Saturday, November 7, 2015

Blind Obedience?



"...none are required to tamely and blindly submit to a man because he has a portion of the Priesthood. We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark that they would do anything they were told to do by those who preside over them—even if they knew it was wrong. But such obedience as this is worse than folly to us. It is slavery in the extreme. The man who would thus willingly degrade himself should not claim a rank among intelligent beings until he turns from his folly.
A man of God would despise this idea. Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority have taught that such obedience was necessary...
When Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves.
(Franklin D. Richards, Millenial Star, Archive Volume 14, Number 38, p. 594-595)

What a pity it would be if we were led by one man to utter destruction! Are you afraid of this? I am more afraid that this people have so much confidence in their leaders that they will not inquire for themselves of God whether they are led by Him. I am fearful they settle down in a state of blind self-security, trusting their eternal destiny in the hands of their leaders with a reckless confidence that in itself would thwart the purposes of God in their salvation, and weaken that influence they could give to their leaders, did they know for themselves, by the revelations of Jesus, that they are led in the right way. Let every man and woman know, by the whispering of the Spirit of God to themselves, whether their leaders are walking in the path the Lord dictates, or not. 
(Brigham Young, Discourses of Brigham Young, p. 135)

Do not, brethren, put your trust in man though he be a bishop; an apostle, or a president. If you do, they will fail you at some time or place, they will do wrong or seem to, and your support be gone, but if we lean on God, He never will fail us. When men and women depend on God alone, and trust in Him alone, their faith will not be shaken if the highest in the Church should step aside. They could still see that He is just and true, that truth is lovely in His sight, and the pure in heart are dear to Him. Perhaps it is His own design that faults and weaknesses should appear in high places in order that His saints may learn to trust in Him and not in any man or men! Therefore, my brethren and sisters, seek after the Holy Ghost and his unfailing testimony of God and His work upon the earth. Rest not until you know for yourselves that God has set His Hand to redeem Israel, and prepare a people for His coming.
(Pres. George Q. Cannon, Deseret Weekly, March 7, 1891. pg. 322, No. 11 vol. XLII, a discourse given in Manti, Sanpete County, Utah on the evening of February 15, 1891).

This was good counsel then. It is good counsel today.

Ironically, if you follow this wise counsel, you may find yourself excommunicated from the Church. If you don't follow it, you may find yourself cut off from God. (PS. Don't be like those other lemmings who find out there are problems within the Church and then start trying to get themselves excommunicated as a "badge of honor" either...)

You be obedient to God. Listen to men, evaluate what they say, but in the end it is you knowing God and following His voice alone that will save you in the eternities.

The main point is, do not follow ANY man, I don't care what position he holds. You follow the voice of God to you - even if it tells you to go the opposite way. Obviously, make sure you know God's voice from your own thoughts, those of familiar spirits, and just plain peer pressure. If God orders something, he's going to pay for it. If someone says they have a message from God and it actually is, then God will give you that seal of His approval.

Laying Hold on the Truth

I don't care if comes from a Prophet on a pulpit or a bum on the street - if it's true, it is part of Christ's Gospel and I want it.

I'm not a big Brigham Young fan, but he once said something I thought was poignant:

The Gospel that I have embraced comprehends ALL truth. “How much of it is true?” All of it. “How much does it embrace?” All the truth that there is in the heavens, on the earth, under the earth; and if there is any truth in hell, this doctrine claims it.
It is all the truth of heaven, the truth of God, the life of those that live forever, the law by which worlds were, are, and will be brought into existence, and pass from one degree or one state of being to another, pertaining to the exaltation of intelligence from the lowest to the highest state. This is the doctrine that the Latter-day Saints believe, whether they realize it or not. (Brigham Young, Journal of Discourses 16:160 emphasis mine)
  Notice he said, "If there is any truth in hell, this doctrine claims it."?  Now, he didn't say we necessarily need to GO THERE to get it. But he wasn't afraid of it. 

Why are we afraid to discuss things?  Not just regular things, but the difficult things - like church history, policies, and programs that are problematic.

People have different ideas all the time about the what they think is the truth.  I have found if people can sit down and discuss things through and "reason together" seeking to get to the truth and not just be stuck on opinion, there would be a lot less contention and fighting in this world.  Plus we would have be the means of drawing nearer to the truth, which means drawing nearer to the Words of Christ, which means drawing nearer Christ himself, which means salvation is within reach.

It's been a while...

So, it's been over a year since I posted anything. Why, you ask?

I think because there was a lot of "blow-back" from my first post on spiritual fire insurance (tithing) that people didn't like or didn't understand and was (for many people) an attack on a "sacred-cow" that they didn't want to think about.

So, I've made this past year a focus on God and building an intimacy and relationship with Him. Not that I haven't for more than 25 years, but with the additional insight of striving to become one with my wife and subsequently my children, I have learned that building Zion (first in my marriage) takes more than just a tertiary study, fasting, meditation/prayer and attending church on Sunday - a lot more.



The process has been extremely hard and difficult. The adversary seems to work harder, the resistance and opposition greater. Many times I have felt like I wanted to give up. Just walk away. Just follow my own baser instincts. But I have had too many experiences with God as a personal being - some of which I will share here so my family can have a record - that if I were to do that, I would be cutting off my One True Constant in life. I would have to say it is midnight while standing in the sun at noon day - the ultimate rejection. I didn't want to do that. I choose Him and He chooses me.

That's where my strength has come from when dealing with the challenges that come in marriage, family, work and all my relationships. I just have been working on my relationship with God and it has come to permeate and bless and help my most important other relationships.

So hopefully, as I begin to repost here - whoever reads this will perhaps see as I try and be as articulate and genuine as possible with my insights and experiences - an authenticity and openness/vulnerableness that can be a blessing to your life (I know I'm going from 3rd person to 1st person here...bear with me please). I desire to expound on the scriptures and share spiritual and personal insights I have received.

This is primarily for my children - hoping that a record of my failures and successes can be a blessing to them in their lives or yours (whoever you are).

Think about it from that perspective - written from dad, who has your highest interests in mind, a desire for you all to interact with, engage with, and embrace this God I know as Abba ("Dad"). Nothing is worth more in this world than reconnecting with Him and being in His presence everyday, all the time. He is real. I testify because I have seen His face. He is real. He lives.

More to come.