But those in charge neither let them enter, nor go in thereat themselves. They sit "without", due to their own ignorance and disbelief. (Why else would they hinder those entering in?)
If they "went in", they would tell us plainly, wouldn't they? For prophets bear witness of their personal experiences with Christ. (See 1 Nephi 1:8; 1 Nephi 2:16; Jacob 7:5; Ether 12:39...and many more. You get the point!)
Instead, we receive sermons on "Courage" or "Choosing The Right Moral Cell Phone Plan", or "Speaking Edifying Words While Your Wife Jumps Out Of A Burning Truck With The Baby!".
All good topics for great "talks", for sure! (Don't forget "Pornography"! That's always a "best seller"!)
But do they introduce us to Christ? Do they tell us how we may meet Him?
The list of topics for sermons to encourage us to be "good" and "better" people is endless.
Those sermons could go on forever.
Those sermons will go on forever.
Unless we demand more.
"Oh, you want someone to preach to you. You want religion, do you? I will have preachers here presently." -- Lucifer
Preachers in Lucifer's "employ" won't tell you how to come unto Christ. They won't teach you about the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost -- the only way back to God -- because they haven't experienced it yet (or worse, because they've rejected it). Nephi taught that once you enter in at the gate, and are taught by the Holy Ghost, you receive the words of Christ from Him! (There isn't much need for a "middle man" once you have established a "direct line" to God.)
Those who will not teach you how to come unto Christ cannot teach you how to sing the song of redeeming love...because they haven't sung it themselves! They haven't been "born again". They haven't received a new spirit. (They still have the same old one! Oh, it's a really good spirit, no doubt! The worthiest, goodest, bestest, darned-nicest, you're-the-sweetest spirit in the whole state of Utah! Even in the whole world!)
But can you tell us, preacher, how you were "born again"? Will you confess your wrestle with sin, as Alma the younger did? (See Alma 36:5-24.) Or how you were immediately redeemed, upon offering up your whole soul as a sacrifice to know God, as King Lamoni's father did? (See Alma 22:18.) Will you tell us, preacher, how you were born of God?
Or will you tell us that "redemption" is a "life-long process", a "continual struggle" with "repentance", always requiring your continued involvement and employ on our behalf?
How will you make any money if you are no longer needed, preacher?
(We were taught these truths somewhere before, weren't we? Why not now?)
Are you going to teach us how to receive the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost to come back into God's presence in this life? Or are you going to give us heart-warming stories while dispensing worldly advice and the philosophies of men, mingled with scripture? (I really hate to mention this, because I really like those heart-warming stories! And I really like those heart-warming preachers! They didn't ask for their jobs! And they were expected to accept them, no questions asked! I judge no man. There they go, doing better works than I could do.)
But will you tell us, preacher, how to overcome addiction, once and for all, for the love of Christ?
Who has gone to heaven among us? Who has gazed into the Savior's eyes and wept with sorrow and sadness for his own sins, wishing he could crawl away, being crushed by the enormity of His Holiness and the realization that one doesn't deserve to live before Him? Who is it that recognizes he can never be "worthy" of a heavenly recommend, on his own merits?
"Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?"
Can you tell us, preacher?
"Humility" isn't "submitting to priesthood authority". God doesn't rule by fear and external control. "The kingdom of God is within you." (See Luke 17:21.) Humility is owning and acknowledging one's own weaknesses and sins, confessing one's unworthiness and utter dependence upon God's grace through Jesus Christ. It is realizing we cannot live without Him. The only "salvation" from sin anyone receives comes at the hands and feet of Jesus. He holds the keys of salvation to unlock the gates of hell to free whomever will come unto Him.
The "keys of salvation" are, quite simply, the knowledge of God unto salvation. Jesus saves. There is no "power in the priesthood" held by anyone who does not hold these keys. To possess meaningful "keys" means to possess actual knowledge of Jesus Christ, His will and purposes as they apply to us, individually and personally, and to exercise faith in the same. Ultimately, no man can be saved unless he knows Jesus Christ for himself.
It is vain and foolish to believe that a man can be saved in the celestial world by relying upon ordinances alone (activity in the Church, temple marriage, etc.) without coming unto Christ.
The power to save has not been delegated to another. He employs no servant there. If you knock, He will open. If you seek Him earnestly, you will find Him.
We follow Lucifer's ministers at our peril.
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