Awake and Arise

The scriptures and prophets are clear in their witness concerning our neglect and indifference to the gospel of salvation.  Something must be done to wake us up.  We are no different from other people who have had the gospel taught to them in ages past, but for some reason we think we are different.  Just as Nephi foresaw, we think that because "Zion prospereth, all is well" (2 Ne. 28:21).  Man remains unchanged, and therefore the message of the prophets has not, and cannot change. 

Lehi warned his posterity:

"awake; awake from a deep sleep, yea, even from the sleep of hell, and shake off the awful chains by which ye are bound, which are the chains which bind the children of men, that they are carried away captive down to the eternal gulf of misery and woe.  Awake!  and arise from the dust" (2 Ne. 1:13-14).

Jacob invited his brethren:

"arouse the faculties of your souls; shake yourselves that ye may awake from the slumber of death" (Jacob 3:11).

Orson Pratt taught that the Latter-day Saints

"are the children of light, although many of us will actually be asleep. We shall have to wake up and trim up our lamps, or we shall not be prepared to enter in; for we shall all slumber and sleep in that day, and some will have gone to sleep from which they will not awake until they awake up in darkness without any oil in their lamps" (JD 7:189).

Most often we are unaware when we are sleeping.  When we dream we think we are experiencing reality only to find out the truth once we are awake.  As Hugh Nibley has said, nobody likes to be awakened from a deep sleep.  So we choose to sleep on.

Taking the Book of Mormon seriously, and analyzing its contents honestly, will provide the necessary "shaking" to awaken our souls to the awful situation in which we find ourselves.  Only in this way is it possible to remove the condemnation under which we presently labor (D&C 84:53-58).  

The Book of Mormon is stunningly clear in its identification of the latter-day Gentiles, and has a message for them that should get our attention.  The time in which the Lord has chosen to work with the Gentiles is drawing to a close, and our sin remains.  We ought to realize this, and begin helping others to realize it.

"The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so important a subject that you ought to be thinking deeply about it.  Joseph Smith said:  

"[T]he things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity-thou must commune with God. How much more dignified and noble are the thoughts of God, than the vain imaginations of the human heart! None but fools will trifle with the souls of men." (DHC vol. 3, page 295.)  

"We should not be dealing with the Gospel at a superficial level.  We should be ashamed of how we have been treating it.  Again, Joseph said:
   
"How vain and trifling have been our spirits, our conferences, our councils, our meetings, our private as well as public conversations—too low, too mean, too vulgar, too condescending for the dignified characters of the called and chosen of God, according to the purposes of His will, from before the foundation of the world! We are called to hold the keys of the mysteries of those things that have been kept hid from the foundation of the world until now."  (Id.)

"A religion that allows you to foolishly waste the days of your probation will not save you.  That religion is NOT the faith that Abraham followed or that Jesus Christ taught.  If you are attending "vain and trifling" meetings that are "low, mean, vulgar and condescending" then you must do something about your own education in the faith to obtain exaltation.

"The path trod by the ancients is exactly the same path every saved soul must walk" (Snuffer).

Confronting Truth

"Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness" (2 Ne. 15:20). 


For those who are not used to confronting the truth of difficult issues within Mormon history, it may be easy to pass quick judgment upon those who have decided to do so with candor.  Because something seems contrary to your assumptions does not mean it is unimportant, or untrue.  Be humble enough to at least consider whether or not these things are important.  If you decide they're unimportant, fine.      


The truth is not always kind in its confrontation with error (2 Ne. 9:40).  My intent is not to be critical of the Church or its leaders.  I sustain the leaders.  But there remains things to which you must draw your attention.  I'm not the only one singing out about these things.  It's really unfortunate that we cannot candidly discuss our own history in an attempt to better understand our faith, without being considered suspect by those who share our faith.  It's really a shame.  I accept that's the way it is and will remain for now.         


It is important to bring up these issues.  It is important because in order to grow in truth, you at some point need to begin shedding error. You cannot gain further light and knowledge building upon a false foundation.


It is important to consider these things, because it allows you to step outside of your present world, and view the history that has created the Mormonism you've inherited.  What you have inherited is not what Joseph Smith intended to create.

We read, memorize, and parrot many gospel precepts that we do not understand correctly.  It's easy to use the words of scripture and have no idea what the prophet-author had in mind when he penned the words.  Words written by the power of the Spirit of God can only be fully understood by that same Spirit.  We are blind.  We are gone into captivity, because we have no knowledge (2 Ne. 15:13).  Our honorable men are famished, and the multitude dried up with thirst (Ibid.).  


This terrible dilemma we find ourselves in is not completely our fault.  We've inherited many ideas about the gospel.  Some are correct and have their roots in the restoration the Prophet was trying to accomplish.  Others are innovations from more recent history.  But you shouldn't be surprised you didn't know that.  How could you?  When a man walks into a room that is painted blue, he does not naturally begin wondering what color the room used to be painted.  Not until the paint begins to peel away does he entertain questions about the original.  


When we are born into a culture that teaches reliance upon the arm of flesh, it's easy to adopt unbelief, and to persist in spreading the disease.  We do so without malice, and even good intention.  It's so difficult to break the cycle.  It's too comfortable to pursue our present course and think all is well.     

There are many people looking for answers. People are beginning to ask important questions. Not everybody, however, is interested right now in shedding their biases, and traditions.  Not everybody is willing to be burdened with correction.  All things must be done in wisdom.  God wants to save his children, not harm them.   


It is easy to allow yourself to become a critic of the Church, or an "accuser" of the brethren, when you've seen enough of the weakness and failings of men.  It's unfortunate that some decide to become critics and to indulge in the spirit of the evil one.  The critic attempts to destroy faith and unity.  


Criticism is addictive.  This is a new challenge that folks face when they begin to wake up from that awful slumber, and shake off the dust that covers them.  The natural man would have you point a finger of scorn and condemnation at a brother.  Christ would have us cover another in the cloak of charity.


"I do not dwell upon your faults, and you shall not upon mine.  Charity, which is love, covereth a multitude of sins, and I have often covered up all the faults among you...We should cultivate a meek, quiet and peaceable spirit" (Joseph Smith, TPJS, Section Six 1843-1844, p. 316)


I see a day coming in which many people will lose their faith.  Those who have placed their faith in men will lose it, while those who have developed faith in Christ will save it.  My effort is to reach out to those who desire to come unto Christ.  Inasmuch as the Spirit of the Lord will guide me, I will continue the effort.


Here's something to remember: sometimes wicked people are very nice; and very good people, deceived.