's for our own protection that we refrain. Instead, we should pray that the Lord grant us wisdom and help us prepare for further light. 

John H. Vandenberg said in his April 1978 conference What is Truth,  

"Jesus said, 'Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.' Those who are “of the truth” are those who sincerely seek after it. All of mankind should be seekers after truth for it is the supreme essence of their lives.

...“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

This reminds me of so many I know who want to seek but are afraid to find. They just don't feel confident in their discernment. Sometimes they catch wind of an interesting truth, but then go shopping for opinions about it. It feels good and right, but they are afraid to trust what they feel. They toss it around on social media or among family and friends to get their take and opinions.They become persuaded by whomever is the most convincing or credible.These members of the church seem to blow with the wind. They aren't tuning in to what the Spirit is trying to teach them. They prefer to be taught by the opinions of man.   

In reference to righteous desires of God's children to seek the mysteries, Elder W. Mark Bassett said in October 2016 conference in his talk For Our Spiritual Development and Learning,

"Jacob’s words teach us that we cannot successfully “pry at the plates” or force the mysteries of God to be revealed unto us. Instead, the mysteries of God are unfolded unto us only according to His will and by the power of the Holy Ghost.

...In order to understand the mysteries of God, or those things that can be understood only through revelation, we must follow the example of Nephi, who said, “Being exceedingly young, nevertheless being large in stature, and also having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did cry unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father.”6 The Lord Himself further explained that Nephi had exercised faith, sought diligently with lowliness of heart, and kept His commandments.7


Nephi’s example of seeking knowledge included (1) a sincere desire, (2) humility, (3) prayer, (4) trust in the prophet, and an exercise of (5) faith, (6) diligence, and (7) obedience. This method of seeking is in great contrast to my “prying at the plates,” or trying to force an understanding of things meant to be revealed according to the Lord’s timetable and through the power of the Holy Ghost.

In this modern age, we have come to expect that knowledge can and should be obtained immediately; when information is not easily known or accessible, it is often dismissed or mistrusted. Because of the abundance of information, some unwittingly give more credibility to available sources with an unknown origin rather than relying on the Lord’s established pattern for receiving personal revelation." 

If seeking the meat results in evaporating the milk, then we should not be seeking the meat. The milk goes with the meat. When this happens, we have lost balance in our lives. And when we lose balance we let go of what we feel threw us off. I have seen many people who are on this path right now. They sought the meat, while forgetting about the milk. They got carried away in the excitement of learning the mysteries and made that priority in their lives. Instead of asking the Lord what His will was concerning their journey of seeking, they bypassed Him altogether and sought anyways. When they realized their life was out of balance, they felt lost and became afraid and translated that fear into the need to avoid the meat all together. They used their personal experience and fears to translate a general message that all people should avoid seeking the meat for their own protection and safety.

I have not been a fan of this message. I believe with all my heart that what the Spirit teaches one, may not be counsel for another. We are all at different spiritual levels. This was even spoken about by Elder Oaks and Elder Ballard at the recent YSA Face to Face. They said that because all church members are at “different levels of spiritual intellect” they would try to find a middle ground with their answers as to not offend or confuse those who are at a lower level. They asked that the higher spiritual intellect members not be offended by their basic (milk) answers. I found that very interesting as I have not heard general authorities talk that way before.

I could attest to this. From my experience I have come across some mystery seekers who were easily offended by those who opposed their messages. That offense came from a place of fear and turned into a greater fear. Fear that they had made a mistake, or done something wrong…etc. The Lord doesn’t use fear. Fear is a tactic of the Adversary. The Lord gently guides us. The Spirit is a still small voice that beckons us. We feel compelled to learn something, share something, repent, or change, but not from a spirit of fear. We feel compelled out of love and humility. We keep our counsel from the Spirit personal – unless prompted to share with others. Our personal counsel is not meant to be counsel for all the members of the church. It is unique to our own weaknesses and shortcomings.

In my upcoming weekly video message I talk about a sister who contacted me and shared her notes from Elder Bednar who had recently spoken at her stake conference. She quoted Elder Bednar and wrote,

“New things will be revealed that have never been revealed in our time.” Twice during his talk he said,  “For those that have eyes to see let them see, for those who have ears to hear let them hear.” Almost like he was commanding it while he was giving his talk. 

Elder Bednar didn't appear to expand on how these new truths would be revealed but my spirit felt that we can always receive truth individually from the Lord if we ask and if it's His will to reveal it to us. Scripture teaches us that the greater truths have been kept hidden as the Lord's people are not ready for it (as a whole). 

We know from scripture that anytime someone has prayed to know truth with righteous desires, God has always answered. Joseph Smith, The Brother of Jared, Nephi, Enoch, and many others have gone directly to the Lord and asked for more than just the milk. They desired the meat. The meat are the mysteries of the Kingdom of God. The gospel is the good news, the message that teaches us and prepares us to enter into and live in the Kingdom of God. The mysteries are the ways of the Lord and how His Kingdom operates. A wonderful knowledge to behold, but not essential for salvation.

Whether we learn them here in our life (through an NDE, a vision, or dream), or we learn them after we cross through the veil - eventually we are given that opportunity to receive the fullness of that knowledge. Not everyone desires that knowledge in this lifetime, and not everyone is prepared to receive it, and that is okay. If you are continually striving to learn from the milk - it will fill you with life. It is fear that causes digression and spiritual death. Fear of seeking, and learning. It's fear that overrides trust in the Holy Spirit. If we feel prompted to learn something, or seek something, but fear stops us - we are stunting our own growth, and for our own protection will no longer received those promptings if we are not being obedient to them. 

That was the premise of my video message.Through the gift of discernment we can override fear and exercise trust. My blessing tells me I have been given the gift of discernment and that I will be in a position to bring many souls to my Savior. Through my videos and blog posts, the Spirit has been my teacher and shown me what to learn and what to share and what to avoid or not share. It has been a great blessing in my life. I've had the privilege of experiencing many souls come unto their Savior through what the Spirit has led me to learn and share.

My blessing also talks about the importance of moderation in all things. I believe that many fall short in this area. Many become obsessed with a certain truth or principal they have learned until it consumes them. They eat, sleep, and breath the mysteries and forget about the basics – the milk. They forget to serve, to love, be parents, and to magnify their church callings.

For the most part, people only know me through what they see in my videos or blog. But it's important for you to know that I don’t spend the majority of my day seeking the meat. I spend it playing with my kids, cooking, cleaning, working on fun projects, shopping, and living a normal life. That’s why I also have the family vlog videos, to show people who I am the majority of the time. I record a positive message for my Happy Lady vlog once a week, and its whatever I’m prompted to share. I type up my notes right before I make the video – but that is all the time I put into it. Just once a week. Because of this I find balance in my life and I feel joy and peace.

I feel I am on the right track as I feel so blessed and because what I have been guided to learn has only strengthened my testimony of what I already know to be true. It doesn’t take away from it, change it, or consume me. Many people fear expanding outside of the box because they fear their own weaknesses. They fear they will be led astray, or they will lose their testimony or they will become obsessed. Again those are fears, and fear will never accompany promptings. The Holy Ghost does not operate from fear. Fears and doubts may come later, and I have learned that is a common tactic of Satan. He watches as we receive promptings and new knowledge (line upon line) that will allow us to learn and grow. He always swoops in to put a stop to it by using fear and doubt. This leads to confusion. Confusion is a tool of the enemy. I talk about this is my new video this week.

God brings clarity. When something feels clear, it is of the Lord. When we hear truth, followed by loud doubts and fears entering our mind, we need to ask where that confusion, fear, and doubt is coming from. The Lord gives us clear answers. Yes and no. Move ahead, or stop. He never says “Wait. I’m not sure. Hold on. I’m confused.” He doesn’t change. He is firm. He is absolute. He is the same tomorrow, today, and yesterday.

In the YSA Face to Face, Elder Oaks talks about this. He addresses a question about how can we tell if something is our own thoughts or coming from the Holy Ghost. I highly recommend you listen. 

It’s pretty easy to keep  my messages positive. I try to bring peace, clarity and happiness into all my videos and posts. I don’t speak to a general audience because I feel that the Lord leads those who need to hear my messages to them. I cannot speak for others however, and something interesting I have noticed is that there has been a common occurrence happening among some recent vloggers and  podcasters that has caused many of their listeners to say, "Wait...I am now confused." 

These teachers/mentors are generally very emotional and passionate people by nature. One day they are passionate, emotional and in tears about something they believe to be a new amazing truth that has changed their life and then the next day, they are equally passionate, emotional and in tears about how that same truth was actually deception. It can seem very confusing. Strong emotions can easily be mistaken as the Spirit and therefore truth. This is addressed in the recent YSA Face to Face. When I feel the spirit teaching me truth, I feel peace and calmness and I really hope that translates into my videos.

In the October 2017 conference, Elder Bednar said in his talk Exceeding Great and Precious Promises,

"We easily can be overcome by the routine and mundane matters of mortality. Sleeping, eating, dressing, working, playing, exercising, and many other customary activities are necessary and important. But ultimately, what we become is the result of our knowledge of and willingness to learn from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; it is not merely the sum total of our daily pursuits over the course of a lifetime.

The gospel is so much more than a routine checklist of discrete tasks to be performed; rather, it is a magnificent tapestry of truth “fitly framed”26 and woven together, designed to help us become like our Heavenly Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, even partakers of the divine nature. Truly, we are blinded “by looking beyond the mark”27 when this overarching spiritual reality is overshadowed by the cares, concerns, and casualness of the world.


As we are wise and invite the Holy Spirit to be our guide, I promise He will teach us what is true. “He will testify of Christ, [and] light our minds with heaven’s view” as we strive to fulfill our eternal destiny and become partakers of the divine nature."

The Lord gives us the basics but it's up to us to "knock and have it opened unto us". The Lord will not force knowledge upon us. The Spirit guides as to what to seek for and where to find it. Elder Bednar said, "But ultimately, what we become is the result of our knowledge of and willingness to learn from the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost;...we are wise and invite the Holy Spirit to be our guide," What we become is our exaltation. What we are exalted to after making covenants with the Lord, is a glory based on the amount of  Light we were willing to receive due to our obedience to the Holy Ghost.

Staying on the gospel path should always be our priority and focus. Just like I mentioned, you can't seek the meat when straying from the milk. You need both. The iron rod is the personal revelation in our life. It's the word of God for us individually. We have to be obedient to it. With our gift of discernment we can trust where the Spirit leads us. If there is something we are to learn that will really benefit us on our journey or confirm a truth, we must trust the Spirit. 

The Spirit will not prompt us to learn the mysteries if we have strayed from the gospel path. We must hold tight to the iron rod, in order to receive those promptings. "Outside the Box" doesn't have to mean "outside the church" or "outside the gospel" or "outside the doctrine" - it simply means seeking and knocking with an open mind and open heart and moving higher and brighter line upon line. Trusting where the Spirit might lead you, wherever it may be. We can still move forward on the gospel path but do so from a higher perspective. Our comfort bubble keeps us lower to the ground, it puts limits on us and minimizes our perspective and view. Going outside the box is like putting on stilts and seeing further down the path from a higher perspective. We are still on the gospel path, but that greater knowledge has lifted us to a new perspective that enhances our view and and our experience while on the path. 

An example of this in my own life, are the times I have purchased books from Deseret Book in which I learned mysteries not detailed in the scriptures or doctrine. However, they did not take away from the gospel or doctrine, nor teach anything contrary to it. They added to it. They confirmed what I already knew to be true. 

A specific example of this that comes to mind was a collection of Near Death Experiences I bought in the early 2000's from Deseret Book. The NDE's were collected from people all over the world and from different religions and time periods. They spoke of beautiful things and beings that people saw in the spirit world. They spoke of how things operated in the Spirit wold. Things that would not be spoken of in a conference talk, over the pulpit, nor in a Sunday school or Relief Society lesson. However they did not discount the gospel or knowledge we have from the doctrine. They supported it. That was the premise of the book. How God can uses people's experiences outside of the Church to be an additional witness to the revealed truth we already have. One account from the 1800's spoke of three kingdoms of glory in the brightness of a star, moon, and sun. The man was not a Mormon and this was prior to the Church being restored. It was a beautiful witness. I was left feeling edified and peaceful from my reading.

God's mysteries are available to all who ask and are on the gospel path. He works in mysterious ways and a lot of time exceeds my own expectations. I've learned not to put limits on Him. If he sends me to a book, a YouTube video, a podcast, or a person - I've learned there is usually something in that He wants me to learn. Whether it's one sentence in a book, one experience shared in a video, etc. I feel the Spirit confirm to me what it is each time. We learn many beautiful things in the temple about truth being spread throughout the Earth and one day it being circumscribed into one great whole. The Holy Ghost (our compass) guides us to those truths that a spread abroad through our gift of discernment. 

Lastly, concerning seeking the mysteries, I had been fasting for and pondering a couple days ago about many of the gifts I have been given and some of which have to do with my hands such as my gift of writing which involves typing, and other gifts etc. I was pondering on how I have relied on my gift of discernment to learn more about these gifts and how to righteously use them. I was also pondering on how to best share this message of it being okay to seek mysteries that are aligned with God's will for us. 

While pondering and praying, I began to feel this powerful energy hit my hands and pulsate down through my elbows and back out through my hands. It pulsated back and forth and everything in my hands and arms tingled with warmth. This is the 5th time this has happened to me in the last couple years while pondering on this mystery. 

I asked the Lord, what did this mean? How come every time I pondered on this topic, I feel this energy come into my hands and arms? Insomuch that my thumbs would lock to my fingers like magnets and I cannot pull them apart until the vibrating stops. Have I done something wrong, is there something wrong with me physically such as a mineral deficiency?  Or, is this from the Lord. Is it something good? While asking, I felt peaceful about it and felt the Spirit tell me, "Have patience, and more will be revealed to you soon."

This morning I was awakened at 3:30 am. There was a bright light pulsating in my room. It lit up the entire room. I had this feeling that I needed to go into my prayer closet. So I did. Once there, I felt prompted to pick up where I had left off in my scripture reading. So I did. And as I began to read in Doctrine and Covenants Section 8, I received the answer to my inquiry from the Lord and the final and powerful summary for this blog post message.

The heading reads;

Revelation comes by the power of the Holy Ghost; Knowledge of the mysteries of God... come by faith.

I inserted my name into the scripture and read, 

1  Lindsey  you [shall] receive a knowledge of whatsoever things you shall ask in faith, with an honest heart, believing that you shall receive...

2 Yea, behold, I will tell you in your mind and in your heart, by the Holy Ghost, which shall come upon you and which shall dwell in your heart.


3 Now, behold, this is the spirit of revelation; behold, this is the spirit by which Moses brought the children of Israel through the Red Sea on dry ground.

7 Behold, there is no other power, save the power of God, that can cause this gift of Aaron to be with you.

8 Therefore, doubt not, for it is the gift of God; and you shall hold it in your hands, and do marvelous works; and no power shall be able to take it away out of your hands, for it is the work of God.

9 And, therefore, whatsoever you shall ask me to tell you by that means, that will I grant unto you, and you shall have knowledge concerning it.

10 Remember that without faith you can do nothing; therefore ask in faith. Trifle not with these things; do not ask for that which you ought not.

11 Ask that you may know the mysteries of God... and according to your faith shall it be done unto you.

12 Behold, it is I that have spoken it; and I am the same that spake unto you from the beginning. Amen.

I felt warmth cover me from head to toe as I read this. I felt the Lord say, "Have no fear my daughter. You are on the right track. Because of your faith and obedience, you will be given wisdom to prepare you for what I have planned for you. There is so much to learn and so much more good for you to do, but do not be in a hurry. In my own due time I will reveal to you according to your needs and desires, the things that pertain to the plans I have for you. It will continue to come line upon line and the Holy Ghost will  continue to be your compass."

I believe that these words can apply to all of God's children. With righteous desires to seek, God will reveal to us according to His will. I believe it pleases Him when we desire the meat. It pleases Him when we ask. He has so much He wants to share. 


I testify of this in Jesus' name amen.