Desire and Belief

 In a sense, people believe what they want, or what they desire. I ask people why they go to church, and they say many reasons, social reasons, faith reasons, beliefs. But they all have something to do with what they believe. I think the beliefs are made to fit the desires, not the other way around. Each of the following are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and each has beliefs different than what the Church teaches because of their desires. 

Jonathan: I want to have a girlfriend, I want to feel good. I need an intimate relationship to feel close to someone. My needs are pressing so I believe that everyone is saved if they do what they feel is right, what feels good. 

Mariah: I can’t be married, I don’t think I can do what it takes to be one with my husband so I will choose to believe what fits my desires. I believe that there are no husband-wife special relationships in heaven; instead I believe that we are all one with God. 

Brett: I want to be able to drink alcohol. I don’t believe in the teachings of the Church, instead I believe that the Catholic Church is the true church because they have the authority passed down from the bishop of Rome. 

Logan: I want this life to be all there is, so I don’t believe in God. There is no God. Life randomly happened. Evolution created everything. “God” is the Big Bang! There is no right nor wrong. Everyone just fares according to their talents and abilities. No rules. No reason. No purpose. It all ends in oblivion. 

Lisa: I want to do what I want. I want to play tennis on Sunday. I want to drink alcohol with my friends. I want to drink coffee. I want freedom from the tyranny of a demanding God. I believe that everything is OK as long as you live a good life and don’t hurt other people. 

Hester: My husband died, I have no family, I need a community so I’m going to join the Church. I believe what the Church teaches, even though I don’t know much, because that’s the organization that fills my need for community. 

Defending Beliefs

Ultimately, if we desire things that are not of God, then we must change our beliefs according to our desires. People believe strange things. They don’t scrutinize or examine their beliefs closely. A person can believe anything without any evidence. God wants me to be happy in sin. Life could have come from a “primordial soup” through spontaneous generation. God could be permissive and anxious to give me what I want. Beliefs justify desires. 

Telling others about their irrational beliefs is an exercise in futility, or worse -- enmity. When I point out any inconsistencies in the beliefs of others, they do not see it, do not believe me, or they get angry. They don’t want to know. They are only looking for confirmation of what they believe, and they will accept any doctrine, no matter how improbable, that seems to support their beliefs. But, they will fight to the death to defend those same beliefs. 

My Own Heart

I wonder if my beliefs change according to my desires. Do I believe what is true, or do I change what I believe according to my own desires and then seek confirmation of what I believe? I would be living with confirmation bias instead of seeking truth that would change my beliefs. What do I desire?

I desire to know truth. If something isn’t true then it’s a lie, and lies are useless, or cause damage. I am more inclined to let people live in their lies, but I want to know their beliefs so I can see if there is any truth there.  I weigh them, analyze them, and incorporate the truth into my beliefs, spending lots of thought on how they fit, and then eschew what I see as untenable. Any who are also looking for truth would ask me what I believe and do the same. It's not that everyone comes to the same belief, but rather coming to many points-of-view or understanding of truth. I desire to know truth, and I want to know what others know. 

I desire to know God. In 1975, when I was 11 yeas old, I went with the Boy Scouts on a 50-mile hike in the High Sierras on the John Muir trail. After four days of hiking up the mountain, the evening before hiking over Glenn Pass we camped near a meadow. I went off by myself to the other side of the meadow and climbed up on some rocks, looking back toward camp, and looked up at the trail going over the pass between two snow-packed peaks that we would need to traverse the next day. The grass was green. The sun was low. The peaks were shining back the light from their steep snow-covered slopes. The lake in the meadow was glassy, reflecting. the scene above them. The air was crisp and clean. There was a transcendent beauty that touched my soul. I knew there was a God. He showed Himself to me that afternoon. I don't know how I knew, I just knew. I don't know what about the experience gave me that knowledge, but it wasn't an "I believe" experience, but rather "I know." 

Since that time I have sought to know Him better. In fifty years I have come a long way. I'm still seeking. I realize that all I know about God is a tiny fraction of what there is to know. I understand that every person can reveal something about God because we are children of God, therefore they each have something to teach me about Him. I know a few thousand... only nine billion left! :) I know there are teachings about Him that are true, and those that are false. I do not trust the judgment of others, but take what they are teaching and try to understand how that reveals God to me. I am sure Joseph Smith, Jr. was a prophet of God, and knew a lot more than he said. He had what I want. I believe St. Francis also knew God, as did the prophets and apostles of the Bible and Book of Mormon. There have been people in the world who have had what I seek: to know God. These are my mentors. 

The noetic experience comes rarely, with years in between, occasionally confirming the road I’m on. Writing in my journal and receiving inspiration. Watching a movie in the back of the car with my son. Reading a book and gaining understanding. Hearing a talk that changes my thinking. Praying. Reading scripture. I am always seeking Him, but most of the time I do not have a connection. Occasionally, the light goes on and God reveals Himself to me, not when I demand, want, or need it, but when I’m doing other things, living my life, not expecting anything. I receive confirmation of my desires. 

Desire --> Belief --> Action

Ultimately, no matter who it is, the underlying reason for belief is to allow me to get what I want. Everyone is there. I seek to know God so I believe in Him. I only want to know truth because anything that isn’t true is useless, at best. Because I desire these things I believe in God and ultimate truth so I seek them. My desires determine my beliefs just like everyone else. It isn’t different for me. There are not different kinds of people. Everyone is the same: we see what we believe, and we believe according to our desires. Everyone has confirmation bias. It’s the rule, not the exception. For one seeking truth they will change false beliefs when they discover a truth because that’s what they desire. Those who are seeking other things will also change according to their desires, but true or false may be irrelevant for them to get what they want. 

Jesus called it the heart. We can know what is in our hearts by what we want, desire, need, seek, hoard, or treasure: 

    For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21)

It is the heart that determines what we believe. We can believe anything that would seem to give us what we want, our treasure. Desires determine beliefs, and beliefs lead to actions. The difference is, those who desire God, or truth, are on a path that leads to Him, happiness, peace, joy, and eternal life. Every other desire leads to destruction. 

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matthew 7:13-14)

Seek and ye shall find

Those who find it are the few who are looking for it. They look for it because that is what they want, it is what they seek. It’s what they love. 

    I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17)

There is a difference. While it is true that everyone is subject to confirmation bias, we all find what we are seeking, yet what we seek is essential. Seeking eternal life is very different from seeking money, sex, or the comforts of the flesh. The path of life may require the sacrifice of those comforts. There will be confirmations along the way that the path is leading to eternal life. That is the way, and there is no other way. Those on other paths will also receive confirmation as they have comforts of the world. The confirmation is about the path you are on, not that you are on the path of eternal life. You cannot receive confirmation of a road you do not traverse. What we desire is so important. Our desires lead us to a place in the end because of what we believe. We act on those beliefs and show what we are, the treasure of our hearts. 

Conflicting Desires

It’s not so simple that we desire one or the other. Within each person are two conflicting desires. The heart doesn’t just seek a single thing, there are lots of things the heart wants. It wants all the things of God. It wants to be good. It wants happiness, peace, and joy. However, it also has physical desires, food, clothing, shelter, power, to be loved, honor, and glory. It’s like the story of The Two Wolves: 

An old Cherokee grandfather is teaching his grandson about life. He says, "A fight is going on inside me. It is a terrible fight, and it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil—he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, pride, superiority, and ego. The other is good—he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person too."

The grandson thinks about it for a moment and then asks, "Which wolf will win?"

The old man simply replies, "The one you feed."

So the bottom-line of the heart is that either the spiritual desires will dominate, or the temporal desires. That is the choice of life. If we choose to feed the temporal desires we must sacrifice the spiritual, and vice versa. People will deceive themselves that they can have both by changing their beliefs. They will tell themselves that they will seek the world for now, and then seek God once they have gotten all they want from the world. They will believe that God is merciful and will give them a pass because they had such important needs of the flesh. Some will completely shut down the spiritual desires, believing there is no God. Thus, they change their beliefs to fit their desires. 

Singleness of Heart

The resolution of the “two wolves” is singleness of heart. The wolf that wins is the only one left to determine what a person believes. The heart only has one desire. Some kill the desire for God and only have desires of the world. Few sacrifice the desires for the world and only have a desire to know God. When God is the one desire, and all others are subordinated to Him, we have “an eye single to the glory of God.” We are one. We have “no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” This is “a mighty change of heart.” The change is to no longer desire the things of the world, and the honors of men, but to only desire the things of God. 

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? Why is it that ye murmur among yourselves, saying, We cannot obey thy word because ye have not all these things, and seek to excuse yourselves, saying that, After all these things do the Gentiles seek. Behold, I say unto you, that your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. Wherefore, seek not the things of this world but seek ye first to build up the kingdom of God, and to establish his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. (JST Matthew 6:35-38)

The temptation is to seek the things of the world first, and then work on the things of the Spirit. Jesus is saying not to give in to that temptation. Seek God first, trust in Him that He will supply what you need of the world. It will require sacrifices. Many who are of the world must sacrifice all for the kingdom of God. 

The Sacrifice is Real 

The father of king Lamoni in the Book of Mormon offered Ammon half his kingdom to spare his life. However, when Aaron began to teach him the gospel, he said he would give up his entire kingdom. His desire was to know God, so he believed in the words of Aaron, and was willing to give up all that he had for this desire.

And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy. (Alma 22:15)

This king did sacrifice his kingdom and all that he possessed. He had to leave behind all he had and became a refugee among the Nephites. The sacrifice is real. Those whose desires are of the world, who go to church so God will give them what they want still have a worldly heart. There are great churches with tens of thousands attending every week because they tell people what they want to hear that is of the world. People think this is the way to have both, for me to “ask, and ye shall receive.” They are told to ask for money, property, and the glory of the world. They can pretend to be both of God and of the world, they can have it all. This is foolish, and it is a lie. Their heart is single to wickedness. They believe. They believe that God will give them what they want. They believe it with all their heart. They believe what they desire, then they act on that belief. The pure in heart of God do not seek the glory of man, but sacrifice it -- all of it -- like the king of the Lamanites. 

We sacrifice for our beliefs. We believe according to our desires. The sacrifice of all things of the world to know God, like Abraham, leads to a mighty change of heart, a pure heart, with an eye single to the glory of God. Ultimately, we either sacrifice the desire for God, or the desire for the world. 

Belief is not truth

What we believe is essential because that determines what we do. However, beliefs don’t change without a change of heart, a change in what we desire. People must be taught the truth of the gospel to wake up that desire in them. Those who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ will then act on that and sacrifice the wicked wolf. They will give up the world for their belief. They will see that all they believed before was not true. The world is a sphere. God is just -- and merciful to those who repent. The things of the world are temporary, and I want what is forever, or eternal. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. Only those who desire eternal life are going to believe, and then seek, and find the path. It’s not what you believe that is most important, it’s what you want. 

Spiritual Intelligence

 Humility

Humility is spiritual intelligence. 

The more intelligent one is, the faster they understand concepts. 

The more humble one is, the faster they can grasp spiritual things. 

I am stuck in the world, wanting the things of the world, spending my time on getting money and what I wanted. It was all about me and my wants, needs, and desires. That has been my world. The change for me does not come easily. It has taken me many years and lots of hardship, from my point-of-view, to begin to think about the things of God. I didn’t know I needed Jesus for salvation because I was looking at salvation from a temporal perspective: money, sex, the honors of men. Those were my salvation. That is what I desire, deep in my heart. 

Money

I worked hard for money. I would work. I would be in a profession where I am paid well. I would have plenty of money so I could have peace. I wouldn’t have to worry about anything. I would be content. I would have security. I would trust in the money to get me what I wanted in life, including all the other desires of my heart. I use the laws of God to get the things of the world. I pay tithing so the Lord would bless me with money. I am so completely corrupt! 

Honor

I was brilliant and nice to others so I could receive their accolades. I studied hard. I was going to be the best doctor. I was going to heal. I would be like Jesus: to heal the sick, raise the dead, cause the blind to see, and the lame to walk. I would be world-renowned. People would come to me for healing. I wasn’t like those other doctors who just follow protocols, but rather would take each individual and find answers to their problems. They would get better. I would get glory. My own glory. I would be honored. People would acknowledge my superiority. I would ask the Lord to glorify me with the gift of healing. 

Sex

I would do my wife’s bidding for sex. “Women give sex for love, and men give love for sex.” “Happy wife, happy life.” I would make my wife happy by giving her money. She would love me. She would give me what I want. I would find fulfillment. I would not be lonely. I would feel connected. She would be the heart of my home. She would honor me. I would use the laws of God to assume that I would get all I want. I would postpone sexual intimacy for marriage, and then assume I deserved, merited, or had a right to daily sex with my wife. I am entitled by my piety. I would take care of her so I could get what I want. 

Religion

In my thoroughly corrupt state, everything revolves around getting my needs filled. I would use people to get what I want, and I would use God to get what I want. People go to church to get what they want. People join a religion to get what they want. Religion is corrupt. It isn’t about discovering and doing the will of God, but rather getting the things of the world, in the name of God. “The natural man is an enemy to God.” All the people who are enemies of God are going to church, why? To have faith that the Lord will give them what they want. To have hope in the things of the world. To love God because they believe with all their hearts that He will fill their needs. To be dependent on God for the things they want of the earth. The “successful” pastors tell people what they want to hear. They build big churches with thousands coming every week to hear a message that God will give them the things of the world that they want and need. Likewise, people leave the church, and religion, for the same reason: it’s not filling my needs. The whole thing is corrupt. “They have all gone astray. None doeth good, no not one.” 

Dumb-Ass

I am not spiritually intelligent. I am a dumb-ass, in the real sense of that world. The ass is dumb because it is not obedient. It goes its own way, pushing against the master, being stubborn and hard. I wandered in the desert for decades, trying to get my own needs filled, crying to the Lord to give me what I wanted like a 2-year-old child wanting a cookie. The Lord has been kind to me. He actually gave me cookies, and let me see that it wasn’t satisfying. 

Most of the people I know are not humble. It is a rare trait. They come to God under the same terms I do -- to get what they want. Humility is so rare. It is so rare in my world. I don’t see it anywhere. Everyone is clamoring for “the great and spacious building” and nobody is seeking “the tree of life.” Nobody wants to hold the iron rod through the desert. Most never have a change of heart, always desiring the things of the world, always struggling with their own will against the will of God. They are not “easy to be entreated” by the Spirit of God. They remain spiritual children, dependent and rebellious. They are sad for not getting their needs filled so they turn to Him for solace. They are told He will give them all they desire of Him. “Ask, and ye shall receive.” They assume that applies to the things of the world. 

Humility

There are those who are spiritually intelligent. In the Book of Mormon, King Lamoni and His family were all super intelligent. His father said it best: “I will give away all my sins to know thee.” And he did. He was willing to give half his kingdom to spare his own life when threatened by the sword of Ammon, but was willing to give up his whole kingdom to know God, and he did. He made that sacrifice. All of his people were willing to lay down their weapons and be slaughtered, making the ultimate sacrifice of the world. They were all spiritually intelligent because they changed quickly and completely. This is spiritual intelligence. They got it quickly and changed completely. Later, we are told that all of them remained true and “never did fall away.” 

The reason I have wandered so long in the wilderness of Sinai, a barren wasteland with nothing to offer, is because I am not humble. I do not have spiritual intelligence. I am not just ignorant, but my heart is not in the right place. I don't get it. I did not get a mighty change of heart like Alma, Alma the elder, King Lamoni, and the people of Ammon because my heart was groping for the great and spacious building all the time I was supposedly “seeking the Lord.” 

Pure in Heart

My heart still isn’t changed. I tell myself it’s getting there, but I do not have a pure heart. My heart still desires the things of the world, the exact same things I have battled all my life. I must work against my own desires. I put off the natural man, but he’s still there in my heart, still wanting the things of the world, still seeking money, still desiring sexual fulfillment, and still working for the honors of men. I have hope that some day my heart will get it. Not that I will be spiritually intelligent, not that I will have humility, it’s already too late for that. I didn’t get it quickly. The fact is, I’m not spiritually intelligent. I’m in my later years, and I still don’t have a pure heart that only wants the things of God. My desires are changing, I like to think; I am mostly seeking my desires of eternity, but deep-down I suppress the same desires of the world. Dumb!

I lament my stupidity. I envy the intelligence of Paul, who turned quickly to the Lord and suffered His will in all things. I envy the Lamanites, whose hearts were changed in an instant because they were so spiritually intelligent. I am not intelligent. I am slow. Retarded. I takes me a long time because I am not “easy to be entreated.” After 40 years of wandering in the desert, I’m still in the same place. My heart holds on for the world and all that is in it. Stupid! 

What Comes After Stupid

More analysis. More tracking progress. More self-reflection. More selfishness. The one who is truly humble is just changed, different, having a pure heart, not thinking about himself, his wants, his needs, his desires -- these aren’t a part of his vocabulary. Just the fact that I can see what I am, see into the corruption in my heart, and tell myself I'm getting better, is evidence that I don't have humility. I tell myself... what? That I'm getting humble? Ha! I still am not intelligent. When people with low IQ scores are interviewed, they see themselves as more intelligent than others. Everyone considers himself above average! I'm so humble because I can articulate my pride, haughtiness, and rebellious heart. What an oxymoron! The fact that I’m selfishly thinking of myself, the fact that my heart still desires the things of the world, is so much evidence that I’m not spiritually intelligent, and I have no way out of such a box. I am born with my spiritual IQ, and I will die with it. I could be the publican who beats his chest and says, “have mercy on me, a sinner!” but that leaves me in the same selfish place. I’m lost!

The Way

There is one way out. Jesus. He is the way. I would have the gift of charity, which “seeketh not her own.” Forget myself. Stop the introspection. Not even so much as looking up to God, but bow my head in my filthiness. It would take a miracle. The people of King Benjamin saw that miracle. Their hearts were changed completely to where they had “no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.” If that is my desire, then I must pray as the people of King Benjamin, “And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.” (Mosiah 4:2) Jesus is the way, and there is no other way. I’ll never be spiritually intelligent, but He can make up for my low IQ. I need a miracle. 

The Path of Unity with God

As I move along the path closer to the Lord, I get sucked in.

He sucks me in.

I get enveloped.

I am being taken over.

I am getting lost.

I am dying the death.

It is a long, slow demise.

I am losing the battle of autonomy.

I am becoming part of Him.

I gradually die, one cell at a time.

I am afraid of losing myself.

I fear getting lost.

I will be annihilated!

 

I move forward in spite of fear.

I feel His love.

I am in awe that He wants me.

I am nothing compared to Him.

I am a single cell in His body.

I am just a little ant in an anthill in the middle of the desert.

He loves me first.

He suffers for me.

He sacrifices for me.

He controls the path.

I acquiesce.

 

I follow Him into the depths of humility.

I am not afraid.

I know Him.

I trust Him.

I love Him.

I desire to be one with Him.

I willingly give all to Him.

There is no fear in love.

I make the sacrifice of a broken heart.

I have a contrite spirit.

I let go.

I go willingly like a lamb to the slaughter.

I offer my whole soul as an offering unto Him.

I sacrifice my very self.

I give up.

I bestow my whole heart to Him.

I give in.

 

I cannot even keep a small portion of what is “me.”

I am lost.

I won’t hold back any part of me.

I give up everything to Him.

I let go of my will.

I release my heart.

I give up all my desires.

All that I need for life is sacrificed.

It is like death.

He takes it all.

All.

ALL!

 

He takes me into Himself.

He makes me a part of Him.

I am no longer “I” but “We.”

I no longer have a separate existence.

I am He.

I only exist in Him.

I am simply a branch on the Vine.

I cannot exist without Him.

I am completely enveloped by Him.

I am nothing.

Unity is all-encompassing.

I am no longer me.

I am dependent on Him.

It feels like I will be gone.

 

Then, a miracle!

I am still me!

I have not changed.

My parts are mine, and His.

I am alive.

I live.

I know.

I am known.

I am known completely.

I exist.

Nothing is lost.

I am complete in Him.

I am fulfilled because He knows me.

He knows all of me.

He takes all of me.

He loves all of me.

I am loved. 

 

Oh, what joy!

Happiness is so filling and fulfilling!

He is love!

He is full of grace!

He is mercy!

He has charity -- pure love!

I have pure love!

Oh, it is wonderful!

It is more awesome than can be imagined from the outside!

Ecstasy!

Nirvana!

 

I am part of something greater than all the Universe.

My being is bigger than me.

I am more than I am.

I exist in Him.

I live in Him.

I grow with Him.

I am one with Him.

We are many.

We are one.

We are infinite unity.

We grow forever.

We live forever.

We are living and increasing.

We have eternal life.

 

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

                        John 17:3

 

I know Him.

I am in Him.

I am part of Him.

I am one with Him.

I am He.

I am infinite.

 

He is power.

He is might.

He is dominion.

He is glory.

His strength is my strength.

 

He is my Father.

He protects.

He protects from harm.

He protects from evil.

He protects from misery.

He protects from loss.

In Him there is safety.

In Him there is peace.

 

He provides.

He provides all I need.

He provides nourishment.

He provides knowledge.

He gives good gifts.

He provides light.

He provides glory.

He provides wisdom.

He provides love.

He provides oneness and unity.

I am one with all that exists.

We are one.

 

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

                        John 17:20-26

 

The Plan of Gods

There is a plan. Nothing is random. Nothing. After God had created His spirit children, He gave them a plan whereby they could progress. The plan is given various names, depending on the part of the plan that the Lord would like emphasized. It is the plan of happiness to denote that those who choose to follow it will be happy, and not miserable. It is the plan of salvation to indicate that those who follow it are saved at every level they desire. It is the plan of redemption to explain that the Lord of lords, Jesus Christ, is anointed to redeem all mankind from their lost and fallen state; there is a way out through Him. The plan of restoration tells us that we can be restored to heaven whence we came if we follow the plan. It is a plan laid out for all to see. It is a plan whereby the children of God can become as He is. There are actually two separate, but interconnected, plans. One is for the children of God, and the other is for the Son of God. Agency is essential, because each part of the creation of a god is a choice.

 

The Path of the Children of God

The spirit children of God are in heaven with Him. They have existed forever as intelligences and have made choices to obey Him which allowed them to receive a spirit body. The next level is to gain a physical body like that of God, the Father. Growing up would require them to acquire knowledge and experience. To be able to have judgment they must experience all things, both good and evil. Good is allowed in heaven, but evil is not, so they had to leave heaven to experience evil. As they experience evil, they must pass the test of obedience to be able to return.

The plan is to take them from their innocent spiritual state to become as God is. They must learn to distinguish good and evil by their own experience. They must leave heaven where all things are provided for their comfort to be separated from God. The plan is a series of choices, like climbing a ladder. Those who make the choice to progress are offered more choices, and thus, they climb up the ladder. Some never get on the ladder. Some jump off the ladder, falling into hell. Most reach a stopping point and stay on their current rung. Few climb the ladder all the way to the top. We don’t have a lot of different choices to make at any given time, there is only one choice at a time. Stay or go. Keep what you have or sacrifice it to gain more. I must let go of my current position so I can move to the next rung. Those who move forward lose everything they have, willingly letting go, so they can move on to receive something greater.

 

First decision: stay with God, or be cast out of heaven.

The first choice is given in the premortal life. God gave each of us a choice that He declared “forbidden,” represented by the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Agency, or the ability to choose was given by having something that was forbidden by God. Now there was a choice. Before the “tree” was placed in the garden there was no choice, all we had was the tree of life.

Those who chose what was forbidden would be cast out, becoming evil, they cannot stay in heaven, they die. Those who did not eat the fruit stay as spirits in heaven, remaining clean, but they do not progress to become like God. They do not have a plan but remain as they are – they are done. They do not need a plan. They do not need a savior. They remain just. Those who transgressed the commandment of God are going to be cast out, and need a way back. They need a plan.

After the first decision there are two groups in heaven: 

1. Those who did not transgress the law and remain just and pure so they can stay in heaven as spirits. They are done, and no longer have any more decisions, but remain as they are forever. 
2. Those who transgressed the law, so they are no longer worthy to remain in heaven. Ironically, these are the ones who are able to move into the plan of salvation, and will have more choices.

 

Second decision: Choose between the plan of the Father or that of Lucifer

The next choice is given to those who are going to move forward. Before they leave His presence, the Father explains that they must leave, but He will provide a way back for those who desire it. He would make a place between heaven and hell that would be a place of probation, earth. He offered the plan of redemption whereby all could be redeemed if they would make covenants with Him to be obedient and to sacrifice the things of the world when they get there. Because they are on probation for disobedience, they will be tested specifically on their willingness to obey God. Those who agree to make the covenants with Him can come to earth and be born into the family of Adam, receiving a body, and pass through their probation.

The other option was given by Lucifer, a son of the morning, who offered an alternate plan, promising all to return without having to suffer. No covenant would be necessary. It was a lie, because being forced to obey takes away agency and prevents obedience, but many spirits believed, and would not make a covenant with the Father. Those who refused to make the covenant of obedience cannot be on probation, so they will not born in a body on the earth. They are cast out of heaven but have no way back. They are done, and are lost to God.

After these first two decisions, there are three groups:

1. Those who did not partake of the “forbidden fruit” who remain with God as just spirits in heaven forever.
2. Those who partook of the “forbidden fruit” who follow Lucifer and refuse to covenant with God.
3. Those who partook of the “forbidden fruit” who make a covenant with Elohim of obedience and sacrifice. These are the only ones who move on to the next step in the plan.

Third decision: Follow Christ or stay in the world.

Those who made covenants of obedience and sacrifice move to the next step in the plan. They are born on the earth into a physical body with no memory of what went on before. They have a newfound power because of that body, being able to feel and have power to manipulate the physical world.

Having no memory of what went before, they are able to make choices on their own without the direct influence of God. The next choice is to seek God, or not. Either they are going to keep the covenants made before they came, or not. Now that they have the power of emotions and creation, they can choose not to keep their promise. Instead, they can be worldly and do as they please. The world is a place of the contrast of good and evil. We have the equal ability to do either. We can choose to do good, or evil. We are enticed by both equally so our choices matter.

In the world, there is only one choice – to follow Christ, or not. If we follow Him, we will do as He says, and do what He did, including baptism. Baptism helps us to re-iterate the covenants made in the spirit by making a new covenant of obedience and sacrifice in the flesh. It is being born and receiving a new name, the name of Christ, signifying a willingness to die to all that is of the world to be part of the family of God.

Now there are four distinct groups of the children of God.

1. Those who did not “partake of the forbidden fruit” who remain with God as spirits in heaven forever.
2. Those who “ate the fruit” but follow Lucifer and refuse to covenant with God. becoming evil spirits forever. 
3. Those who transgressed the law in premortal life and make a covenant with Elohim of obedience and sacrifice, but do not keep those covenants when they come into the world.
4. Those who transgressed the law who make and keep their covenant in this life, following our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, into the waters of baptism.

 

Choice 3.1 a different path for the lost: Choose Jesus out of the world.

Those who choose not to be baptized are off the path and are done. They do not move forward or progress but remain outside of the kingdom of God, dead, or damned. They cannot endure the presence of the Father. However, because the Father loves His children so much, He has given them more choices so they don’t end up in darkness and misery. They have another path to choose. Their next choice is to be ethical and honorable towards others, or to only live for what they want. The choice is still the same, but with their eyes opened after death and separation from their bodies, they can choose to submit to the Lord, Jesus Christ.  They repent of their sins and are forgiven through the great and last sacrifice of the Lord, Jesus Christ. Those who do this will inherit the “terrestrial kingdom,” with less power than the celestial. They may have the presence of Jesus Christ, but are not ever able to be with the Father. They remain in this state forever, never having any further glory.

 

Choice 3.2: Confess Jesus Christ and bow to Him or suffer forever.

Those who do not choose to keep the covenants they made of obedience and sacrifice and will not repent of their sins even after they die, will suffer because of them. They will be buffeted by the evil spirits who follow Satan, suffering with the damned souls in hell. They continue to suffer until the last resurrection, or the final judgment, at which time they are given another chance at salvation. Either they can choose to submit to Jesus Christ, who will bring them into a kingdom of glory to end their suffering, or they can refuse to submit and be cast out with Satan and his angels to continue in hell forever. If they do not choose to bow the knee and confess that Jesus is the Christ, their Lord, then they are cast out of any connection with God. They have no glory. This last group are so proud and independent that they would rather rule in hell than serve in heaven.

At this point, there are six different groups of the children of God:

    1. Those who remain with God as spirits in heaven forever.

    2. Those spirits who followed Lucifer and are cast out of heaven.

-- Those who transgressed the law and made covenants with Elohim but do not keep those covenants. They receive a body, but are all damned to be what they are forever, never to increase in glory. They are off the path to eternal life. They are divided into three groups.

            3. Those who receive the testimony of Jesus Christ after they die, repent of their sins, and commit to serve Him end up terrestrial glory forever, never to increase.

            4. Those who refuse to repent after they die, suffer for their own sins, and then accept the offer of Jesus Christ, submitting to Him, receive a telestial glory forever.

            5. Those who refuse to submit to the Lord, Jesus Christ, and have no glory. They receive a body but end up in outer darkness with Satan and his angels forever.

    6. Those who “partook of the forbidden fruit” who make and keep their covenant in this life, following our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, into the waters of baptism. These are the only ones who move on. They receive a celestial glory. 

The fourth decision: The Temple Endowment

Going back to the path of those who are on the plan of salvation, those who get baptized are admitted into the kingdom of heaven, back into the presence of God, the Father. They now have a choice: they can make further covenants to live the laws of God, or not. Keeping the baptismal covenant is the gate to enter the kingdom of God, the Father, but moving forward requires further covenants. There are many who receive baptism, who feel that they have enough, and don’t move on. They don’t continue to learn and grow. They are finished. Those who do not make or keep these higher covenants stay in the lowest degree of the celestial kingdom.

The temple endowment is an outline of the path from our premortal life to our triumphant return to heaven to receive the glory of God. The endowment is a gift of power, the power to know where I am in the plan, and what the next steps are, and what needed to achieve eternal life. 

·       Washing from the blood and sins of the people among whom we live, including the murders such as wars, abortions, business, and other institutional human sacrifices.

·       Anointing to become kings and queens, priests and priestesses to God.

·       Clothing in the garment of the holy priesthood for protection from the destroyer. Clothing represents the physical body that covers, protects, and gives power to the spirit.

·       A new name, indicating birth into a new life, a new family, and a new existence.

·       Creation is the outline of the plan of the Gods. Obedience is creation.

·       The Garden, representing our premortal life and choosing to do what was forbidden, and then making a covenant with Elohim of obedience and sacrifice.

·       The world, or telestial kingdom, where we make the covenant of the gospel and receive the priesthood.

·       The terrestrial kingdom, where we make two covenants, to live the law of chastity, and the law of consecration, and where we learn to communicate with God.

·       The veil, where we are tested for our knowledge and faithfulness, being judged by the standard of Jesus Christ, and were we may be admitted into the kingdom of God through Him, if we pass the tests.

·       The celestial kingdom, a place of peace, rest, and freedom to move. 

    The fifth decision: The sealing 

        We are given the choice to covenant and become one with our spouse, the requirement to becoming one with God. It is only the man and woman together who make a complete human being with the ability to be as God is. 

        

      The last two decisions divide those who receive a celestial glory into three groups. In the celestial glory there are three degrees. Those on the lowest level are baptized and keep their covenant. Those in the middle degree have received the covenants of chastity and consecration, and keep these laws. Only those who are sealed to a spouse and keep their covenant of unity can be in the highest level of the celestial kingdom. Now, the children of God are divided into eight distinct groups who all differ in their level of glory:

1.          1. Those who remain with God as spirits in heaven forever.

    2. Those spirits who followed Lucifer and are cast out of heaven forever.

-- Those who transgressed the law and made covenants with Elohim but do not keep those covenants, so they fall off the path. They are divided into three groups: 

            3. Those who receive the testimony of Jesus Christ after they die, repent of their sins, and commit to serve Him end up terrestrial glory forever.

            4. Those who refuse to repent after they die, suffer for their sins, and then because of their suffering they are humbled enough to bow the knee and confess that Jesus is the Christ will receive a telestial glory forever.

            5. Those who refuse to submit to the Lord, Jesus Christ, and have no glory. They receive a body but end up in outer darkness with Satan and his angels forever. This includes all those who fall, such as those who deny the Holy Ghost. These are the sons of perdition. 

    6. Those who fell in the garden but make and keep their covenant in this life, following our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, into the waters of baptism, but do not move forward to receive covenants in the temple. This is their end; they do not increase. They are damned in the kingdom of God as separate, single servants to the gods forever. 

    7. Those who are fallen, but follow Christ, are baptized, who make and keep covenants in the temple, including chastity and consecration, but are not sealed to a spouse. They have a higher glory in the middle degree of the celestial kingdom, but this is the end of their glory, they are damned, stopped, and cannot move forward to eternal life.

    8. Those who fall before mortality and complete their probation by making and keeping all the covenants and being sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise to their spouse become kings and queens. This is the only group that continues on to receive all heights and glories, moving on to the next plan, creating and growing forever. Only these are the gods. They have fulfilled the plan. Indeed, the plan was created for them. Jesus Christ suffered and died for them. These are His friends for whom He sacrificed. They are the reason for the whole project. The reason everything else exists is so these few can receive eternal life. 

 

This is the path. It accounts for all the children of God from the beginning except for One. The endowment in the temple only outlines this path to eternal life, the highest degree of the celestial kingdom, for everyone except Jesus. Those who drop out along the way are simply not on the path and are not included in the ceremony, except for the inclusion of Lucifer-Satan as the necessary opposition to the plan, the other choice. We follow Adam and Eve on the path to eternal life as they make each decision correctly to move on to the next level. Each decision they make is the right one to keep them on the path. By doing as they did, all can fulfill their ultimate destiny of eternal life and exaltation through the mercy and grace of the Lord, Jesus Christ. 

 

The Path of the Lord

The only other known path through this part of life is traversed by only One of the children of God: the Lord, Jesus Christ. He is the only One to be on His path. He did it alone. His path is overall the same, in that it starts in heaven with Elohim, goes to the earth with all the others, and ends in celestial glory, but some of the choices along the way are different, and, most important, He chooses to obey God in all things.

 

First decision: Do the will of God, choosing to be the Savior of all.

When God presented the plan to His children, Jehovah stood up and volunteered to be the Savior, and give the glory, or the entire work, to God.

 

Second decision: Do the will of God by not partaking of the forbidden fruit.

He does not take of the forbidden fruit. He remains just, pure, and clean in the sight of God. He is not cast out of heaven.

 

Third decision: The covenant of obedience and the law of sacrifice.

Just as we are required to make covenants of obedience and sacrifice with the Father so we can go to earth and receive a body, the Lord makes a covenant with Elohim that He will be obedient and sacrifice all that He is commanded by the Father. He came only to do the will of the Father, as He stated. 

 

Fourth Decision: Come to earth.

He did not take the fruit, so He is not cast out of heaven like everyone else. We are forced, or cast out of heaven to earth, but He came willingly, out of love, to save His siblings who are lost and fallen. He is born into a body to suffer the pain and deprivation of being mortal, including separation from God despite never having transgressed a law of God.

 

Fifth Decision: Resist temptation

He suffers temptations in the flesh, but keeps His covenants, and gives in to none of them, remaining pure and clean before God. He kept His covenant of obedience made before the world was created.

 

Sixth Decision: Baptism and other covenants

Jesus submitted to the will of the Father in being baptized and receiving other covenants on the Mount of Transfiguration.

 

Seventh Decision: Suffering the wrath of God

He keeps His promise to suffer the pains of a damned soul, suffering the will of the Father, descending into hell to know eternal torment. 

Eighth  Decision: Death

He allows Himself to be slain by wicked men to die on the cross. He had power over death, allowing Himself to die. 

 

Nineth Decision: Resurrection

Being the Son of God, He has power over death, and has the authority to resurrect His body to become a living soul forever. 

 

Tenth Decision: Judgment

He did it right. He kept His promises. He did not stray but stayed on the path. He can go back to heaven triumphant, never having transgressed the commandment, but still experiencing evil. He descended below all things and can rise above all things. He is judge over all. He is the standard by which all are judged. Though He was not on the same path, He has experienced the entire spectrum of good and evil. He knows. His friends will know Him and want to be with Him, while His enemies will not be comfortable in His presence. He loves His enemies, and blesses them with grace. The judgment brings us to the connection between His plan, and ours.

 

Intersecting the Plans

The path of the Lord, Jesus Christ, is unique, very different from ours, but parallel in place. He did the path that the Father gave Him. He did it alone. He was the only One who did the will of the Father in all things from the beginning. Thus, He is the only one worthy to return to God, so there is no other way for anyone else to return to God. He is exalted on high of His own merits, but every other child of God is unworthy without Him. We all need Him. His worthiness and descent into hell allows Him to bring all those on probation back to heaven with Him.

He suffered unjustly. He was not disobedient. He remained just and pure, yet He suffered as though He were guilty, thus creating a debt to justice. His justice is our mercy. The plan was carried out perfectly. We only have a plan because of Him. The choices included in every step of this plan are only possible because of Him. Life is only available to anyone because of His sacrifice. He brings those who believe in Him to the presence of God. He is the advocate for all, giving grace to everyone, and mercy to all who accept His offer.

Taking up His body after being dead for three days is a power He possessed because He is the Son of God. His resurrection allows Him to give others the authority of resurrection. It is a gift given to all who were born on the earth into a body. This is the only part of salvation that is received by those who are cast out and lost to outer darkness. 

Without His plan, we would have no plan at all. We all would be cast out with Lucifer and just be gone forever. Only the angels who did not “partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” would remain just spirits, unable to know good and evil, and never becoming like God. These do not need Jesus to justify them because they remain just in themselves. They don’t need salvation, but are damned to be as they are forever for they cannot move forward, but remain innocent, naïve, or ignorant. They do not know good and evil and therefore cannot be as the gods. Thus, there would be only two groups: the spirits who stay with God in innocence, and those who know good and evil who are cast out of heaven. The plan allows us to experience good and evil, and still be justified in heaven.

The only purpose of the plan is eternal life

Because Jesus Christ fulfilled His plan, each child of God is empowered to learn good and evil by their own experience, and still return to God, being like Him, through a series of choices, one at a time. But, the choice is always the same: Stay where I am, or give up what I have and move on to the next step. If I choose to continue in the plan I am given another choice, and then another. At every juncture a majority drops out of the plan, choosing to stay where they are. With each choice, few choose to continue in the plan because they will not let go of what they have. Thus, in the end, a tiny minority receive eternal life, to become gods, rulers, kings and queens, priestesses and priests who move on to greater heights and glories. It would be imagined, then, that even in the highest heaven, those who move on may have such choices to move on while the majority stay behind.

This plan is for each of the children of God to have eternal life. Jesus did not die for the many who drop out and are damned. He did not suffer even for those who return to the celestial glory in the lower degrees. His mission is to fulfill the plan of the Father, which is eternal life. Jesus chose His path only for those who complete all and choose life. The others receive the benefits of the sacrifice He made so they could choose. He enables them to choose damnation, but that isn’t His purpose. The heavens weep over all those who are lost, and rejoice over all those who choose God to be their Father. Because of the love of Christ, some form of salvation is universal for all the children of God, but the purpose of the plan is for the few who gain eternal life. The purpose is not to create servants, but peers. He did it for His friends, not for the many who choose damnation.

 

Alternative Plans

God’s plan includes a savior to atone for the sins of His children. This savior justifies the rest, and gives them choices to make so they can receive the level of glory that they desire. The problem is that so many are lost on the way. Each choice creates many who are damned, and few who move on, leaving very few who receive eternal life, the purpose of the plan. I wonder if those few are worth the suffering created, not just in the Lord, Jesus Christ, but in all those who are lost who are damned forever, and who suffer for their sins or suffer in hell with the devil and his angels.

I think precisely for this reason, Lucifer offered another option. Lucifer’s plan takes away agency, forcing compliance and obedience to bring everyone back. This seems like it averts a lot of suffering, and many believed it was more reasonable than the plan of God, however, it cannot produce gods. Nobody could have eternal life if they are not free to choose. This plan only creates servants, robots who are programmed to do what they do. They are not free. They cannot choose. They are cooks who can only go by a cookbook, not chefs who can create something new. This is not life, but death and damnation. Thus, Lucifer’s plan is not a real option. 

Maybe there could be another possible plan. What if there was no tree of the knowledge of good and evil, or if it was there, nobody took the fruit. Everyone remains just. Then, everyone can do the plan of Jesus. Everyone would choose to follow the counsel of God, and come to earth to receive a body and experience evil, but not succumb to it. We could experience the suffering of hell and understand guilt, shame, loss, separation from God, and all the effects of evil the way Jesus did. Then, all would know, and remain just and pure to return to God. This would truly be the way to follow Jesus, to actually traverse the same path, make all the same decisions, and be worthy to return, as He did. There would be no need for a savior because all would remain children of God, either in the spirit or in the flesh. This overcomes the obstacle of justice because the choice would be to stay as spirits In heaven, or go to earth and suffer evil. If I make a choice to suffer, then there is no debt to justice in my suffering. Everyone remains just so none are lost, not one. 

If God had made such a plan there would only be two groups: those who choose the path of suffering and gain eternal life by their own righteousness, and those who choose not to come to earth and experience evil and gain a body, but remain as spirits in heaven. However, if there really is agency, meaning each person is free to choose, and they are tempted by evil, then sometimes they will choose the wrong thing. Then, they are left out of heaven forever with no hope of salvation. Thus, there would be a much larger group that are not saved because they could not withstand evil, making bad choices and being damned in hell, cast out of heaven forever. Those who made one single little mistake are never allowed back into heaven and there is no place for them so they remain in outer darkness. 

Thus, there may be other ways to accomplish parts of the goal, but the way God chose has many advantages. Really, though, the gift of agency, which allows for individual differences and choices would require a fall, probation, and a savior. We owe a debt of gratitude to our Savior because He makes all things possible for us. We can choose, experience evil, and return to the Father justified and clean with experience that gives us wisdom and judgment to be like Him. I think there is no other way.

 

There are no second chances

It is often said that God is “a god of second chances,” but that is not the case. He is no respecter of persons. Everyone has the exact same chance. It is only our own decisions that make us who we are, or that make His grace available. Nobody has more grace, or mercy, than another. The “second chance” is just a different part of salvation. The full meaning of salvation is to receive the gift of eternal life, the greatest of all the gifts of God. Each person is presented with exactly the same choices to receive this gift. There is no “second chance” at this. Either you are on the path, or not. If you choose to stay with what you have, then you are off the path, and only by choosing to go back on the path could that possibly happen. There is a time granted for repentance, which is this life. Once we come to judgment, we no longer have the option.

When those who die are given another chance to accept Christ after this life it is not a second chance to receive a celestial glory, but rather to be saved from suffering, or to be saved from hell in a lower kingdom of glory. While these are forms of salvation, it is not a celestial glory, nor the possibility of eternal life. No one can go back and make a different choice than the one they made. Once a choice is made, it is forever! 

Those who are taught the gospel and receive it after they die but before the resurrection may receive eternal life, but, this is actually their first chance as they had not heard of Christ or had the opportunity for baptism while they were alive – they still only have one. All will have their time to decide, but once they decide, it is forever. Those who did not take the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil will never have the chance again. Those who chose to go with Lucifer and not make a covenant with God will never ever be able to be born into a body. Those who receive a terrestrial glory will never see the Father. Those who receive a telestial glory will never know Jesus Christ. Those who are not sealed to a spouse by the Holy Spirit of promise will never receive eternal life. Never. The choice has been made. The option is gone. It is what it is – forever.

Though we have always existed, the opportunities to move forward are limited. Only by choosing the path outlined by God can anyone increase. Eternal life means growing forever. There is a beginning, but no end. There is a bottom, but no top. Temperatures can be absolute zero, but reach infinite highs. Relative speeds can be zero but without a top speed. Likewise, we start from being the smallest individual intelligence on the bottom rung of the ladder but can continue to grow forever. By becoming one with God, we gain the gift of eternal life, E Pluribus Unum.