Do you want to meet Jesus?

A couple of weeks ago friends and I who had been playing games and laughing, everything was normal till one of them had got serious by asking me and another LDS fellow of mine a serious question. Do you want to meet Jesus?

At first we were a bit taken back and the room had got quiet; said my friend continuing his thought, "Because everyone seems to want to meet Jesus".

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My LDS friend (I'll call him Tim) and I almost simultaneously said no. This other friend of mine (we'll call him Charlie) was surprised. "Why?” Charlie followed up. We then took an hour explaining that our innocence of faith would be removed and we would then be living by knowledge and the weight that would bear. 

We then explained that it’s like when you are learning about the flowers when you were five. Mom took you to a field and said "Child this is a flower". You would hold it and admire the color and laugh and run holding the flower. Then sometime later would go to school and learn about the flower and the science of its cellular structure and the way that it gains food. Now you could deny photosynthesis because you have never seen it or felt it. Once you have learned it you can say whatever you want. Discovery and learning continues.

Now compare that to meeting Jesus. Meeting God's son has a great weight. Once you have gone down this road you can never go back. I suppose that you could deny that you ever saw him to his face but let’s face it; I think that God would hold us accountable for that. See the difference of walking by faith and walking by knowledge is that one has a greater level of reward and damnation. Those that walk by faith would gain a little here and there and if they slipped they could then just get up and continue while those that walked by knowledge if they fell the gravity of the fall would weigh them terribly and getting back up would be longer and harder.

I think of that moment and realize that I could possibly not be ready to meet God. It’s an awkward revelation. Here I thought that there was nothing to fear and like a child I was stunned by the experience. I know that God will be on his throne and with countless courses of angels but what happens when he comes to your face and says 'Hi'. Do I fall to my knees and beg never to behold his face again. Beg him to leave because I am an unworthy person to be in such glory. Do I weep for joy? Really, what do I do? 

What would you do? I know that there will come a day that you will meet the Messiah but what will you do? It’s something to think about this week.

The Message for You

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I love how so many times I have gone to church and I got that message that was just for me and even though I was just a visitor so no one knew me (well I had been there the week before so some of them knew me) but the message while sitting in the foyer it seemed was just for me.

One of the speakers began talking about the meek. Now I had some limited understanding of the meek mainly that they would inherit the earth. This sister though thought of a new way of putting it and presented a thought that told us that perhaps that God in his infinite wisdom had in fact changed our course so that we would always find happiness in His choice (a choice that was not clear or direct; something that we would enjoy as well, as his children). As I was sitting in the foyer it hit me. When I was young I wanted so badly to be a church leader and felt put off because I was always the student and when the opportunity arose to be something of a leader I would again be put in situations that called for my other talents in a new direction. For instance, when I was a missionary, I wanted to be a leader of some kind but I didn't develop fast enough through my experience and I probably would of been a poor leader. During that time I was very upset with the leadership and God because as a man-child I thought I was prepared but a missionary that could just spit out scripture and not with the spirit was not ready to be a leader. Perhaps President knew that and on the same breath he new that (through the spirit) that I was not good with change so he kept me in only three areas my whole mission.

I have wondered sometimes if I have been a stubborn child to God and in fact have been compelled to be meek because I want to be obedient but I cant get over my thick skull. Its like being compelled to be humble (and perhaps they are more related then I think).

I know that I am not humble nor meek enough to be a leader some days. It shows in my work effort. I want to be the boss but forget that with great power comes great responsibility. In my life I have been steward of several cars that I have crashed in fender benders and I forgot I had responsibility over that too so I am not sure if I truly know power and responsibility. I also know very little of sacrifice as God has been generous with giving of his substance (yes that means I am a full tithe payer). While I am gone from my wife and four children for months at a time (no I am not a soldier) I am blessed to be in this wonderful country and I am not more then a thousand miles from home and if ever it was needed the company would be willing to fly me for an emergency (as they have done once or twice).

I honestly believe that this has been a great training ground for understanding sacrifice and compelled humility as I spend nights alone and the only human contact is those hands that I shake sparsely. I have also been privileged to know some great people and traveled across this whole land seeing 47 states in the Union. Something that I am certain that most will not be able to say in their lifetime. I have learned about myself in a way that perhaps I would of never have.

So am I one of the meek? Perhaps. My struggles have been alone and worded only to my wife and this blog. I have found that I must challenge myself in a new and different way so that I can find my purpose (and I am certain that its not just working 60 hours a week). Is that what the meek do. They take what they have and push themselves to be something that they were meant to be? I wonder.

A few weeks (perhaps it was months) Glenn Beck extended a challenge that was similar. What was our purpose and to whom were we going to make a difference? He said that we were not made to do a 9 to 5 job and then die but to rise above that and be something. I believe that he was talking about Nielsen Mandela when he was talking about it and while I detest with every fiber of my being the putrid thought of communism and all its forms and the poison that it does to the good minds of men, women and children I could not help appreciate that Glenn was pointing that Nielsen found his purpose and seized the day; made his life his own.

All of us need to find our moment and recognize our humility, see what we are made of and the experiences that we have been in and make our lives our own.

That's my lesson to you.

Infinite God

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So I was listening to conference this last weekend and thought nothing of it. It was a very similar message but I took the time to listen to every speaker (witch was not like me as I am usually doing something during conference) and two things came from it to me.

First we are in some serious trouble. If we do not know where to turn when there is trouble we will be lost physically and spiritually. Several times through the course of the conference disasters were mentioned of various kinds and to me that was telling me that our 'Titanic' was heading to the iceberg and those who could see the trouble coming could only see the tip. I listen to a lot of people for advice and encouragement but the prophets and apostles, I hope I listen to the most. Like a scared animal I sense a storm brewing. I turn to the scriptures and prayer to know what to do so that I can be more ample prepared. Perhaps I need to read the council again when the magazine comes out.

Second was subtle and at first I didn't notice the effect because the conference was a bit fresh in my mind. As I was doing my job I began to see people for what they were and for a moment I saw the eternal perspective of things and I have to admit it freaked me out. I understood how important it was to learn the gospel as fast as I could and to teach it to others as fast as I could. I could not look at another persons face without seeing their spirit (of sorts). I kept hearing Isiah and how he talked about being blind and deaf. Even the Savior made reference to it. Still I wonder what I am supposed to do with this perspective and for how long it will be with me. I no longer see old men and women or chain smokers and drug users. Their spiked hair and piercings are somewhat transparent to me and I have begun to see who they are on the inside.

I thought of my own kids and wife. I keep attempting to push them to the light but as Lehi experienced attempting to compel his sons, he could only do it with words.When Nephi and Lehi compared the gospel to a fantastic fruit that everyone would want to have, I have now an inclining of what that means and that has become a precious pearl but I do not know what to do with it. I cannot just give it to anyone but it truly must be shared with those that will appreciate it.

Familiarity Breads Contempt

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I was thinking about our most recent lesson at church in Bothell WA (God bless the Saints there). We were talking about relationships and how to improve them and the thought occurred to me if we are seeking to improve our relationships and the most important one is the one with our Heavenly Father then why don't we?

The answer came from the stake president when he said (and I'm paraphrasing here) We look upon the Messiah with love because he loved but the Father with fear as we think that he will judge harshly with us and demand only justice and Jesus has to be some buffer. Our Father loves us very much and we should really get to know Him and his Only Begotten. Our Father is really rooting for us and hoping for our success. That is why He has sent us so many gifts for our success.

I thought about that for a while and sometime later a instructor brought up the question of why we were harsh with our love ones and not our associates, friends and those further away in relation? I then brought up familiarity breeds contempt and we as humans fear that, in getting to know God, we might become contemptuous and reject him or begrudgingly obedient.

I thought about what I said. We tend to take advantage of our most precious relationships and for what? We think that they will always be true and faithful (so long as we don't screw it up) but we forget we cannot be just recessive in our behavior but outward and hard working to improve our relationship with others especially Jesus and our Father. A wise person once told me that we need to constantly improving our relationships and that means dating our wives. I am sure that it could also apply to our relationship with our parents, children friends and the Lord. The only thing that we have to fear is not familiarity but alienation of the Lord. I believe that the ole adage is true but it is up to the individual to change that in themselves. They can either fear to get to know God or they can get to know him at a deeper level and really reap a blessing and experience.

God help us all in our attempts to strengthen our vigor and tenacity to become the men and women that we want to become and really get to know the Lord and our families; strive to become who you were meant to be.

To kill a Frog

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There is one particular way to kill men's souls; warm the up the idea that they are ok. The scriptures are plastered with children of Zion/Israel saying that all was well and then they would be turned over to their enemies or plagues or wars etc... and for what? Because they forgot who they were and what they represent.

Sin and pride only take nudges and bumps in the wrong direction to slowly embrace the notion that you (in your sin and pride) are safe and secure; that no enemy can break you down or cause you to fear but we forget as children of God that it only takes one degree (of sin) to be off course and that letting go of the word of God is dangerous and deadly leading us down paths of darkness of witch there is no return (1 Nephi 8:23).

I worry for today as idol worship has become abundant. The teaching of the seven deadly sins is rampant. For instance, in the past, the gentiles fed their children to a fiery idol that would consume their children and this was 'okay'. Today we abort our children to convenience and science. In ancient times they would fall down and worship idols. Today we sit in front of a TV, digital device or what ever and allow it to consume our time while we admire the soft glow that it provides (listen to me I don't have much to say as I am at the warm glow of a computer). The children of Israel basked in adultery and fornication. Today it is called an open lifestyle or living together.

We have become the very people that the prophets warned about was coming. It comes no excuse as to why God's anger is kindled and despite all of that, his hand is stretched out still to take us in if we but repent and turn to him for a remission of our sins. Will we, can we turn back to the Lord? Or will the Lord have to chide us and compel us like a stubborn mule? He will not just beat us with a few stripes and then forgive us in our sins. We must thoroughly repent and turn to him or we are in big trouble. Though He saved Sodom and Gomorrah for a few people, what happens when they are asked to leave?

Something to think about. Warn your friends and neighbors and if you are basking in this filth and depravity, you have been warned. Repent will ya?

Ye Are Gods

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We were studying the 5 lesson of the book Teachings of the Presidents of the Church and something stuck me. The Prophet Lorenzo had a revelation (though Joseph had received this truth some years earlier) that “As man now is, God once was; as God is now man may be.” and though it is a popular and common phrase in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints it is foreign and perhaps blasphemy to other christian faiths. 

That got me to thinking. Why? The wisdom and knowledge of God is infinite and ours finite. His power, endless. Ours limited. Then again the power of a babe is limited while their parent has power to walk, talk, create and destroy at their whim. Are we not babes in comparison to the power and majesty of Christ and our Father? Why not then are we not gods in our infancy? If God is infinite and eternal and there is no end to his power, why then could we not get the same power and majesty? Why does our creator who asks us to address Him as Father, why would he not give us all that our brother has inherited? Jesus said that "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you (John 14:2). Mansions are not given to the servant but to a master. Even the prodigal son inherited wealth after being the fool and he offered to be his father’s servant yet his father accepted him as his son. Why not us? Are we not arrogant prideful fools deserving of nothing? Yet the Lord God of Israel says that '[His] work and [His] glory is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man'? 

When I think of immortal beings, my first thought is 'what would you do if you were immortal?' I wrote about that once but to sum it up, when you strengthen others because you will have seen it all, spoken it all, and known it all. There will be no book, video, song, word you have not seen or heard. There will be no mountain or valley you have not climbed. As an immortal being to keep an air of freshness you would seek to enlighten and strengthen your brothers and sisters. Is that not what the Messiah does daily? 

So yes "Ye are Gods and children of the Most High" (Psalms 82:6; my favorite scripture) but now that you know, when you are converted to it and see your potential "strengthen thy brethren" (Luke 22:32). Our Father wants us to return to him to finish growing up and no longer be babes in the gospel of Christ but mature and be the men and women that we ought be; to be even as He is.

Ponder upon these things.

Half full or empty

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I feel impressed to discuss sin again (though I do not know why).

My wife read on Facebook the other day a parable about a teacher that brought to her class a glass and naturally the class thought that the teacher was going to discuss the theory of half full, half empty, discussion that was so frequently discussed in school.

She placed the glass on the table and then asked "How much does this weigh?"

The class was silent for a moment only to be answered several answers ranging from 8 oz. to 12 oz.Then said the teacher holding out the glass. "After 10 minutes how much will the glass weigh?" She gave not time for a response when she furthered the question about a longer and longer time. She then described the body and how it would respond to the weight of the glass the longer it was asked to hold it. She made a point to show the longer the body was asked to hold the weight that the more disabled the body became.

Sin is like this simple glass of water. At first the soul can bear the weight and it seems light and easy but with time the same sin that has remained unrepentant becomes cumbersome and a solid weight. Jacob Marley summed it up best by saying "I wear the chain I forged in life! I made it link by link and yard by yard! I gartered it on of my own free will and by my own free will, I wore it!"

You see the invisible weights that we create, the flaxen cords that we allow Satan to bind us with, might be small but given time they weigh us down and the weight becomes unbearable. We cannot allow sin to bind us down with the least degree of allowance. Anyone that tells you to lie and cheat a little and that it will do no harm (I am paraphrasing) is doing you more harm and adding to the harm that you are doing to yourself. All to often I have seen the Gentiles tell themselves that there is no sin and to push past feeling so that you can enjoy yourself in your pleasure but I am telling you that those feelings are safeguards put there by God himself and that we should heed to the safeguard and stay as far away from the safeguard well within the protection of the spirit that influences us. You know why you feel empty inside when you go to a place that you ought not be, its because where God cannot be you should not be.

So to end this rant, to be good and keep from even an ounce of sin, repent, remember your covenants and smile, enjoy life because that's what it’s there for. Be good to yourself and kind to others. Have a great day.