His Hand Is Stretched Out Still

The pre-eminent doctrine of the Book of Mormon is that only Christ can save you and that you must repent and seek his face for redemption from the fall.  It is the message of all the major prophet-writers.  It is the message of all true prophets.  It is the message of the Book of Mormon over and over again.  The Lord works with individuals to prepare them in all things to be presented at the veil and enter his presence.  In spite of that persistent message we, as a people, fail to see that book as an invitation to us personally.  We have no hope that this opportunity is available to us (Ether 12:32).    

This is an indictment of how sick our culture is, and how misleading our traditions are.  To bring up these ideas stirs up contention and discomfort among some of our best people.  Satan has great hold upon our hearts because we wrest the scriptures and do not understand these things (D&C 10:63).  Our misunderstanding, and non-acceptance of these ideas is the overarching reason we are condemned of God (D&C 84:54-57).  In these, if in no other principles set forth in the Book of Mormon, we are guilty of unbelief.  We must do according to that which is written (ibid.).

Our temple rites should inform our interpretation of the Book of Mormon message.  If you consider yourself the individual to whom the temple drama is aiming its instruction, it is clear that your commission is to persist on the path that leads back to the presence of the Lord.  That path will ultimately require you to consecrate your whole soul to God (Omni 1:26).  True messengers will come to instruct you how this is to be done.  When you fully comply, you will be prepared in all things and the Lord will make his abode with you (John 14:23).

Christ was commanded by the Father to prophesy concerning the rejection of the fulness of the gospel in the last days (3 Ne. 16:10).  To interpret this prophecy as somehow referring to those Gentiles who refuse to be baptized members of the Church is at best incomplete.  Rather, the way in which the Gentiles have rejected "the fulness of my gospel" is by a rejection of the doctrines that we must repent and seek the face of the Lord.  It is because of unbelief that the fulness is being rejected.  And yet strangely, the Gentiles "shall be lifted up in the pride of their hearts above all nations, and above all the people of the whole earth" (ibid.).    

What is it about our heritage that has discouraged such a search for God?  Of all the people on the earth, we who have a knowledge of the restoration and the Book of Mormon should be seeking the face of God.  When in our history did our present mentality begin robbing us of truth?  Why have we somehow been conditioned to believe such a search is inappropriate or fanatical?  3 Ne. 16:10 contains some helpful ideas.  Satan surely looks with pleasure upon our traditions and laughs.

God be praised for extending to the Gentiles another opportunity to receive the fulness of the gospel (D&C 45:28-30).  If it will not be accepted, it will be because men remain blinded by the traditions of men (ibid.).  For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

The True, the False, and Mere Conjecture

A good friend a mine keeps a blog that very few folks know about.  He is a gifted gospel student.  After years of friendship, it's clear to me there is nothing that matters more to him than pursuing further light and knowledge in his attempt to come unto Christ.

He recently posted something that was touching to me because it is the complete opposite of what we find all around us.  As he points out, there are many "voices clamoring" to be heard.  Many claim to speak for Christ, but do not know him.  We are proud that we have the truth.  We know what nobody else knows.  

When you humble yourself, the Lord is able to teach you by revelation.  

Some time during the beginning of this repentance process, one of the first revelations that is given you is that the philosophies of men are getting you nowhere.  The traditions of your fathers are getting you nowhere.  Cultural trappings are blinding you.  Other men's unbelief has spread to you like a disease.  It is clothed in the language of the restoration, but marvelously incapable of conferring any power or revelatory understanding that will ever save you.  We must repent further, and seek Christ.

I've asked and received his permission to post what he wrote.  What follows is his:

If there is anything that I have learned through an ongoing study of the gospel, it is that I know very little, possibly nothing.  I have facts and some theories and some trivia stored away in my brain, but not much that is abiding or saving.  That kind of knowledge comes in the way God has shown us in the temple.  I have written a lot of things over the past few years, some theories and ideas, that have come to describe my perception of religion and of the world around me.  I concede that these may each be false, even better, may probably be proven false if held up to a different definition of the gospel.  I don't really care, because the important thing to me is not that I am right on all counts, but that I am open and willing to accept my own folly, the incorrectness of my traditions, and even more difficult in some cases, the traditions of my fathers.  It is important to me not to stagnate upon one singular and narrow way of looking at a thing, but to keep the channels of my mind open in honest evaluation, not that I may be blown about by every wind of doctrinal uncertainty, but that I may be willing to accept truth when it finally makes its way into my field of view.  If we develop and stagnate in false views of Christ, we will not recognize Him when He attempts to approach us.  We will think Him a fraud.  It is very easy for Satan to subsequently give us the Christ we want, cheapened and watered down.  Therefore, with little exception, my mind remains open to change and reevaluation.  I don't want to be branded a believer of my false theories, because ten years from now I may not believe them myself.  I will consider anything the Spirit wishes, and I accept that the evolution of my knowledge may be a process that spans years and which may weave at times through some false ideas.  This does not bother me.  I have faith that the Lord will help me to sort out this confusing mess of voices clamoring throughout the world to be heard.  I live with the hope that the one that will prevail is that which is still and small.  I am happy to acknowledge that my ideas are nothing more than my own philosophies mingled with scripture.  I am not qualified to bring you saving news.  I only really write in order to record my stream of thought, and to remember those things which I consider to be potentially important.  If you benefit from sideline observance of my ideas, that is wonderful.  If not, that's fine too.  I don't accept you as my student because I am unqualified to be your teacher.  But I hope that through the scriptures, through revelation, and through humble prayer, our worship may be made perfect and we may gain that knowledge which will save us.

Who Are You?

The message of repentance in the scriptures was often to a religious crowd who considered themselves the Lord's people and who thought they were righteous (Luke 18:9-14).  

One of the reasons we may feel the Book of Mormon's message of repentance doesn't apply to us as "faithful" Latter-day Saints is because our lives, by and large, are in harmony with the principles taught from our pulpits and in our Sunday schools.  We keep the commandments and fulfill our callings.  Although we acknowledge in word that the message of repentance still applies to us as much as anyone, we are often perplexed about what it is we must repent of.

Besides serious transgressions, one of the things we must repent of are our misconceptions, and false traditions; or, what the Book of Mormon calls "unbelief." 

God's prophets mourn our state of unbelief because it causes us to not "search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge, when it is given unto them in plainness, even as plain as word can be" (2 Ne. 32:7).  Because of that unbelief and stiffneckedness the Spirit stops the utterance of prophets when they might otherwise desire to share more about God's plan (ibid.).

King Benjamin taught that unbelief is a result of failing to read and understand God's word (Mosiah 1:5).  Because men fail to search the scriptures they "dwindle in unbelief" and fail to believe the truth when it is taught to them "because of the traditions of their fathers" (ibid.).  Dwindling in unbelief disables men so that they cannot understand the word of God.  This lack of understanding hardens men's hearts (Mosiah 26:3).  

In order for us to repent of and conquer unbelief we must come into contact with the "light of the glory of God" (Alma 19:6).  This encounter will cast away unbelief and dispel the clouds of darkness (ibid.).  For the majority of Latter-day Saints this encounter will begin to occur as we search the scriptures, but particularly the scriptures of the restoration.  We can choose to have this encounter with light and truth and begin to peel away the dark scales of unbelief, or we can choose not to receive the light.  Those who choose not to receive the light will be deceived, for they will not have the light required to discern between true and false messengers.  They will not be prepared for the "test" that Heber C. Kimball prophesied would overcome us in our day.         

In order for you to begin to remove the condemnation under which you labor you must take the Book of Mormon seriously.  

In order for you to begin to take the Book of Mormon seriously (or to not "treat it lightly") you must understand its message.  

In order for you to begin to understand the message of the Book of Mormon, it is vital for you to dismiss false notions about who "My people, O House of Israel" are, and who "the Gentiles" are.  

The truth of the matter is disconcerting for many people when presented with it, and so they choose not to search out the matter.  They think that those who would voice an opinion contrary to their traditions are "mad" (Mosiah 13:4).  Why is it that when a prophet declares the truth about the scriptures the religious are angry with him?  Must a man be a false prophet because his message angers you?  Must a prophet's message make you feel good about yourself?   

A proud man will usually choose to remain blind even when presented with light and truth because it salves his conscience to retain a false identity.  Doing so allows him to retain his pride, and believe in the message that "all is well" (2 Ne. 28:21).  But the Lord has made it clear that we have to shed false traditions and become humble and accept truth if we will be saved (Alma 32:15-16). 

The Latter-day Saints are the Gentiles of the Book of Mormon, and the Gentiles to whom it was written.  It was written for those Gentiles who are its readers, not those who are not its readers.  It was written in clarity that the Gentiles might understand the mission we've been called to perform.  The book defines our role.

Joseph Smith knew he was the "Gentile" who was chosen to begin the latter-day work (Title Page).  He referred to the rest of the Saints as "Gentiles" in the Kirtland Temple dedicatory prayer, which he received by revelation (D&C 109:60).  Throughout the Book of Mormon the writers are persistent and consistent in their use of the term.

Without explaining the entire issue, it's important to be presented with the idea so that it may be searched out.  Those who look into the matter will begin to see it clearly.  From beginning to end, European descendants are the "Gentiles" of the Book of Mormon, nobody else.  Unless you are a Latter-day Saint who also happens to be Native American, you are not the "remnant" or the "House of Israel" spoken of in the Book of Mormon.      

Don't let prejudices, misunderstandings, and false traditions deter your search.  Never mind what you think your Patriarchal blessing tells you about the meaning of "the House of Israel" in the Book of Mormon.  Those first or last sentences about lineage in your blessing no more help you understand the Book of Mormon than does the term "High Priest," as we use it today, help us to understand Alma 13.  They're almost wholly different.  Those things will all become clear as you discard false traditions and put off unbelief.  It doesn't matter if you descend from the House of Israel way back when, you are a "Gentile" to the Book of Mormon writers.     

Once you can understand your identity, the prophecies and messages of the Book of Mormon will begin to become very real to you.  The Book, as a whole, will begin to make much more sense.  You will be able to see more clearly, in order that a more thorough repentance may begin to take place.  It will be a precious gift, opening up to your view the fulness of the Gospel.  But not until we can put off "unbelief."  If we fail to understand our identity and the message of the Book of Mormon, we are dwindling in unbelief.

Many of our ideas about the scriptures are correct, but misapplied.  Many of our precepts are true and scriptural, but misunderstood.  It is true that the repentant Gentiles will ultimately be numbered among "the House of Israel" (2 Ne. 10:18).  We've gotten too far ahead of the game, however, in assuming that we've already made it.  We haven't.  The House of Israel will very soon receive the Book of Mormon and the fulness of the Gospel.  They haven't received it yet, but they will soon.  It will be brought unto them by the kings and queens of the Gentiles, who will act as nursing fathers and mothers to them (2 Ne. 10:9).

King Noah and His Kingdom, Part 2

King Noah and His Kingdom, Part 2

“For behold, he did not keep the commandments of God, but he did walk after the desires of his own heart.  And he had many wives and concubines.  And he did cause his people to commit sin, and do that which was abominable in the sight of the Lord.  Yea, and they did commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness” (Mosiah 11:2).

Noah was a polygamist who walked after the desires of his own heart.  There have been times when the practice of plural marriage has been authorized by revelation and commandment, and at other times received God’s censure (D&C 132:29, 34-35; Jacob 2:23-24).  Noah and his priests weren’t the first, or the only people in history that sought to excuse themselves in committing whoredoms, because of the things which are written about ancient kings (ibid.).  His example and teachings caused his people to commit sin, though neither he nor his people believed they were living in sin (Mosiah 12:13-14). 

Like the Pharisees’ reaction to the Lord, Noah and his people were surprised “that we should be condemned of God or judged of this man (ibid.).  They were surprised that somebody would challenge their righteousness.  The wicked priestly class of Christ’s day was surprised at His message of admonition and repentance.  In their view, they were the only people actually keeping all of the commandments.  To them, even Christ and his disciples transgressed “the tradition of the elders” (Matt.15:1-3).  Christ taught them that it was precisely by way of their tradition that they “transgressed the commandment of God” (ibid.).  Their pride had blinded them. 

Remember, this story is being told to us in retrospect through the lens of a righteous prophet-writer.  It is that prophet-writer who makes it clear to us that Noah and his people were wicked.  Prophets have a very different view of history, and of the unfolding current events than do those who belong to or sympathize with Babylon.  Because prophets commune with God, they are able to see things as God sees them. 

If we were to read a history about Noah and his people written by their own hand it would, of course, be highly complimentary.  Conspicuously absent from the record would be any details about human failure and weakness, especially of the king.  Their record would tout their accomplishments.  It would tell us about what great progress they made in the kingdom by way of building projects, for example.  They certainly kept and preserved records.  Otherwise, how would Mormon know so much about them. 

Since the king and his priests spoke “flattering,” and “lying and vain words” unto the people we shouldn’t expect that their record would reflect a greater degree of honesty (Mosiah 11:7, 11).   The ultra-religious always think they’re better than they really are, and they’re happy to talk about it. 

The wickedness and abominations of Noah and his priests led them to pride.  Their pride led them to boast in their own strength.  They believed that it was not possible that they should be brought into captivity, or into bondage.  They thought that because they had “prospered in the land,” they would always prosper (Mosiah 12:15).  But it was not to be so.