Building a Kingdom in Heaven

David was anointed to be king as a young boy, but it was many years before he was crowned. He had to build his kingdom. He had to learn who he was. He had to fight Goliath, and lead the armies of Israel. He had to fight the enemy within, even to depose the reigning king Saul. He had to build his kingdom of the world. Each of these steps is required to fulfill that anointing. When he was ready, he was crowned king. 

In the temple men are anointed to become kings unto God. Like David, every young man gradually becomes a king in the process of growth. As a young knight, heading out on my first adventure to be a missionary in Venezuela, I was anointed to become a king. I had to learn what that meant, and build my own kingdom. I start out as a page, progress to a knight, then I become a prince, and finally a king. As a king, I can grow to be an elder, a wise king. Every man can become a king. 

Becoming a King

The process of becoming a king requires the anointing then growing up. A young page becomes a knight, going out on adventures, and learning about the world. The knight becomes a prince when he settles down and builds a kingdom, eventually becoming a king. He creates a kingdom that people will want to be a part of. 

Paradoxically, a king is determined by those who are subject to him, but at the same time his subjects do not make him a king. Rather, they choose him to be their king. Also, a man cannot become a king by force; a king cannot demand loyalty. People subject their will to him because they want him to rule over them, but he may not want to rule. 

I had a friend who was the most famous man in the world because he had a talent to be able to tell people what they wanted to hear. He had a kingdom that many people wanted to be a part of. They came to his house from all over the world just to see him. They wanted him to be their king. However, He did not want them in his kingdom. The gates were only opened for invited guests. He only wanted to have close friends and his own children, not strangers. He kept out everyone who wanted to be dependent -- they wanted something from him, they wanted him to give to them. He did not want to provide this, except at a distance. He was a reluctant king, “the king of pop.” He was avoiding becoming a king by hiding. Having many who wanted to be subjects did not make him their king. 

Kings protect and provide. There exactly four reasons for people to choose a king: 

1. Strength -- mental, physical, emotional, spiritual or other strengths make people feel secure that he can protect them.

2. Riches -- he has lots of stuff so he can provide for them. 

3. Popularity -- he has a lot of other followers.

4. Love -- he loves the people in his kingdom. 

These are not exclusive, a kingdom may contain all four qualities. The king decides what he will provide for those in his kingdom. Most find it easy to build their kingdom on their talents, wealth, political power, or popularity. These may endure for a while, but everyone leaves when the money, power, or popularity is gone. 

Ultimately love is the greatest foundation on which to build a kingdom. Love endures. The other reasons are fickle and do not last. The things of the world can be lost. The stories of ancient kingdoms are filled with examples of those with love who build a very strong kingdom, and then losing love and degrading into nothing. King Solomon was a wise king, an elder, who built a rich and powerful kingdom, only to have it destroyed by his successors who wanted wealth and power without love. 

Families are kingdoms that are often based on love, and may not have any of the other qualities. A family my have little of this world and still be loving. The father still protects and provides. The mother directs the work of the family, taking care of each other. This is the reason that families are essential to the existence of a society. Without love, everything degrades into political power, wealth, or popularity. Taking care of people is hard work that requires a sacrifice. Only love brings stability to a kingdom, or nation. The Proclamation on the Family closes with this chilling prophecy: 

Further, we warn that the disintegration of the family will bring upon individuals, communities, and nations the calamities foretold by ancient and modern prophets. (THE FAMILY, A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD; The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; 1995)

Jesus Christ, the King

Jesus came into the world, like all men, to build His kingdom of love. He grew up as all men do, going from a page to a knight, to a prince, and then becoming a king. As He grows, He learns who He is, and what He can do, both the ways of the world, and of God. 

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man. (Luke 2:52)

We only have a record of Him as a Prince, building His kingdom as He he began preaching the gospel. In time, He became a King. The people of Jerusalem hailed Him as their King as He rode into the city on a donkey. Later, He told Pilate about His kingdom. 

Then Pilate entered into the judgment hall again, and called Jesus, and said unto him, Art thou the King of the Jews? Jesus answered him, Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it thee of me? Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done? Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice. (John 18:33-37)

His kingdom is a true kingdom, based only on love; it is not of this world. His kingdom is an eternal kingdom, a kingdom of God. 

He is not creating a kingdom for Himself; He is creating His kingdom for His Father. He will take His kingdom that He has made with His blood, sweat and tears, and He will give all the glory of it to His Father, as He promised in the beginning. 

But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever. (Moses 4:2)

His path is known. He will organize His kingdom and put everyone in his place before presenting His kingdom to the Father, and then sit on a throne in His Father’s kingdom. 

...the fulness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work; When he shall deliver up the kingdom, and present it unto the Father, spotless, saying: I have overcome and have trodden the wine-press alone, even the wine-press of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God. Then shall he be crowned with the crown of his glory, to sit on the throne of his power to reign forever and ever. (Doctrine and Covenants 76:106-108)

His kingdom is true. It includes all men. It will last forever. It is not finished, He is still building. His kingdom includes every one of God’s children who come to earth throughout time. Jesus came to the world to build a kingdom with His love, gathering all who will unto Him, and then He eventually will bring them all together and present it to His Father. This is the pattern He has outlined. 

Building My Kingdom

I likewise come to earth to build a kingdom, following Jesus Christ, to create a kingdom in the world. My kingdom is uniquely mine because of my unique talents and personality. I need to take what is given to me, such as talents and blessings, and enlarge them, using my gifts as a springboard to find what is my own in the world. I must use my unique pattern of gifts to bless others, gathering them into my kingdom. If I don’t take what I am given and make a kingdom in the world, then what I had will be taken from me and given to another, as Jesus taught in the parable of the talents. 

For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him. (Luke 19:26)

PAGE

I started out as a page, wanting to be a knight. 

When I left home I was a page to Eddy, and he taught me to go out on adventures and be a knight. 

KNIGHT

I became a knight when I served a mission, starting my adventures. 

I did not marry Annette because I was still a knight, and was not ready to commit. I did not have means to support a family. 

PRINCE

Once I finished college, I was done with adventure, I was ready to settle down. I became a prince while in Medical School and got married. 

I started building my kingdom in the world. 

I built businesses. 

I built houses. 

I built a family. 

I got sidetracked when my world crumbled because of loss of my home, business and family through a divorce. 

I got a new business and a new home and family and started building again. I was still a prince, but now I was an old prince. 

KING

Over time, I took what was given to me and made it my own, becoming a king.

I am now a king. I have a kingdom. I know who I am. I know where I belong. I know what I have, what is mine, and what I can give. 

I have no queen. (My “queen” is still a princess. I only hope that she may someday want to be a queen in my kingdom.)

Those who want to be in my kingdom are welcome; they can choose. 

I nurture them and provide for everyone in my kingdom. 

I love everyone in my kingdom. 

ELDER

As a king, I continue to progress, becoming a wise king, like Solomon -- an elder. 

A king has dependents, but an elder is a mentor to help others become kings and queens. 

As an elder, I provide wisdom instead of goods and services. They are the pages, knights, princes and princesses that are in my kingdom. I am their king. They are in my kingdom. They are my subjects. They obey me and listen to me. I teach them to help them to develop and mature. 

My kingdom is mine. I possess it. I have power over it. I am ruler over it. 

I am. 

I am sovereign. 

As a king, I exist independent of all other entities. 

I am independent of any kings of the world. 

I am independent of God, the King of kings. 

I have the right to do anything I want in my kingdom. I rule. I reign. I make the laws. I expect obedience. Those who want to be in my kingdom must obey -- they are part of my kingdom because they want to follow me. I know who I am, and what I am. I possess myself. 

Subjects with a wise king are not exclusively loyal to a king of the world. They may have many kings of the world. Ultimately, all are subjects of the King of heaven, where our loyalty lies. 

This is my worldly kingdom. I must become a king in the world. I must possess myself. I cannot be a dependent page, knight, or prince in someone else’s kingdom. I have my own kingdom. My kingdom is of this world. It contains all that I possess, things, and people of the world. Like every other king, I collect things and people. They are part of my kingdom. My patients are part of my kingdom. My children are part of my kingdom. My friends are part of my kingdom. The pages, knights, and princes are part of my kingdom. I must set in order my own kingdom. I become a king over all I influence. 

Virtual Kingdom

My kingdom is based on money (I provide for my family), talents (I am able to help people with their health), and popularity (people come to me by referrals from others). It is made up of the people and things of the world. While these are not eternal, it is important for me to use them wisely and faithfully. They are my test to see what I can receive for myself in eternity. Jesus explains that we must use what we have been given in the world faithfully if we are to receive the things of eternity. 

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man’s, who shall give you that which is your own? (Luke 16:10-12)

Being a king, I now have a kingdom that I have built with my blood, sweat, and tears. I possess myself, people, and things of the world. I have taken the talents I was given and built up a significant increase, but I know it is all virtual. It will all crumble to the dust, eventually. Everyone in my kingdom will die. I possess only things of the temporal world, in time, but not in eternity. Even if I were to build a large corporation and billions of dollars, with a foundation, schools, libraries, homes, lands, and all the things of the world. I may have buildings and streets named after me, but all of this will crumble. It will fall. It is nothing. It is virtual, not real. The Lord explained the difference: 

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and thieves break through and steal; But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (3 Nephi 13:19-21)

I have acquired the things of the world which will be corrupted and stolen. The things of the world are just metaphors for what is real, it’s only temporary. The next step is to sacrifice my virtual kingdom for a real one.  

Sacrificing My Kingdom

I can have a permanent, eternal kingdom if I do the same thing He did. He gave His kingdom to the Father to become a king in the kingdom of God. In the same way, I follow Him by sacrificing my virtual kingdom to Him. The king of the Lamanites explains the requirement for every man who is a king, who desires to be born of God and receive His Spirit: 

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)

He eventually did forsake his kingdom to live among his former enemies who protected him from his own people. Likewise, I must give up the virtual if I want to have what is real. Jesus explained that even those I love of my own family must be sacrificed. 

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matthew 10:34-37)

This is hard to give up my own family. I know. At one point, my first wife gave me the option to choose the Lord or my wife and children, as they had decided to be in the world. I chose the Lord, and they left me alone. 

I choose what is real over the virtual stuff that surrounds me. I present all that I have and all that I am to Him and He says: 

Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. (Luke 19:17)

Being faithful in very little refers to the virtual things of the world. To get an eternal kingdom, I must give all I have in the world to the Lord. I make Him my Lord and my King. He then gives me a portion in His true kingdom. The King of eternity is going to give kingdoms, or authority over the things of eternity. This is a forever kingdom. This is what lasts. It will not break down, or be lost, but will continue to increase. 

Becoming a King unto God

Once I have sacrificed my virtual kingdom, I can immediately begin to build a true kingdom based on love that will live, or grow, forever. Now I am starting over -- again! I gave up all I have to God, my entire kingdom, so I must start over, building a kingdom in the kingdom of God, filled with treasures in His kingdom. 

Do I start as a page, and find a knight to follow?

Do I start as a knight, seeking adventures and knowledge?

Do I start as a prince, like I have done twice before in building a kingdom of the world?

No, I start as a king, growing my kingdom and bringing others in. I was anointed to become a king unto God. I have enough of the things of the world, more than I need. I also have a knowledge of God. I have been building up knowledge that I can use to help others to come to Him. I know Him; He is my King. I teach of Him. I invite others to come to Him. My kingdom will be filled by those who desire to know Him. and serve Him. 

As Jesus stood before Pilate and explained that He was a King, and that His kingdom is not of this world, so I will build a kingdom filled with the riches of eternity. A kingdom of truth is built with people, the children of God. They are what constitutes “treasures in heaven.” 

Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him. And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance. And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! Wherefore, you are called to cry repentance unto this people. And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!  (Doctrine and Covenants 18:10-16)

The most valuable things to have in my kingdom are not things, but people. I sacrifice things to win people. They want to be part of my kingdom because I love them by bearing their burdens, mourning with them, feeding the hungry, visiting the sick, and taking in the homeless. 

Building a kingdom that is not of this world is difficult because we never know the extent of our kingdom. We may influence others to come to Christ and not know it. Jesus commended the righteous, but they didn't know what they had done to warrant a kingdom in heaven. 

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  (Matthew 25:34-40)

The blessed who inherit a kingdom prepared for them before the world was created do not know the extent of their kingdom. They were building a kingdom with treasures in heaven by giving to others. The only enduring kingdom is built on love, especially charity, the pure love of Christ. A kingdom of eternity is not just given, it is built like any other kingdom. However, a true kingdom is made up of people who come to Christ and glorify God. My eternal kingdom which I present to the Lord is comprised of people that I bring to Him -- His children whom He redeems by His love. The more people I influence to come to God, the greater is my kingdom. My kingdom will be part of His. I am a king. He is my King. This is why He is the King of kings. 

On the Road Again

As I drive down the freeway, I encounter many different cars. I see what they are doing, and I try to avoid collisions with them. Some are slow. Some are in a hurry. Some have a hard time staying on the road, weaving through traffic. Some are courteous, letting others in, while others seem to be in a competitive race. Many are oblivious to the existence of other cars, such as driving slowly in the fast lane. Some are new, others old. There are all kinds of cars: sports cars, SUV's, trucks, and so forth. As one big car passes me, I see a whole family in it, with the mom driving. Another car passes and the windows are tinted so I cannot see who is in it. I can develop a whole paradigm of all the cars around me, not knowing a single individual who is driving. I judge them based on what I see, the outside. 

A Simile

The body is like a car. Everyone has a body. We mostly cannot see the drivers of the bodies around us, we just make inferences and judgments based on what we see. We see what they do, and how they look on the outside, the body, but we don’t see the spirit inside that controls the body. We are all on the road to eternal life. This is a new experience, having control of a body. I am the driver of my car -- a spirit controlling the body is like turning sixteen and getting a driver’s license. It’s fun to get a car! I can do so much with it. I have speed and power. I can move! I test the limits of my car, what can it do? I love this power to move! I love speed! I can even take passengers in my car. This body is a good thing for my spirit. 

As I’m driving down the road, I have a destination to return to my home in heaven where I came from. I don’t know how to get there so I consult the maps in the scriptures. I am trying to find the right road. There is only one real road, all the others are just tracks made by other cars going off the road. I need help. 

Hitchhikers!

All along the way, there are other spirits that want to ride in my car. They don’t have a body. They are those who followed Lucifer and were cast out of heaven for rebellion, and will never have a body. These evil spirits are hitchhikers that want to feel the power of transportation and ride instead of walking. Then, once they get in, they want to drive. They love speed and power more than I do. They offer me whatever I want to let them drive. I can let a lot of passengers in the car, picking them up from the side of the road because they look interesting. They always ask me what I want, and then they promise me they can give it to me. Let’s make a deal! I let them in.

Some are sensual, wanting me to veer off the road seeking the pleasures of the flesh, including sex, drugs, music, food, and so forth. Some passengers are lying spirits that want me to believe things that aren’t true, or to accept a fantasy. Some are addiction spirits who tell me that if some feels good, more will feel better. Some are directly from Satan, the accuser, causing me to accuse others of wrongdoing. Some are spirits of depression that bring hopelessness. Some are anxious spirits that bring fear. Others use the name of the Lord in vain, telling me that they know the way to heaven. They all want to take over control of the vehicle, to be the driver. They promise to get me where I want to go. But if I let them drive, my car veers off course and they take me off the path of eternal life -- always! They don’t have a driver’s license, and have never taken driver training. They have no destination -- just anywhere except home. They will not stay on the road home. Some are very subtle and only go a little off, others make a complete illegal U-turn and send me back into the world against oncoming traffic. The demons all have two things in common: 1. They tell me I can have whatever I want of the world if I let them drive, and 2. they will never drive on the road to eternal life. Every evil spirit will take me off the road. 

A Hard Road

As the owner of the vehicle, I decide who will drive. I often get tired of driving so I look for someone else to drive. I get lazy and do not want to drive my own car, so I give the wheel to the hitchhikers who are dying to drive, and then I go to sleep in the back seat. Satan’s minions have never learned to drive, so they don’t stay on any road. They take their car on a destructive joyride, getting into all kinds of mischief. They take me through every mudhole and crash into every tree. They bump a lot of other cars while driving the wrong way down the road. They destroy my car, it is dirty and there are dents all over. It looks bad, inside and out. My car is a mess!

I wake up and see what is happening and get scared! I try to take control back, but I'm weak and unable. The demons have control, and do not want to give it up. They push me into the back seat. This starts a big, long struggle for control. 

Repentance

It is so hard to kick out all passengers, clean out my car, and be my own boss. I don't have the power to do it. I need help. I hear of one, Jesus Christ, who has the power to help me take back control of the vehicle. I seek Him. He is everywhere. There are service stations with car washes along every road. I pull in and I ask Him to help and He cleans out the car for me. He takes out all the dents and makes my car like new -- and doesn't charge anything! The exit from the car wash always leads to the road home. That makes it easy. 

I now have control of my car. I will not let any more hitchhikers in the car. I will not listen to any demons in my head; I will drive them away. But then I am alone in the car in an unfamiliar place. I don’t know where I am, and I don’t know which road to take. There are so many wrong roads, and only one right road. I cannot see the end of any road, and I can't read the signs -- I don't know what they say. I am completely lost. There are hitchhikers with their own agenda all over the roads looking for a ride, each having a different way, none of which will take me where I want to go. I need help! There is no way for me to know which is the right road. I have driven around, hoping to find some kind of sign indicating which road I need to take to get back on the road to eternal life, but it’s dark, my headlights don’t work, and nothing is familiar. The posted signs are written in some foreign language that I cannot read. I don't want to leave the nice, bright, clean station and go back out on the road again! 

The Gift of the Holy Ghost

The service station has a gift for me when I leave. After the car is all cleaned out by the Lord, and there are no hitchhikers in it, He offers to send a navigator with me to show me the way. There is only one passenger that I need if I want to arrive at my destination in heaven -- the Holy Ghost. The Spirit of God is the only One who knows the correct road, and the only One who will navigate for me to show me the right way. He turns on the headlights and tells me what the signs mean. If I want to be on the road to eternal life, I must have the Holy Ghost. 

The Spirit of Christ is not a hitchhiker. I must seek Him. I must receive Him. I must repent, pray, and be obedient if I want Him in the car with me. If I have any passengers or drivers that are evil, then I cannot have the Holy Ghost. If there are any other spirits in the car yelling out directions and trying to take the wheel, the Holy Ghost will not be there. I must kick out all the passengers that would take me off the road, and ask the Holy Ghost into my car to be my navigator. The trip to the Promised Land is only done when there are two -- one driver, me, and one navigator, the Holy Ghost. 

If I am tired of driving, I may ask the Spirit to drive, but The Holy Ghost will not take over control of my vehicle. It is my car; Jesus does not take the wheel. The Lord always lets me drive my car. I must be the driver at all times. The Holy Ghost will sit in my car and be my navigator, but I must drive the car according to His instructions. If I veer off course, deciding to take a different road, or go my own way, my Navigator leaves, and I am left alone to ask directions from hitchhikers who don’t know. I must then repent and follow directions, going back to the station, taking the Sacrament, and inviting the Spirit back into my vehicle to give me the next step to get back on the road to eternal life. I do this through sincere repentance and a prayer of faith. 

The Straight and Narrow Path

Having a true Navigator, I finally get on the road of life, a very unexpected path. It is a one-way road that is very narrow, only allowing one car. It is hilly and has potholes. There are cliffs on both sides. It is not paved. It is not well-traveled. I am the only car on the road. It is not fun; It’s boring with only occasional beautiful vistas. All the attractions are way off the road. If I take a detour to see them it is hard to get back on so I stay on the road. It is long and hot and straight, like wandering in the desert for forty years. There are a few hitchhikers out here, who promise to show the way to eternal life, but I know that none of the demons will do it -- they lie. With the help of the Holy Ghost I begin to understand the signs, and follow them. Then, after many years of travel, I cross a bridge and suddenly I am in a beautiful land with mountains, valleys, waterfalls, and bountiful vegetation. The road is good, paved, and with no potholes. 

Home at Last

I made it to the Promised Land. I drove all the way, being led by the Holy Spirit. I find people who are real, and who are kind and love others. They also have taken the Holy Ghost for their guide. There is peace, and joy, and happiness. Life is good. My car is mine. I have control. I take the wheel. I possess it. I own it. I can get around paradise in my vehicle. I am not limited to walking around. I don’t need to look for a ride. I know my way around. I connect with others, getting to know the driver of the vehicles, and not just the outside. There are no hitchhikers here because there is nothing interesting to them. Those who do not own cars are happy to walk. Nobody wants my car, they want to know me, the driver of the vehicle.

How would it be to be driving on the freeway with only people I know? Everyone on the road is my best friend. There are still all sorts of different cars, but I know and love the driver of each one. 

“All truth may be circumscribed into one great whole.”

I read a commentary in Scientific American magazine called “In Science We Trust” about how we trust that science will change our lives and the world, but science is ever-changing.  None of it is fixed.  The laws of science are changeable, and ever-changing - there is no firm foundation - it is still being excavated, and they (scientists) haven’t reached terra firma yet. The article was essentially stating that we should teach people not to expect too much of science so as not to get their hopes up when science can’t deliver.  How can we put our trust in science if it can’t always deliver?  The editorial was amazingly frank for a scientific journal.  It reveals the understanding that so far, our knowledge of the world is temporary, at best.  There is nothing permanent upon which to base a foundation.  Science, then, is a paradox.  Nothing has yet been found that is real.  All is temporary.  Our understanding of law (that which is obeyed because it is) is relative to perspective; even the so-called laws of physics only work in special cases, within a defined set of parameters, as discovered by Einstein.  Outside the box they no longer apply.  Things are not as they seem.  We have perfectly logical explanations for our observations - all of which change with new discoveries. People need to be able to let go of mistaken beliefs as the science evolves. 

For example, the ancient Greeks had a logical view of the observed universe with mathematic formulas that explained perfectly the movements of the stars and other heavenly bodies.  In their explanation, the Earth was at the center, the sky was as a dome with little holes that allowed light to pass.  It fit.  It was so perfect that the prevailing religionists of the day even accepted it as a God-given truth.  When after centuries of this teaching, Galileo challenged it by observation with a better instrument, the telescope, the “scientific” explanation was seen for what it really was - merely belief, and incorrect at that.  Those who were firm in this belief tried to silence Galileo so as not to challenge their belief system.  The need to silence the truth to avoid challenge of a belief system is almost universal and occurs with every new discovery (e.g.: gene research today).  This requirement to change ones weltanschauung with every new discovery seems to be difficult for humans.  We want a firm foundation.  We want something that doesn’t change.  

Another example is the “science” ( I use the term loosely because it implies “knowledge” or “truth”) of the 1800’s when the Minister of Science in Great Britain said that all that can be invented or discovered for the benefit of man already had been.  At that time and all history before there was no understanding of microorganisms and their effect on the world.  In spite of this, they had a perfectly logical explanation for why things became rotten, such as food.  It was described as a chemical reaction called “oxidation” wherein oxygen would react with the chemicals in the food which would break down, change, and become putrid.  This fits all observed “facts” that can be experienced regarding food.  If food is kept away from oxygen, it will not get rotten (the exceptions had further logical explanations), and it could be preserved in acid (vinegar) which would prevent an oxidative chemical reaction.  After centuries of this explanation, through discoveries in the world of microbiology, it became understood that it was the presence of bacteria that caused the food to rot.  Now an entirely new explanation for the observed phenomena had to be produced - and it fits as well.  It would be arrogant to assume that our current germ theories fully explain the observed phenomena. 

There are reasons why science is constantly changing.  It’s because we are constantly discovering new things.  It seems we have a great deal of difficulty gathering information and processing it because we are unable to perceive and interpret all the information around us.  We deceive ourselves, though not on purpose.

The Deception of the Mind

Our senses are deceptive.  We sense things by reflected light, vibrations, changes in temperature, etc.  It is only the delta of a phenomenon that allows us to detect it. “Dark matter” is only dark because it is all the same to us, our methods of detecting it are useless. If all things were exactly the same color and brightness, we might as well be blind.  All the light in the world isn’t going to allow us to see, or rather, distinguish objects.  If all things made the same tone, or vibrated at the same frequency there would be no way of hearing.  Our perception, then, is limited because we can only detect changes, variability, waves, and differences.  (God describes Himself as “the same,” and “unchanging,”  I wonder if we are unable to perceive Him?)  

Reality is so complex it appears to be chaos to our minds.  We must, therefore, reject large amounts of sensory input to process any information at all.  It is understood that we don’t completely perceive a phenomenon.   The brain automatically compartmentalizes part of the sensory stimulation that we have already experienced while literally ignoring most of the input we receive.  This is how so many magicians are able to fool us.  This also explains why learning languages in adulthood is so difficult - any sound one hasn’t heard before is ignored by the brain and is learned only with a great deal of effort - if at all.  A cat that is raised in a room with only horizontal lines won’t perceive vertical lines; it will bump into table legs and other vertical objects because the brain ignores them. The input into the brain, therefore, is incomplete because it is so dependent on previous experience.

 What’s more, our minds are deceiving in the interpretation of input.  Input may be itself deceptive, but when the mind starts interpreting the data, things really become mixed up.  Confabulation, making up information to fill in perceived gaps, is well-documented.  A simple example is the filling in of the optic cup by the brain.  Also, when something is observed that isn’t consistent with past experience of the brain, the mind fills in gaps and creates an interpretation that may be entirely wrong, but at least gives the sense of understanding.  This is shown to happen in all brains but can be clearly seen in dementia where the brain loses some ability to store and interpret data.  The person with dementia commonly makes up whatever necessary to fill any blanks where they think they should have understanding.  The explanation sounds perfectly correct and feasible to them, even when they are clearly wild distortions to the outside observer. The explanations we give for things are fit into compartments based on previous experience.  If there is no previous experience, it is associated with something close, and the brain fills in the gaps.  We interpret what we perceive based on what we already know so we can make sense of the world.  All the mind needs is a rational explanation to be at peace, even if it is wrong.

When a person assumes his theories about the world are true, the mind will automatically reject anything other than whatever supports them.  I have a friend who is “Christian” and believes she knows all truth.  She has already been “saved” and has become part of God - “one with Him” - and needs nothing else.  She’s done.  When I gave her a Book of Mormon to help her in her quest to know God, she said: “I already have enough.”  This is pride.  She arrogantly assumes she knows God, and therefore all truth (yet, ironically, she admits she doesn’t fully understand the concept of “Godhead” or “Trinity”).  This is just as damning (damn: stop ones spiritual progression) as those who call themselves “atheists,” who have a firm belief that there is no God and reject all evidence to the contrary.  It is still rejecting truth, preventing any new evidence from disrupting a firmly held belief.

This type of rationalization can be seen in all aspects of life.  My brother sees the world in a political way.  He has a theory that the “right” way is “conservative,” maintaining the original constitutional republic that began over 200 years ago in the United States.  Because of his theory, he must explain the evidence he gathers.  He is constantly gathering evidence for his “conservative” views.  One helpful way to maintain a belief and prevent challenge is to form an us-them dichotomy.  That way, if someone doesn’t agree with your belief, you can label him “one of them.”  “Those who are not with us, are against us.”  The conservatives versus the liberals.  If you aren’t conservative, then, by definition, you’re liberal.  Truth and salvation come from being conservative.  And, by default, liberals are destructive liars.  Using this worldview, it is easy to characterize people.  If somebody presents evidence that your conservative view isn’t in the best interest of the nation, you can immediately characterize him as a liberal, and therefore a liar and outright reject all evidence presented by him.  Thus, you never have to change your beliefs; you can’t be challenged.  You get to maintain the illusion of truth and a firm foundation.

The same can be said of any belief that one holds and is unwilling to change.  Issues such as abortion, evolution, Christianity, Islam, communism, or any other belief system polarize those who espouse one side or the other to support it with divisive emotional arguments and name-calling rather than evidence.  There is no truth in any of these, only arguments for or against. The deepest foundations still don’t lie on solid ground and are therefore inherently unstable.  This seems to be understood on some unconscious level because the dialectic would only be needed to prevent contrary evidence from breaking down the firmly held belief.  If one were truly standing on a firm foundation he would permit, even welcome, all evidence.  He would try to see all points of view.  There would be no need for us-them because there would be no need to reject any evidence from “them”.

Seeking Truth

The only lasting and firm foundation is truth.  Truth is the knowledge of things as they are, as they were, and as they are to come (D&C 93:24).  In other words, truth is independent of person, place or time.  It can only be discovered, not created, because it always is - completely independent of the observer’s perception and interpretation.  Then how can one know the truth?  There is only one way.  There is only one truth; it comes from God.  There is only one God.  Seeking God leads one to truth.  The process of knowing God is the process of discovering truth.  Since God is outside of our experience, this process may be brief, or long and arduous, depending on the willingness of the individual to let go of the perceptions and interpretations of his senses, his previously held beliefs.  Some people seem to recognize the truth immediately, and easily give up all they have “known” without a struggle.  Others trust their senses too much and don’t “see” the truth; it doesn’t fit with their current understanding and theories, so it’s rejected as “irrelevant, superstitious, or religious.”  

The truth is not found in the light-gathering and focusing ability of the eye, nor in the perception of the brain, but rather on what is not seen.  This makes perfect sense since the senses and brain aren’t trustworthy.  Accepting this concept, then how can anyone ever be sure he is gathering truth?  There must be another way to gather evidence.  Learning the ways of truth isn’t easy.  It uses more than the senses of the body; it requires the senses of the spirit.  God states He isn’t temporal (of time), carnal (of the body) or natural (of a worldly nature), but rather He is spiritual (of the spirit).  There are feelings of the body - cathexis, anger, hunger, pain, excitement, cold, etc. - and there are feelings of the spirit.  These are harder to explain with mere words, for words don’t convey the actual feeling, and when one hasn’t experienced these feelings before he is completely unable to understand.  These are usually described as peace, love, joy, burning, warmth, on the one hand; and depression, conscience, anxiety, on the other.  The ability to distinguish the feelings of the body from the feelings of the spirit takes time, patience, and a great deal of effort.  Since the discovery of truth is dependent on knowing this distinction, it is clear that truth cannot just be doled-out in a classroom.  Indeed, it cannot be given to another at all.  Truth can only be accepted by each individual when he is humble,  teaches himself to distinguish and experience his spiritual feelings, and gains faith.  

Understanding this concept is of utmost importance to realize that all perceptions, theories, beliefs, understanding, knowledge, and interpretations that come through the senses cannot be trusted.  Once this is understood, one can begin to develop the spiritual senses through which truth can be discovered.  The process of discovering truth starts with belief.  Belief is the basis of all world-views.  Whatever one initially believes isn’t relevant, as long as he continues searching.  When one stops searching his beliefs are entrenched by various means, as above, and he is called “proud.”  However, when one is continually searching he is open to change, he suspends judgment on any issue.  The search for truth requires a willingness to change one’s beliefs.  As spiritual evidence is gathered beliefs will be modified or even abandoned.  This kind of openness and willingness to change is humility. Being humble allows one to develop faith.    

Faith is the Evidence of Truth

Faith is a very misunderstood concept.  Most use the terms “faith” and “belief” interchangeably.  I see them as related, but at different ends.  Belief refers to the interpretation or understanding one puts on his observations of his world.  Faith, however, is the substance and evidence of something that can’t be seen, according to Paul.  The Prophet Alma says that in order to be faith, it must be true, otherwise it is only belief; if your belief isn’t true, it can’t be called faith.  Though you cannot see what you believe in, you still can gather evidence, because faith is the knowledge, substance, and evidence you receive through your spirit.  Often, people hear a truth and say, “I always knew that” but they had never heard it before - there was no physical concept in the brain but they feel they knew it.  Faith is what you know, but can’t see, hear, or feel by the senses of the body.  It is revealed by God only to the spirit. (D&C 76:10)  It is a different sort of gathering knowledge than what we learned as children, and must itself be learned. If one hasn’t developed his spiritual senses, truth is as gibberish that is filtered out by the brain.  (I think that’s why all the Hollywood movies and cartoons portray prophets as eccentric babblers, [with notable exceptions] they don’t understand.)  All that is true, all that is firm, all that can be known isn’t discovered through the senses of the body, only by the senses of the spirit.  Faith, then is the only reliable way to discover truth.  Faith is real.  One of the greatest paradoxes of life is that what we see and hear is real, and what we feel in our hearts is deceptive; reality is the opposite.

There is a standard by which to measure truth.  The writings of those called by God to reveal Himself to the world (prophets) are called scripture.  They are a foundation of truth because they contain the words of God, and God knows all truth.  They are revealed to help school us in gaining understanding of truth and its acquisition.  Those who have a well-developed spiritual sensitivity will find a great deal of truth by reading scripture, while those who don’t will find a book of history or platitudes -- and a very boring book.  Paradoxically, a good way to develop spiritual sensitivity is by reading and trying to understand the scriptures.  Reading, pondering, and praying together make up the essential list for developing spiritual feelings. Those who do these will make exciting discoveries of truth every time they read.  Though they have read the exact words a hundred times, new understanding of meanings will be discovered.  It is amazing how the exact same sentence can apply to so many different situations and speak truth on so many levels.  

Feed the Truth

It seems there is a constant war between good and evil.  Evil comes through the senses and feelings of the body, whereas that which is good comes from the feelings and senses of the spirit.  The scriptures teach how to develop spiritual sensitivities.  There was an old American Indian chief who during an interview described this war as two dogs fighting inside him.  When asked which dog won, he replied, “the one I feed the most.”  “Feeding the good dog while starving the bad dog” is a good analogy.  Continual practice by reading, pondering, and praying feeds the spirit.  Fasting is a true principle designed, among other things, to help us to starve, literally, the body while feeding the spirit, and is an excellent way to develop spiritual feelings. All the “commandments” are designed to help us to develop the spirit while starving the body.  The Ten Commandments, for example, give us a basis for avoiding the pitfalls common to human experience.  The first four describe common problems associated with worship.  Everybody has a god - even “atheists” because they have something upon which to base their beliefs and feelings.  That which we seek after is called worship.  Common gods are money, power, relationships, pleasure, comfort, knowledge, etc.  The first four commandments tell us to worship God, to seek after Him and Him only.  The last six explain more of our relationships with others - to be ethical in our dealings.  Jesus, when asked which was the greatest commandment, said that the love of God and man forms the basis of all commandments.  The development of this love and the development of spiritual sensitivity go hand-in-hand.  They are dependent on one another.  

People worship and become dependent on many different feelings of the body.  Feeding the feelings of the body suppresses, or starves, the feelings of the spirit, and vice versa.  For example, unloving sexual behavior of any type feeds the very excitable pleasure senses in the body.  This type of excitement seems to overwhelm all other sensitivities.  Even “looking upon a woman to lust after her” (pornography) feeds this type of excitement and suppresses the tender feelings of true love between a man and a woman.  This sensuality becomes a substitute for love.  Even the common vernacular of the day shows how pervasive this has become.  The word “love” has become synonymous with “sex” almost universally and has lost its scriptural meaning for most people.  In reality, sexual excitement replaces love, or rather, displaces love.  One quickly becomes unable to feel love and prefers sexual excitement instead, because it’s the only way he can feel at all.  Participation in any sexual activities that are designed to stimulate this sort of excitation (whether in or out of marriage) feeds the sensual dog, and therefore causes one to worship the god of pleasure, and, by default, starves the dog that is sensitive to the whisperings of the spirit.

These same phenomena can be seen with any sort of addiction.  Drugs, alcohol,  and other narcotics and stimulants give such a strong feeling of well-being or stimulation to some people that it suppresses their abilities to feel good in any other way.  They then crave the feeling they get with the drug, to the exclusion of all else (this is the extreme, which I have frequently seen, but there are, of course, varying degrees).  Some feel good only when they can buy stuff.  I had a patient who lived alone in an upstairs apartment and never left because of agoraphobia.  She stayed home and shopped from a television program constantly.  When I was called to see her, I paid a visit to her apartment and was flabbergasted to see the entire one-thousand square feet stacked four to six feet high with stuff she had bought, most of which had never been opened.  There were only six-inch aisles between the stuff to get to the bed, bathroom, and kitchen.  How ironic that she had an extreme “fear of the marketplace,” and at the same time was addicted to shopping.  She was obviously very ill, but mostly in spirit, and I was unable to help her as a physician.  Keeping the commandments of God is the process of the opposite of these examples.  It is putting the body in subjection to the spirit.  Once the spiritual (God) reigns, one begins to discern truth.

Truth Personified

The scriptures are divided into “testament” for a good reason.  They are meant to testify of truth.  Our current records don’t come close to containing all the writings of all prophets who have lived on the Earth.  What we have is a compendium of certain prophets.  Their purpose is to testify of the Messiah, the Chosen One, the King of kings.  In one sense, the Old Testament is a book of the genealogy of the Messiah.  The stories in it are stories of the ancestors of Him who would become the Christ.  That was the promise given to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Ruth, David, Solomon, and all Israel: that one of their descendants would become the Anointed One who would bless every person.  The purpose of the New Testament is to testify of the fulfillment of that promise.  It happened.  He came to Earth, sent by God to be a sacrifice so all people who ever lived, or ever will live, can become complete, whole, happy and fulfilled - in spite of themselves.  This sacrifice is called the Atonement, meaning, “to bring together in one.”

Ultimately, all truth is dependent on this one truth; the basis or foundation of ALL truth is the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  All things exist only because of the Atonement.  It brings all things together into one.  This is the point from which all creation, perception, interpretation, or understanding must be viewed in order to be sure one has truth.  Without the Atonement of Jesus Christ there is nothing.  Nothing could exist.  We couldn’t exist.  We are supported by God in our daily lives, even second-by-second, only because of His Atonement.  This support is clearly seen by those who have well-developed spiritual feelings; those who only know the senses of the body aren’t able to perceive it.  God could not support us or give us all these gifts except for what Jesus Christ has done.  When this concept is clearly understood, then truth is knowable; you are on a firm foundation from which you can accept all evidence without fear of disrupting your belief system.  “The truth shall make you free.”  You are free to gain more faith, more truth, more knowledge that is constant and enduring, without being shackled by the very limited physical senses.  Without this truth there is only argument and belief.  This, then, is the yardstick by which all evidence can be measured.  The weaknesses in perception and interpretation can be overcome by measuring everything against Jesus Christ, His life, His teachings, and ultimately, His atonement.  That is the one great truth that circumscribes all others.

What Do You Want?

The question is asked by Satan, the father of all lies, twice. He takes what anyone wants, and shows them a fantasy. All that is fantasy comes from Him. You don’t have to work for it, and you don’t need to wait for it. You can have it all, and have it now. There is no sacrifice, or the sacrifice comes later, so you don’t need to think about it now. He promises whatever you want of the world. 

Lucifer and a third of the hosts of heaven left the presence of God to come to earth to tempt man. We have been taught a narrative that they are evil, and are going to make people hate, kill, and otherwise hurt each other. These are the spirits of death and destruction. They cause illness. They bring pain. They destroy everyone and everything. We think the devil has a fork, is red, with horns and a tail. We think we could recognize evil when we see it because those who remain with Satan in the world should be abhorrent and disgusting, and that we would have a natural aversion to evil. 

Think Win-Win

The truth is different. What these spirits really want to reside in a body. They want to feel. They want control. They want to have power in the physical world. They want those who are born into bodies to invite them in, so they must overcome the natural enmity of the spirits who own the bodies. Most wicked spirits don’t want to be obvious, and get chased out, they want to be kind so they can stay. They ask, “what do you want,” and then offer it to you so they can be invited in, and allowed to stay. They are not all looking to hurt or destroy, they just want a home. Wicked spirits give people what they want of the world, so they will be invited in. It seems like a win-win. A person gets a spirit of knowledge, good fortune, and the spirits get a physical body. The person feels blessed, and the wicked spirit gets a home. 

Those of us who are born into bodies have a natural conflict between the body and the spirit. The body wants the things of the world, but the spirit needs the things of God. The body needs physical food, but the spirit needs spiritual food. The followers of Satan use this conflict to their advantage. They promise to give either the things of the body or the things of the spirit or both, so they can be invited to stay with the body. People who say they are spiritual, but not religious, invite the nice-looking spirits into their lives. For example, some people seek a spirit guide. These spirits want to give the people exactly what they want. Any person who listens to and obeys a spirit of the wicked one invites that spirit to dwell with him. 

One such spirit guide has been popularized in a book by Anthony William called The Medical Medium. He tells the story of a spirit that appeared to him and has been telling him about the illnesses of others. He wrote a bestselling book because he was told that so many people have illness that is not diagnosed. He tells them what to do about it. The spirit is giving people what they want, a promise of health. Mr. William has been given what he wants. He keeps the spirit around because it is not uncomfortable. It seems good because it is giving him what he wants. People believe because they get better. The healing works, using the things of the world. 

Religion

The spirits of the wicked one are subtle. They appear to be good because they can give knowledge of things of the world. They can even appear to be angels of light. The devils will give all sorts of signs. They are seducing spirits. They give you religion. They give you spiritual experiences. They give you gospel hobbies, telling you that you know more than the prophets. They give you gifts of clairvoyance, mediums, healing, knowledge of the world, astral projection, past lives, and so forth. They even use the name of the Lord in vain, and teach people to do so. They tell people to use the name of Jesus without authority. They are told they don’t need repentance, that the Lord will just forgive them and give them what they want if they just use His name. There are congregations with tens of thousands of people who come to hear the preacher tell them what they want to hear -- that Jesus will give them what they want of the world. The people see the preacher has lots of money. They envy him. They want what he has: power, money, success, and so forth. You believe because you see it and experience it. You know it’s real because it works. 

Laziness

The wicked spirits also tell people that “all is well” and they don’t need to do anything. They don’t need to learn. They don’t need to grow. They don’t need to sacrifice. They can be lazy -- mentally, spiritually, or physically. They show up at church every week to sedate their conscience, and then go home and not think about God. They are lulled into carnal security because they have an easy life. An uncle was being critical of my belief in God so I asked him to read the Book of Mormon. He said that he didn’t need to because he had everything he needed in the world. He was looking for the things of the world, and found them, so he didn’t need the things of God. He could believe he was enlightened because he graduated from college and knew science, so he didn’t need to study, ponder, or pray about eternity. Now is all that exists. There is no tomorrow. If you can’t be happy now, then life isn’t worth the trouble. Put off salvation for tomorrow and live for today, then you can have both. They teach you that you don’t need to do anything, you are saved by doing nothing but speaking the name of God. There is no need to repent. There is no need to be baptized. There is no need to sacrifice, the Lord will give you everything you want. These are the words of the evil one. You can relax and enjoy yourself now, and then when you come to the final judgment, you can be saved by grace. 

Addictions

Getting what you want in the world is also the seduction of addiction. Having the things of the world does not fill the needs of the heart. They seem like they should, but they never do, so people continually seek more. The promise of money without effort is behind a gambling addiction. The seduction of connection without sacrifice is behind a pornography addiction. The promise of comfort without the Holy Ghost is behind a drug addiction. These are promised, and it almost seems to make it. Just a little more seems to get me there. This is the seduction of devils. Giving in to addictions invites those spirits to dwell with you. You get temporary relief from your needs, and they get a home. It seems like a win-win. Each time you give in to your addiction, you invite that evil spirit to inhabit your body. You are obeying the wicked one. 

Seduction

Such spirits of the wicked one, though they may use the words of the Lord, they do not bring people to Christ. They are not pointing the way to Him. They do not help people to keep the commandments. They do not increase faith in Christ. They do not ask for repentance and sacrifice. They are not telling people to keep the laws of God. They do not say that people need to be baptized of the water and the spirit -- to die in the flesh or to put off the natural man. They don’t help people receive the Holy Ghost and start on the path of eternal life. Instead, they are deceived, being seduced into doing the things of the flesh. 

But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils. Wherefore, beware lest ye are deceived; and that ye may not be deceived seek ye earnestly the best gifts, always remembering for what they are given; For verily I say unto you, they are given for the benefit of those who love me and keep all my commandments, and him that seeketh so to do; that all may be benefited that seek or that ask of me, that ask and not for a sign that they may consume it upon their lusts.

Doctrine and Covenants 46:7-9

The gifts of God are given to help us keep the commandments of God. If I am asked to serve my brothers and sisters by helping them to know the commandments of God, then I may ask for gifts that will help me do my work. Lusts are the things you want that are of the flesh, or of the world. People consume the things of the world with lust for what they want -- glory, power, money, love, food, and so forth. It is easy to be deceived by seducing spirits because they tell you what you want to hear. They are nice. They are helpful. They give people what they want, or at least promise to give people what they want, including knowledge -- thus, the world is filled with the doctrines of men and devils.  

Pointing the Finger

The name of the evil one is Satan, meaning "accuser." He is continually pointing the finger at the people of God, accusing them of evil. Those who justify themselves by pointing the finger of shame at others are doing the work of Satan. These evil spirits teach people that they can justify themselves, that they can appear straight, if others are more crooked. People love to do the work of Satan by pointing the finger at political and spiritual leaders, especially. No weakness will be passed over. Every mistake will be magnified to make people feel better about themselves. They accept the evil spirits of accusation as if they were from the Lord. They often believe they are doing the will of the Lord, when they are really doing the work of Satan. 

Casting out evil spirits

When a person with such a devil decides to change, and not to do those things anymore, they chase the devil out. If they have a covenant with God, through baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost, then they can remain clean. However, without the covenant, they are open to becoming worse than before. 

When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth it empty, swept, and garnished. Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.

Matthew 12:43-45

The place was swept and garnished... clean, but empty. There was nothing there. The Holy Spirit was not in the man’s house. His empty house is a vacuum that must be filled. So, the evil spirit finds more, worse than him, and they wreak havoc on the man. I have seen this happen, where a young man was going to enter the priesthood in the Catholic Church, so he cleaned up his life, and then suddenly got much worse. He was diagnosed with all sorts of mental illness, but I saw him one time where he demonstrated the voices which were always angry and saying, “kill, kill, kill.” He had to be on constant vigilance. Now he is sedated all the time on psychiatric drugs. His last state is certainly worse than the first. He was seduced by a promise of salvation, and now is not even able to care for himself. They try to be nice, at first. If they get kicked out, they will find other more evil spirits to come and make the man miserable. Either way, in the end he does not have salvation. 

Those who are baptized into the covenant must obey the command given when hands are placed on their head to "receive the Holy Ghost." This is not automatic. The Holy Ghost is received through prayer, keeping the commandments, and remembering the Lord always. Those who do not do these things will not receive the Holy Ghost, and will be more susceptible to evil spirits who will seduce them and make them think they are angels of light. This will leave a nagging confusion in the person; they will not know good from evil because the evil spirit will not lead them to Christ. 

Black and White

The evil spirits are like dust, settling on everything, and getting into every crevice. They are everywhere, and they have all the advantage, offering what people want, telling them they can have it all, body and spirit. That’s why there are so many people who will not come to Christ. It is pride: I want. They are not willing to make a sacrifice. The difference is night and day. It is not grey. It is not a continuum of good and evil, where some things are more good, or less. Evil spirits are evil. They offer what you want, but never lead you to God. Mormon tells us how easy it is to know. If you can distinguish a bright and sunny day from a dark moonless night, you can judge between good and evil. 

For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night. For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

Moroni 7:15-17

No wicked spirit will ever lead you towards God. They will always be evil. They don’t give an inch. The difference is, they don’t lead you to God. They seem nice, they give you gifts, they tell you things, they show you things, but they do not teach you to keep the commandments of God and sacrifice the things of the world. 

The Holy Ghost is the opposite. God does not give people what they want in the world. Instead, He asks them to sacrifice everything, including their stuff, their families, their hearts, even their own lives. There is nothing in the world that is not on the chopping block. The contrast is real. The truth must teach both obedience and sacrifice. The baptism ordinance represents the death of all that I love in the world. My heart is broken by the loss of all things I want.

I have looked at good and evil as all grey areas, as if some things, indeed everything, is a mixture of good and evil, now I see, and agree with Mormon, that it is black and white. There is not a single evil spirit that will lead anyone to Christ, and salvation. Seeking what I want in the world takes me away from God, and the evil spirits are more than willing to help. 

While the servants of Satan ask me what I want of the world, the Holy Ghost asks me what I want that is eternal. Eternal life requires letting go of the things of the world. Thus, the Spirit of God tells me to keep the commandments of God, to sacrifice the things of the world, to have faith in Christ, repent of my sins, make covenants, and be on the path to eternal life. All that is good speaks of Christ. To avoid seduction by evil spirits I must have a covenant with Him. He will protect me from the subtle lies through the holy priesthood. He will not allow them to come in my house. It is swept and garnished, and the Holy Ghost is inside so no evil spirit would dare enter; I have received the Holy Ghost. I leave the things of the world behind, rejecting the evil one and take the Holy Ghost as my guide. He leads me to what I ultimately want -- eternal life. 

The Path

 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 liver cell in His body. 

I am a little ant in an anthill in the Outback of Australia. 

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 to the slaughter. 

I sacrifice my very self.

I give up. 

I bestow my 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 my desires.

All that I need for life is sacrificed. 

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 am completely enveloped by Him. 

Unity is all-encompassing. 

I am no longer me. 

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. 

I am complete in Him.

I am fulfilled because He knows me.

He knows all of me. 

I am loved.  

I have joy!

Happiness is so fulfilling!

He is love!

He is full of grace!

He is merciful!

He has charity -- pure love! 

Oh, it is wonderful! 

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 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

God is PRO-Choice

A man came into my office and asked me what he should do about his wife. He said he just left her and his 12-year-old daughter to be with his girlfriend full-time. His wife does not care about him and is not filling his needs. She doesn't love him. On the other hand, his girlfriend cares and gives him everything he wants. She is responsive to him, and even anticipates his desires. She loves him; he feels loved with her. I explained that he was confronted with the biggest decision of his life. If he went back and decided to love his wife and daughter, giving to them instead of taking from them, he would grow up and learn true Christian charity, or the pure love of Christ. But if he chose his girlfriend, he would remain a dependent child.

There are three gifts of the Spirit that go with us upon death: faith, hope, and charity, the last being the greatest gift in the world.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

(1 Corinthians 13:13)

 He is being offered charity. It is his choice. God is going to give him a free gift that will make him into a Christian. He will be like Jesus. He will have all the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ as Mormon explained:  

...if a man be meek and lowly in heart, and confesses by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus is the Christ, he must needs have charity; for if he have not charity he is nothing; wherefore he must needs have charity. And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail—But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.

(Moroni 7:44-48)

 If he is meek, not using his power to hurt anyone by leaving his wife and daughter, and lowly in heart, not putting himself above his wife and daughter, then he will confess Christ with his decision, not with his lips. The decision to sacrifice is confessing that Jesus is his Lord, because the Holy Ghost tells him that the Christian thing to do is to sacrifice the desires of the flesh, to die as to the things of the world, so he can be resurrected into the light, the Spirit, and the ways of the Lord. If He chooses to leave his wife, he is choosing the things of the flesh, and denying the Spirit. This is open rebellion against the Lord, and he remains an enemy to God.

For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.

(Mosiah 3:19)

 I know, I have been there. I asked for a blessing but was offered a curse. A blessing builds up, but a curse is anything that brings someone down to a lower level. My wife was not responsive to me and was not fulfilling my needs. I asked the Lord to teach me to love my wife, and I was offered another woman instead. She was perfect: beautiful, French, wealthy, organized, good taste, intelligent -- everything I could want in a woman of the world. She wanted me. She told me she wanted to make love every day. She called me one night to examine her breasts, and offered herself to me, right then, and anytime I wanted. At that point I had a choice, to stay with a woman who was not interested in me or my needs, or to take a woman who had everything and could give me what I wanted, but would curse me to the world, preventing me from receiving the gift of charity. 

The choice is given when the blessing is available. “You can have this, or that, but not both.” One is what I want from the world, the other is what I want in heaven. One is the choice of taking upon myself the name of Christ, and the other is the choice to remain a “natural man.” One is the way of the Spirit, the other is the way of the flesh. One is a decision of freedom, the other is bondage; the world is a prison. Jesus offers a way out, not in my speech, or in my study, or in learning, or in knowledge, or in going to church, or in doing the outward ordinances, but in the daily decisions of the flesh. I am given the choice to follow Jesus Christ into the depths of humility, become submissive, and sacrifice everything of the world, or to have the things I want, and remain in bondage.

The Word of Wisdom

Food is a choice now more than ever. Almost anyone in the world can eat a diet of kings, choosing delicious goodies over nourishing food. When the Lord makes a covenant with His people, He gives them dietary guidelines. Many people think that the forbidden foods are bad, and will hurt the body, as Peter when he was told to eat the forbidden foods of the Law of Moses. The point of dietary guidelines is mostly spiritual. It is a sign between God and His people. The people can choose to eat whatever they want, the things of the world, or they can follow the counsel of the Lord.

Part of this includes eating and drinking substances to change feelings, effectively tying people to the world. A need is created by using chemicals instead of the Spirit. The Holy Ghost is the Comforter, and will comfort me in my sorrows without dulling my senses with alcohol or other drugs. I would rather choose the Holy Ghost over any chemical in the world. I don’t want caffeine to pretend to be awake during the day, I want to actually be happy, awake, and alert. People take LSD and other hallucinogens to have fake spiritual experiences. I want to have real experiences, not fake ones created by chemicals.

This also includes fasting. I want to eat. My body needs food. I desire it. I love food. I eat good food. I love good food. The Lord gives me a choice, to fast, or not. I fast, giving up what I want for a time, and then giving it to others. My fast is for my spiritual benefit, but also provides a benefit in the world to others. Love is making a sacrifice for the benefit of others. Giving up food is hard, especially when it is everywhere. I can have it. It is right in front of me. It looks and smells delicious, tasty, and filling. It will fill the need -- of the flesh.

I have the choice every day whether to eat, or not. I am taught to eat for nourishment instead of taste, but I like sugar, sweets, salt, fat, carbs, and highly refined and processed foods. If I choose the lusts of the flesh, I may be unhealthy, but I will surely be tied to the world.

...the devil... leadeth them by the neck with a flaxen cord, until he bindeth them with his strong cords forever.

(2 Nephi 26:22)

 Money

There are many decisions every day that bring me to God, or to the other side. I am offered money to lie. I can have money, and lots of it, if I am willing to lie, cheat, and steal from others. In the practice of medicine, I offer patent drugs that offer no value but take money from people. This is cheating and stealing. I tell people that they can buy health from me, but I don’t have that to offer. I take their money and give them nothing but problems in return. Statistically, people are more likely to be hurt than helped by seeking medical attention. The death rate always goes down when there are no doctors available. The drugs they provide are counterproductive. Taking advantage of the ignorance and naiveté of another is stealing. I am paid well to tell people what they want to hear: “you can be healthy by taking a pill.” I’m selling a fantasy. It’s stealing.  

The other option is to provide a service for others. To give to others without asking in return. The Lord offers this to me... and I am still trying to decide what to do. It’s hard to leave what I have. I have built up so much!

Sometimes the offer of money is not so obvious. I met a man who was offered a job that would pay a lot more than his current job, but he would need to sacrifice time with his family. He took the job, and his family suffered, so he quit and takes in less money so he isn’t always traveling. This is not to say that every offer of money is a curse, but rather that every individual must choose between the world and the Lord.

Sabbath Day

The mark of the covenant people is their observance of the Sabbath day. From the very beginning, the creation of the earth, the Sabbath was instituted, where God rested from His labors. This is not just something of the world that is only done while in mortality on earth, but continues on forever. Those who say that they follow the Lord, but don’t keep the Sabbath day holy are not of the covenant. This one is universal.

Isaiah tells us about the Sabbath, and how to keep it holy, by not doing what I want to do, but rather doing the things of the Lord.

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

(Isaiah 58:13)

 Keeping the Sabbath day holy means doing things differently on His day. There are specific things to avoid:

·       “turn away thy foot” means not going where I want to go.

·       “doing thy pleasure” or “finding thine own pleasure” means not doing what I want to do.

·       “doing thine own ways” means doing the things that I normally do.

·       “speaking thine own words” means saying things that I want to say, or making myself heard.

 There are also specific things to do on the Sabbath:

·       “call the sabbath a delight” means finding joy in Him.

·       “the holy of the Lord” means this day is set apart from all other days to seek Him, His will, His thoughts and His ways.

·       “honorable” means a day that is not of the low things of the world, but is filled with glory, and the things of the Lord.

·       “shalt honor him” means to pay homage to Him. It means to tell others about Him. I honor Him by teaching about Him, and bringing others to Him.

All those who are the covenant people of the Lord will choose to honor Him on the Sabbath day. It is a pure choice. There is no coercion either way. The world will make it very easy to find your own pleasure on His holy day, and yet it is just as easy to take the day off and seek the Lord one day per week.

 Blessings and Curses

Whether I am cursed or blessed depends upon my decisions. God does not curse me, rather I choose to be tied to the world by choosing the things of the world. The blessing is the offer of more. I can choose to give up the desires of the flesh for the blessings of eternity. There is no grey area, the choice is clear, it is one or the other.

These choices are given as one is deciding to be a Christian. Prior to this moment of decision, there is no option, however after one has a covenant with the Lord, then the tests come to allow the choice to be made. The Lord will give every Christian a choice. He asks us to choose Him, but we have full agency to choose what we want. There is a space granted for repentance, making a choice does not mean it is forever. The man who took the job at the expense of his family was able to repent and choose his family. He realized that he made the wrong choice. Perhaps my patient who left his wife and daughter will repent.

If I choose a blessing it is by denying the things of the flesh. The choice is accepting what I’m offered or rejecting it in favor of the things of God. I desire both, so I choose which is the greater desire, that thing of the world, or the things of God. It’s not obvious, my choice is based on which way I lean.

But, O my people, beware lest there shall arise contentions among you, and ye list to obey the evil spirit, which was spoken of by my father Mosiah. For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon him who listeth to obey that spirit; for if he listeth to obey him, and remaineth and dieth in his sins, the same drinketh damnation to his own soul; for he receiveth for his wages an everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own knowledge.

(Mosiah 2:32-33)

And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one. For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey, and this according to the words of the spirit of prophecy; therefore let it be according to the truth.

(Alma 3:26-27)

It's just a leaning. It's not obvious. I list to one side and make that choice, which leads me to one side, or the other. I can speak the words of the prophets, but my leaning is what I do. 

Not everyone has every choice available to them. Some people are bitter that they never find satisfaction in the things of the world, either because they don’t receive them, or because they get them but don’t find them satisfying. I never got some things I wanted in life, but it was because I chose not to take them. They were offered to me, but I denied them because I knew the will of the Lord and decided to follow Him. Other things I accepted against the will of the Lord, and found no satisfaction in them. They became a curse, or a loss. Sometimes the things of the world are not offered, or not available.

God respects agency more than anything. Agency is above all. If I am going to be with Him, it must come by my own freewill choice. There is no shadow of coercion in either direction. As choices are presented to me, I have complete freedom to choose either. I am not bound. I choose what I want.

Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one or the other.

(2 Nephi 2:16)

I want both. I want the things of God, and I want the things of the world. Some people think they can have both by asking God to give them what they want of the world. This is “asking amiss.”

Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

(James 4:3) 

Receiving the things of God means sacrificing the things of the world. That is the choice of life. God gives everyone absolute freedom to choose, which is one of the reasons we are here on the earth. Abraham was told our purpose for being here: 

And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;

(Abraham 3:25)

It is by my choices that I am going in a direction. I am given commandments of the Lord, and I am offered the things of the world -- I choose the Lord!