It is all — and often more than — I can do to keep my wife happy, my kids in shoes and sports, and contend with the general trend toward entropy that is the way of this world. My heart yearns, like Scott Stover’s, for Zion and to be with (and like) our Lord. Yet the Lord has shown me, in countless ways, my weakness. Ruminations about the mysteries of God understandably take a back seat to living the gospel. As my wife recently posted on Facebook:
My two cents: if one wants to point to Christ, live like he did. Less talking. More doing. Less conferences. More intimate interactions based on service. Less contention. More acceptance and love. Less "woe is me." More "low is me." Michael Jackson sang it well "I'm starting with the man in the mirror." Don't fight for change, BE the change.
John Chase recently shared with some friends a number of excerpts from Denver Snuffer’s blog. (See below.) I have read all of Denver’s posts, but apparently some essential concepts “escaped” me the first time I read them. Maybe I wasn’t ready to “receive” them.
Maybe I am now.
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Collectivist efforts are never going to work. FIRST, we must become individually the kind of people whom the Lord can visit. Then, after that, the gathering together of like-minded people will be a gathering of equals. It will not be an hierarchical gathering of "leadership" and drones. There won't be a single drone in Zion. Everyone will be equal and no one will mind mowing the grass or taking out the garbage.
Everyone faces the identical challenge. It seems different only because of our individual strengths and weaknesses. The challenge is adapted to our own personality, capacity and life's history. Therefore, when you are asked to overcome something, it will fit in the framework of your life.
All are asked to make a sacrifice that shows they will not withhold anything from the Lord. It will come to each person based on what they value and would regret to their core surrendering. Whatever that is, you will be asked by the Lord to give it to Him. You must decide to do that when asked.
All are asked to do something that they view as wrong, evil or inappropriate and will seem to be inconsistent with the Lord's mercy, righteousness and perfection. The request will unmistakably come from Him. You cannot evade the request because you doubt He is asking. You will clearly know it is Him who asks, and that to all your understanding it will be wrong to do. You must do it anyway.
All are asked to take a step in faith beyond where they are at the time. Trust in Him, and only Him, as you take that step. You will be certain that if it were something you were undertaking on your own, it could not be accomplished. But because you are doing as He has asked, you know you will have the strength or support to do as He bids.
All are asked to come to Him without guilt or shame, knowing you have done everything you understand Him to have asked of you. Without this knowledge, you will not be able to endure what He asks.
All are able to develop the faith to lay hold on eternal life only because they have been led by Him through this process. When they have the faith sufficient to lay hold on these things, the Lord will declare to them by His own voice, that they have been begotten of Him and have a place with Him in eternity.
This is universally the process. The specific form each of these will take will vary from person to person because of individual traits.
The request will be difficult, or a sacrifice.
HOWEVER, whether the person recognizes at the moment or only in hindsight that it was required for them to develop the faith necessary for redemption is not universal. Some know at the time, some only know in hindsight. What is absolutely universal is that when the test has been passed, the faith exists. When it does, it will be enough for redemption and the promise of eternal life….
The order of things is established and can be known. The details of how it unfolds in individual lives will be specific to the individual. Whether the person realizes the final great test is underway or not will depend on the person. I did not. I only came to realize in hindsight what was underway.
To approach Him, you must live as He did. You must "keep His commandments." You must love others. You must live the way He lived. When you are walking in the same path He walked, you will find that He is walking there still. He will come alongside you, as you are "in the way" and will open to your understanding all things which He would have you know... I would remind you that the account of those two disciples is a type of how He appears to those to whom He will minister. He will see you as you are in the right way, and then join with you.
Again our devotion is to be entirely private. Your inner struggle to come into God's presence should be yours. Private. Personal. Individual. Secret.
The time may come after you have found Him that He will bring you into contact with others. The journey back to Him will be individual, and private.
After you find Him, you will be His. He can do with you as He chooses. When He appears to you in the flesh, He will give you commandments. (2 Nephi 32: 6.) He will teach you doctrine. He will direct what you should do. But that is later. Until then, the journey is private. There is nothing to announce. There should be no notice of your fasting, tithe paying, or praying. There are no notable deeds to be seen of men.
Men should see your washed face and never detect the fasting you are performing for Him alone.
Men should see your comfortable behavior and never appreciate what great things you have put on the altar in sacrifice to Him.
Men should never notice the mighty wrestle you are having with God.
When the wrestle has produced a covenant between you and God, even then the particulars of what you learn, what has been promised, what has been committed into your hands, and the things the Lord and you share should be kept between you and Him.
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When He appears He also ministers. There is also the description of the "sealing" which will qualify those living in our day to become a member of the Church of the Firstborn, which involves an ordinance performed by "angels to whom is given power" and to whom this ministry belongs. (D&C 77: 11.)
The atonement continues to cover the on-going sins of these redeemed souls which arise from their foolishness, mistakes, errors of comprehension, and the things they don't understand yet. Christ does not require them to do what they don't know is a requirement yet. As the gentle and kind Lord, He will forgive all they do that is wrong, while He reveals through greater light and knowledge a higher path. As He unfolds to their understanding more light, they can measure their conduct according to that greater light.
As they gain greater truth and light they see things how they really are. Right and wrong are seen differently. What once was "right" is now wrong as greater light and truth is received. What was once "wrong" is now seen clearly, without all the errors of understanding held before.
The spotlessness is because their heart is right. They WANT to please their Lord. They WANT to be like Him. Sin is not tempting because it is contrary to Him whom they love.
Amen.
You forgot a few Denver quote that also apply:
ReplyDeletehttp://denversnuffer.blogspot.com/2012/07/clearing-off-some-pending-questions.html
As to Zion:
Just because you have the idea in front of you doesn't mean you have any concept of what will be required to have the angels gather you into that company. It is like the notion that you're going to be "exalted" without any idea that the eternities are completely isolated from the unworthy. No one will or can be "exalted" who is not adequately prepared.Anyone who attains that status will be required first to suffer what is suffered, minister what is required to be ministered, to prove here their fitness. How could a selfish soul ever provide to their ungrateful and abusive offspring everything necessary for them to develop? Exalted beings sacrifice themselves, and endure punishment on behalf of the guilty. They take upon themselves burdens which they do not deserve. They forgive, they succor, they uplift the unworthy. Pride is incompatible, and selfishness utterly disqualifies a soul from "exaltation." The principles which govern there are hardly understood here. Most of the faithful Latter-day Saints imagine they will able to employ means much like Lucifer's to accomplish their expected outcome. They have no concept of the sacrifices and selflessness required to be trusted by the Lord. He is the prototype of the saved man. He lived His entire existence as a sacrifice. Read 3 Ne. 11: 11 and you will find in His introduction of Himself what a saved man must do. There is no other way. The prideful expectation that someone here is going to attain that status hereafter is based, for the most part, on foolishness and vanity, uninformed by the great things required to become like our Lord. Only those who are exactly like Him will be given that status in the eternities. Zion will be formed from people who are willing to endure His presence. That is no small thing.
Denver in his talk on Constitutional Apostasy said:
We have this really unique opportunity in mortality. This is the only place where you could come…where you can bleed…and you can die…and you can sacrifice for a cause. Cowardice is unbecoming anyone who is trying to lay hold on the riches of heaven. Because down here…in this dark world… you have an opportunity to prove who you are. You have an opportunity to prove what you are. And you don't prove…that you are anything worth preserving into eternity… if you don't live with nobility. And I don't care who it is…that is pressuring you…or what means they think they can employ. That statement…I regret that I have but one life to give for my country…is not the language of a slave. It's not even the language of a captive. There is a man who is free indeed…even though he's about to be killed. You know…we lack the fortitude…we lack the self-confidence…to hold on to our freedom. You surrender to fashion. You surrender to peer pressure. You surrender to those people who you think are respected members of society. You surrender…but you don't have to. Freedom is still possible in this day and age.
I forgot one myself...his latest blog post...
ReplyDeleteA God of Order
July 18, 2015 http://denversnuffer.com/2015/07/a-god-of-order/
There is something underway. It began with the Latter-day Saints. It will move on to address other gentiles, then the Lehi remnant, and finally the Jews. It will unfold as the Lord directs, at the time and in the manner He wants.
The wild enthusiasm and foolish excesses of those invited first is nothing to be concerned about. An invitation is nothing more than that: an offer. What people do in response determines if they will be gathered. Most will never be gathered.
Anyone who will wait patiently for the Lord, do what He asks, as He asks it, and remain faithful will be remembered by Him. His angels will watch over and ultimately gather them to safety.
The hardness and blindness of the Latter-day Saints was anticipated, and prophesied by the Lord. He has shown them the courtesy of inviting them to repent.
The invitation will be given to others, and some few of them will respond. There will be only a few saved out of every group. It will not be many but it does not require many.
Love, Love, and love some more! If we can just learn to do that - we can cast out jealousies and fears, and draw near to Him.
ReplyDeleteMan is not capable of Godly love without the Holy Ghost. Moroni counseled us to "pray with all the energy of heart" for the gift of Charity.
ReplyDeleteWise counsel indeed. It is a gift. The best that we can do, of ourselves, is an imitation at best. Godly love is a gift of the Spirit.
James Russell Uhl
James,
ReplyDeleteAt the risk of flattering you (which is not my intent), your expressions here are often, if not always, uplifting, inspired of God and, thus, apropos. I'm grateful that you were he who baptized me anew.