Frustration

Growth is frustrating.  Change happens so slowly that there are no real steps, as such, only a gradual slope -- very gradual.  In the world we have clear steps, sort of, because we make them.  We have a school year with grades.  We have graduation.  We have birth, marriage, and death.  We mark events by our achievements, and happenings.  We celebrate birthdays, but we are really no different the day before we added another year.  So, in spite of our attempts to mark steps, growth is still a very gradual process.

We laugh at the two-year-old who thinks she’s “all growed up!” because she can use the toilet, and we say, “Honey, you’ve got a LONG way to go!”  We see children get frustrated that they don’t have the ability or privilege of the adults.  They want to be there.  They know where they’re going, but don’t want to have to take the long journey to get there.  It’s so slow.  It’s frustrating.

All growth takes time.  There are no shortcuts.  A five-year-old can pretend to be an adult, and indeed can imitate the adults well, but still has to take the time to become an adult.  The time element is a requirement for all growth.  We don’t suddenly know everything we want to know, but rather gradually learn everything.

Looking to others
The story is told of a young lad who asked Socrates to tell him everything he knew.  Socrates got up and walked out, and the lad followed.  He then walked down into a river, and the lad followed.  Socrates then grabbed the boy and held him under water until he was struggling for air.  When he brought him up, Socrates said, “When you want to know all that I know as much as you wanted air, then come and talk to me.”  Near the end of his life, Socrates said, “I only know that I know nothing.”  Sometimes all our learning only gets us to the frustrating place of realizing our own ignorance.

Moreover, we cannot give our growth to others.  A professor can impart information, but the student can take in only what he’s prepared to receive. Parents, teachers, mentors, and others may tell what they have learned, most of which is wrong, incomplete, or irrelevant.  We get tidbits of information from each other that keep us going on our own path, or help us to decide which path to take.  However, each must make his own journey, taking his own path, finding mentors who can help on one section, until one or the other takes a fork and loses us.  Our briefly shared paths bind us forever, but we journey on alone.  Our path is individual, and others cannot tell us which way to go.

Re-Birthday!
Where is the fanfare?  Where are the celebrations?  Yesterday, I was given to know that my heart has been changed, that I’m no longer steeped in sin, that my heart is on the Lord, instead of in the world.  It’s a momentous occasion, one worthy of my grandest party, and an annual celebration.  I have been born again.  I’m a new man.  But, I still look, act, and feel the same as I did two days ago.  On the outside, nothing has changed.  On the inside, I’m still me.  In my heart, the change has been gradual, VERY gradual, frustratingly gradual, compared to my expectations.  Which day do I mark?  Do I have more to go?  Maybe I’m not even there yet.  I don’t know what I don’t know so I don’t know if I can mark this in my calendar.  In fact, in August a year ago I wrote:

08/29/2016 Born Again
I have finally found what I have been searching for all of my life.  I am a new man in Christ.  I am a son of Christ.  I have taken upon me His name.  This day He has spiritually begotten me.  I am born again.  After so many years of seeking, asking, and knocking, I have finally found salvation through the Lord, Jesus Christ, and I can feel to sing the song of redeeming love.  I know Him.  I know He lives, and I know He has to power to save me from all my weaknesses, rebellion, and sins.

So, a year ago I received a knowledge that Jesus could save me, that He would be my personal Savior.  Now, I know that He has.  Each one feels like arrival, but that begs the question, "What is the next step?"  Where do I go from here?  It’s not about events, it’s about processes.  The changes are more like “Two roads diverging in a yellow wood,” than a 180-degree turn, or even a 90-degree turn.  The turn is a few degrees each time, such that there is little difference months, or even years down the road.  Now, a year later, I see that I have made another 2-degree turn.  How can we celebrate such a small step.  Like Neil A. Armstrong stepping down onto the surface of the moon, after a 300,000 mile journey said, “That’s one small step for man, and one giant leap for mankind.”  He had arrived, but could have been frustrated that it was just a bunch of dust and rocks, like the Arizona desert.  He didn't have to travel so far just to see another rock.  The “giant leaps” In spiritual growth, like any other, are really small steps.  It can be frustrating, if I think I should already be there, “all growed up!” as if there is a "there" to be.

Birth, and re-birth, are processes in the path of growth.  Taking your first breath, or your first step, is just one of many.  Learning is always a process that goes on forever.  Like all things in the Universe, there is a bottom of zero, but there is no top, no ceiling.  The apparent top is just a ridge over which we climb to see that there is more mountain to go.  The trail goes onward and upward without end, as long as we choose that path.  It’s only frustrating if we look ahead and want to arrive, to be there, to end the journey.

There is no end.  Acceptance of life as a continual journey ends the frustration of growth.  When we realize that there is no arrival, there is no stopping, there is no end, we can enjoy the excursion much more.  We no longer dread the path, hoping to arrive, asking continually, “Are we there yet?”  My answer to my children when we went on long trips was always, “Yes” To that question.  “No matter where you are, you’re there.” I would tell them.  We actually never arrive, we’re always traveling.  Ironically, what we want, arrival, is damnation.  Eternal Life is continual growth, we never arrive!  How wonderful!  Growth is excitement, change is interesting, learning is joyful, and progress makes life worthwhile.  Loving the journey is Eternal Life.  Rather than looking back and celebrating a small step, or a slight change in my path, I think I’ll look ahead and enjoy the road I’m on.  I'm going to turn right at the next fork, just to see where it goes.

Hope

Hope

I don’t care.  I really don’t care.  In my heart I don’t care about the things of this world.  Nothing can hurt me.  I’m strong.

I don’t want ease, I want hardship.

I don’t want fun, I want suffering.

I don’t want peace, I want a sword.

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.

Matthew 10:34

Mind you, I don’t want to suffer any more than anyone else, but I’m willing.  I will accept the will of the Lord in all things.  If I’m tortured, hated, rejected, scorned, or have to suffer loss or pain in any form, I will rejoice!

Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:10-12

There is a name for this place:  Hope.

Hope

Hope is a simple concept that we often use.

“I hope I get into school this semester.”

“I hope I win the jackpot.”

“I hope my business succeeds.”

“I hope I make it to my next doctors appointment.”

Hope is an anticipation of gain in things over which we have no control.  We are willing to put in work and effort for the possibility of gain in the future.  We invest time and money for the hope of an increase.  We allow suffering for the hope of fulfillment.  When we marry and make a commitment to our spouse, we hold out for the hope that this marriage will be a “happily ever after,” even when it is hard, painful, and lonely.  Hope gets us through the hard times, allowing us to “see the light at the end of the tunnel.”

In the Tongue of Angels, hope is progressive.  The gift of hope starts as a small wish or want, a desire for a good outcome.  This desire grows as faith grows, a little at a time.  It is the hope of salvation, and ultimately the hope of a glorious resurrection.

The Depth of Despair

Hope starts as a recognition that salvation is possible; if I don’t see the possibility of salvation, then I’m in despair.

And if ye have no hope ye must needs be in despair; and despair cometh because of iniquity.

Moroni 10:22

Despair is a lack of hope, or the quality of being hopeless.  Without hope, life is only suffering and death.  The pleasures of the world may hide or calm despair, but the reality of hopelessness returns.  There is even despair in pleasures because we know they are going to end in suffering.  “I never want it to end...” but it always does, and the outcome of our pleasure-seeking behavior leaves us with more pain and suffering.

Putting hope in the things of the world is a dead-end.  There is no hope in indulgence.  Without God all other things are hopeless.  Jean-Paul Sartre explained how godlessness brings despair:

Dostoyevsky once wrote: “If God did not exist, everything would be permitted”; and that, for existentialism, is the starting point. Everything is indeed permissible if God does not exist, and man is in consequence forlorn, for he cannot find anything to depend upon either within or outside himself. He discovers forthwith, that he is without excuse.

(Existentialism from Dostoyevsky to Sartre, ed. Walter Kaufman, Meridian Publishing Company, 1989)

Hope and despair are at opposite ends of a spectrum.  Without hope there is only despair; as we increase in hope, we decrease in despair.  I have been in the depths of despair.  I have been hopeless to the point of wishing I could cease to exist.  Without God, as Sartre points out, there is no way out of my predicament, I have weaknesses and problems, I have sins and iniquities.  I don’t have control of myself, or anything around me -- I’m lost!  I feel very deeply the loneliness of separation from God, and the hopelessness of ever finding fulfillment.  I live life the way the dying Nephites were described by Mormon:

“But behold, I was without hope, for I knew the judgments of the Lord which should come upon them; for they repented not of their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them.”  (Mormon 5:2)

“...they did curse God, and wish to die. Nevertheless they would struggle with the sword for their lives.”  (Mormon 2:14)

I understand this despair.  Mormon served as the leader of the armies of the Nephites in spite of being without hope for them.  In turn, the people were hopeless because they didn’t turn to God.  There was nothing they could do.  They only wished to die, yet they continued to struggle for life.  Even in my despair, I wanted to hope, I looked for hope -- I hoped for hope.

Obtaining a Hope in Christ

From the beginning hope is a gift.  It begins with a recognition that we’re born in sin, that we are in the lone and dreary world, separated from God.  If we don’t feel this loss, then there is nothing to hope for.  There is no need for improvement.  It is what it is, and we wouldn’t be looking for more, or better.  If what we have is enough, than it would be illogical to seek more.  More than enough is too much.

However, when we understand the loss of communion with God, we long for fulfillment.  I felt a hole in the heart that needed to be filled.  I needed a connection.  I would hear the word of the Lord, and begin to “hope for a better world.”  I rejoiced in the testimony of others who had obtained this hope; I wanted what they had.  I believed that the Lord, Jesus Christ, could fill my hole, and make me whole; I had hope in this.  As I believed I began to seek evidence of its validity.

Faith

The evidence we seek is faith.  My evidence came from others, at first.  I believed that they knew something I didn’t, and I wanted to experience it myself.  Being very scientific, I needed evidence, my own personal evidence.  I couldn’t always rely on the witness of others.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

I began to gather evidence of what I believed.  I prayed, and studied, and pondered, and listened, and began to gather more and more evidence.  The words were true.  I verified them myself.  As my evidence increased, my faith grew, and I began to gain knowledge of things outside of the world.  I received a testimony of God, and of His love, and this gave me hope.

But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.

Alma 22:16

As faith lead me to understanding, I began to change my life, trying to be obedient to the words of God.  His commandments have only one purpose, and that is to bring us back to Him, to Eternal Life.  As we are more obedient, we purify ourselves, as He is pure, and gain a hope in Christ.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

1 John 3:2-3

Having hope gave me the desire to invest in the Lord, and in my future beyond this life.  I was willing to go through the purification process so I could obtain those things that are promised, or those things I hope for.  I’m even willing to suffer pain and loss, as Christ did, because I know it helps me to purify myself.  I sought to give up, or sacrifice the things of the world for the hope of a better world.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.  And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.  And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7

A Sure Thing

The concept of enduring suffering now so that we can enjoy later is as old as man, and is found everywhere.  In personal finance we have Dave Ramsey telling us to live the first years like nobody else wants to so that we can live our last years like nobody else can.  We sacrifice what we want now, for having wealth and financial freedom later.  We go to college, studying hard, paying a lot of money, so we can have a future career that we will enjoy for years.  We have a family, and endure a great number of hardships so we can have love.  The hope we have in all these cases might never come to fruition because the world is very unpredictable.  However, the hope in Christ is a sure thing because God keeps all of His promises.

Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

Hebrews 6:17-20

A hope in Christ allows me to divest myself of all the things of the world because I want more.

And verily I say unto thee that thou shalt lay aside the things of this world, and seek for the things of a better.

D&C 25:10

I don’t need to worry about anything.  I don’t need to mourn the loss of anything.  I don’t even care about pain and suffering.

...and they never did look upon death with any degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it.  Therefore, they would suffer death in the most aggravating and distressing manner which could be inflicted by their brethren...

Alma 27:28-29

When I have hope, I don’t care about suffering, pain, or afflictions.  I can endure all things because I know and am sure that there is an end, a glorious end.

But that ye have patience, and bear with those afflictions, with a firm hope that ye shall one day rest from all your afflictions.

Alma 34:41

I can endure suffering because it will be only a moment, like getting a shot, or suffering through surgery is painful for a moment, but will be for my good.  A patient submits to be cut up by the surgeon’s scalpel because of the hope of healing.  Hope gives a reason for suffering; it isn’t just to be endured, but is training to be like Christ.

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

Romans 5:1-4

Hope comes in the promise of God of salvation, redemption, healing, peace, love, and abundance, that of a glorious resurrection, and exaltation.

My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high

D&C 121:7-8

Thus, hope requires faith in the Lord, Jesus Christ, and in His promises.  Having obtained this hope, I’m no longer stuck in the world.  I’m no longer servants of sin.  I’m free through the truth.  Knowing what comes next, and having a promise of a glorious resurrection, meaning death is not the end, and suffering will come to an end, and be for my benefit, allows me to endure all things in the world.  Nothing of the world is important.  Nothing in the world can take away my hope in Christ so I don’t care about anything.  He is my all in all.  All I need is Him.  What happens to me here is only temporary, whether pleasure or pain, so I care for neither.  I can do as He did, and be as He is because I know what will happen in the end.  I can take upon myself the suffering of others through His grace.  I can accept injustice because He did.  I can love all without reservation because I don’t care, they can’t hurt me.  I’m invincible in Him.

My Three Sins and the Love of God

Years ago I wrote about “My Three Sins.”  The three things I have needed in the world have always been:

Comfort, or physical fulfillment
Connection, or love
Respect, or admiration

The sin is not the need, so much as the attempt to fill the need with the things of the world.  I have felt as though:

Money could fill my physical needs for comfort.
Marriage and family would fill my need for a connection and love.
My career would fill my needs for respect and admiration.

My thoughts and experience is that God strips His people of all needs.  He has always dealt with his people in this way, removing the stumbling blocks of the world that keep them from finding Him, or that take them into paths of the world.  Some are denied what they want, and others are given what they want so they can see that there is no real fulfillment in it.

In my case, He has taken away all my money and lets me see that I can do without.  My business fails.  I can’t seem to be truly successful in anything.  I really am a failure.  "Money to business is like blood to life." (Phil Knight)  My business is anemic, and always teetering on the edge of life.  I find no comfort, but only anxiety and stress.

He takes away my love.  I get married seeking a connection.  We have issues, “like anyone else...”  I’m being patient.  I pray so hard that I could love my wife, so we could bond and have a great marriage.  I pray for knowledge to show me the way to find love.  I read all the books on marriage.  I go to counseling.  I work on it every day, but instead, she asks for a divorce.  My children completely reject all that I love.  Epic failure.  Then, I marry again, and my new wife cannot live with me.  I’m lonely.  It’s cold out here all alone.  I deal with loneliness.  My heart is broken.

He removes my respectability.  I became a doctor to find respect among men.  I went further to educate myself in the principles of health, instead of just giving drugs that are toxic, and only treat the symptoms, I’m looking for the cure!  I can really help people; I can do so well!  But, the Lord had other plans.  I lost my license.  I’m shamed among men, a pariah.  Now I'm alone working part-time in the office of a nurse.  It’s not even my office.  I have another job in a nursing home where I'm not allowed to use my skills.  This is not what I wanted!

Seek the Lord with all my heart.
I suppose there are two ways to go.  I can redouble my efforts to get the things of the world.  I could be like Scarlet O'Hara and do whatever it takes to get what I want.  Or, I could turn to the Lord.  The message of the Scriptures is that I could put my trust in Him.

To do that, there are two things that must be done:

1. Let go of the things of the world.
2. Seek the Lord.

Sacrifice
The altars (sacrament table, temple) represent sacrifice.  Every altar is a sacrifice that I must make of the things of the world.  I start to give up every inkling that anything in the world could fill my needs.  I seek for nothing in the world.  The sacrifice must come first.  This is true faith.  Putting my trust in the Lord means giving up what I have for some pie-in-the-sky promise of God.

My money is given to Him -- the “first fruits of the field,” and “the firstlings of the flock.”  I don’t give him what is left over, but rather what I need to survive, the best of what I have.  I pay Him first.

My love is sacrificed.  I let go of my wife and children, turning them over to the Lord.  They aren’t mine anyway.  I let them go to fulfill whatever He has for them.  They are in His hands.

The honors of men is sacrificed.  I give up my profession.  I allow obscurity.  I don’t boast in my own strength or knowledge and power.  I give it up.  I submit to the powers that be, becoming just another doctor doing what everyone else does.  I totally give up my own knowledge and wisdom.  I sacrifice my self-promotion.

Turn to the Lord
If I turn these over to God, and truly put my trust in Him, and have Him be my supply, my guide and stay, my all in all, then I will love Him because I need Him.  I will put all my hopes on Him.  I will put my trust in Him as I let go of the idea that anything in the world could possibly fill those needs.  He will fill my needs.

I don’t need money because the Lord provides for my needs.

I don’t need a woman, or children, because the Lord fills my heart and gives me hope, and love.

I don’t need respect, or admirers because the Lord gives me confidence as I become unselfish, not seeking my needs.

Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God;
D&C 121:45

There’s more, but this is as far as I’ve come to understand.  I know what I need to do.

Falling in Love with God

I have often wondered about the terminology used by others in describing their love for God.  Words that are generally used for a lover, an affair, or a young couple are also used for those who love God.

The entire book “Song of Solomon” is about the love affair between God and His people.

A bundle of myrrh is my wellbeloved unto me; he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts.
My beloved is unto me as a cluster of camphire in the vineyards of En-gedi.
Behold, thou art fair, my love; behold, thou art fair; thou hast doves' eyes.
Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant: also our bed is green.
Song of Solomon 1:13-16

I am my beloved's, and his desire is toward me.
Song of Solomon 7:10

There are only two we are commanded to love with all our heart.  The relationship between husband and wife is similar to that of God and His children.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Matthew 22:37

Thou shalt love thy wife with all thy heart, and shalt cleave unto her and none else.
D&C 42:22

The songs we sing to God are songs of love and beauty, using the same words as a lover, words like beautiful, love, light, and fair.

"Beautiful Savior"
by Author Unknown, 1677
Translated by Joseph A. Seiss, 1823-1904

Beautiful Savior,
King of Creation,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I'd love Thee,
Truly I'd serve Thee,
Light of my soul, my Joy, my Crown.

Fair are the meadows,
Fair are the woodlands,
Robed in flowers of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer;
He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.

Fair is the sunshine,
Fair is the moonlight,
Bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer,
Than all the angels in the sky. 

Beautiful Savior,
Lord of the nations,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor,
Praise, adoration,
Now and forevermore be Thine!

Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him.

He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.
        John 21:17

We sing songs of Love to Him, to stay near, to protect, to comfort, as we would a lover, even using the same language.

Jesus, Lover of My Soul, Hymn 102

Jesus, lover of my soul, Let me to thy bosom fly,
While the nearer waters roll, While the tempest still is high.
Hide me, O my Savior, hide, Till the storm of life is past.
Safe into the haven guide; Oh, receive my soul at last.

Other refuge have I none; Hangs my helpless soul on thee.
Leave, oh, leave me not alone; Still support and comfort me.
All my turst on thee is stayed; All my help from thee I bring.
Cover my defenseless head With the shadow of thy wing. 

The basis for the love of God is the same as that of our spouse -- need.  We love what we need.  In the world, our connection comes from those we love.  We need a connection.  This is the love of a spouse or family as they fill this need.  Those who say they don’t need anyone are lying, we all need others, we all need to be accepted, loved, and needed.

Young Love
A beautiful girl walks into a room, looks around, and her eyes meet those of a young man.  They are in love.  This love is belief.  He sees her, and and is attracted to her so he believes that she could fill his need for a deep connection from the heart.  She likewise believes that he could fill her needs.  They don’t need to know anything about each other, they only need the belief.  As long as that belief remains, love will remain with it.  However, if they marry, and time passes, and there are breeches of trust and faith, then the belief fades.  One or both no longer believe that the other could fill the deep need inside their heart so love goes away.  Once the belief is gone, the love goes with it, and all too often the couple dissolves, and they go their separate ways.

The foundation for the love we have for God is exactly the same.  We hear the word of God and believe that He can fill our deep need, and we fall in love with Him.  We seek Him, to be with Him.  We desire Him.  We listen to Him, living by every word.  We don’t know Him, we only believe, and that belief gives us love, or a desire for Him.

The same way I need my love, I need my God.

I need thee every hour, In joy or pain. Come quickly and abide, Or life is vain.
I need thee, oh, I need thee; Ev'ry hour I need thee! Oh, bless me now, my Savior; I come to thee!
Hymn 98:3

I need thy presence ev'ry passing hour.
Abide with Me!

Needs
What is this need that I have?  Why do I need?  I need a connection.  I need to be heard.  I need to be understood.  I need to be wanted.  I need acceptance.  I need validation.  I need unconditional approval.  I need recognition.  I need to be loved.  I will love anyone whom I believe could possibly fill my needs.

Falling out of love
Though I believe with all my heart, and love God, as time goes by, I find that my needs are not always filled.  I don’t get what I want in the way I want it.  I’m not filled all the time.  I’m often left with unfulfilled dreams and desires.

Also, there are breeches on my part, I cannot always be faithful so I lose His presence.  I feel like my trust is broken, and the belief fades, I cease to believe that He will fill my needs, or that I can merit His love, and my love fades with it.  Either I lose the belief that He can fill my needs, or that He will.  Either way, I will fall out of love with Him and will start looking elsewhere to fill my needs.  I seek other gods.  The modern world is filled with gods accessible to everyone.  Knowledge, drugs, sex (virtual or real), games, work, money, and so forth.

The reason it’s so easy to fall out of love, or go to another, is because the basis of my love is a selfish belief.  My beloved is nothing more than a vehicle to fill my needs.  As soon as I don’t believe my lover could fill my needs, or if I believe someone else could fill them better, then my love will change.  I can’t be faithful as long as my needs aren’t being met; I’m always going to be searching for another to fill the need.

If I’m unfaithful, the breech always comes from me.  I’m the one who goes off seeking another.  I love God as long has He fills the need, but as soon as I perceive that my needs aren’t filled, I seek another god.  I lose belief in myself because of my weakness and impropriety.  I lose the companionship of God because I don’t remember Him, breaking the covenant I make every week at the altar of the Holy Sacrament of bread and water, body and blood.  I don’t abide the covenant.

Sampson and Delilah is a story of the love affair between God and His people.  For love, the Lord gives his life, willingly, betrayed by His lover.

And she said unto him, How canst thou say, I love thee, when thine heart is not with me? thou hast mocked me these three times, and hast not told me wherein thy great strength lieth.
Judges 16:15

Likewise, Hosea was commanded to marry a prostitute in similitude of the children of Israel turning their hearts to other gods.

And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.
Hosea 1:2

After leaving, and finding myself wandering in the wilderness, I come back to Him.  I still need Him.  I have walked in bitterness, and have found, truly, that only God could fill my needs.  There is no God besides Him.  My broken covenant must return to Him, begging forgiveness, pleading for mercy, because I need Him.  I need Him always.  He will fill my needs, and I will be faithful to Him.  I have sought other gods to fill my needs and found them wanting.  It seems like money, food, sex, drugs, fun, friends, marriage, alcohol, children, homes, stuff, business, service, or some other thing of the world could fill my needs, but they are all temporary.  I put a lot of effort into them, but they don’t fulfill their promise.  Getting my needs for love filled by anyone, or anything, in this world is impossible.  Nothing will work.  Everything is temporary, in terms of minutes, hours, or even years.  My heart is broken.  All those things I set my heart on are useless, dead, gone, fallen.

And behold, I have given you the law and the commandments of my Father, that ye shall believe in me, and that ye shall repent of your sins, and come unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Behold, ye have the commandments before you, and the law is fulfilled.  Therefore come unto me and be ye saved; for verily I say unto you, that except ye shall keep my commandments, which I have commanded you at this time, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
3 Nephi 12:19-20

I could then fall in love with God, believing that He will fill my needs, and continue on throughout my life with this belief.  If I understand that I will not get everything I want, and that He knows best, I can love Him for the rest of my life based on the promise of fulfillment.  I will keep His commandments so that I can get my needs filled.  This is a “true believer,” however, there is “a more excellent way.”

Pure Love
I can’t love until I am loved, but I can be loved until I love.  This is why the unconditional love of God is so essential to my being.  I’m not whole, or complete without Him so I cannot love with all my heart.  If there is a hole in my heart, it must be filled before I can love.  He fills the hole, allowing me to love so that I can be loved, or so that I can feel loved.  I won’t feel loved with a hole in my heart.  A broken heart.  A lack of connection.  Loss.  Misery.  To be miserable is to be disconnected and alone.  Alone is misery.  Connection is joy.

Immature love is based on need.  The couple who were married based on their belief fell out of love as their hopes were dashed.  They parted, but didn’t have to because there is a higher love.  The other option is to learn true love or charity.  Some would have the couple try to go backwards, relying on their original love, trying to fill each other’s needs, to rekindle the fire of belief that got them started on the journey.  Likewise, we believe that God will fill our needs, causing us to love Him.  Some continue in this love of God, seeking Him to fill their every need, for life.  However, there is “a more excellent way.”  This is called charity.

...yet shew I unto you a more excellent way:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
1 Corinthians 13

As we see from this, charity is unselfish at the core.  While we fall in love because we believe that our beloved could fill our needs, charity, or pure love, “seeketh not her own.”  If we aren’t seeking fulfillment, then we will not fall in love.  If we have no needs, then we will lose our belief, and love will die.  Immature love cannot exist in the absence of need.  Charity, however, grows and thrives only when there is no need.

The immature love is based on belief, while mature love is based on understanding.  I don’t need to know my lover for her to fill my needs, whether that is a woman, or a god.  When the needs are filled, I seek to know.  Charity is not faith nor hope, but knowledge.  I know because I love, and I love because I know.

Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
1 Corinthians 13

The first part of Paul’s beautiful poem on charity is what it’s not -- charity isn’t selfish.  The second part describes what charity is -- full knowledge, mature understanding, completeness, and wholeness.  It is knowing God.

Coming to know God
While some remain in love with God, because they believe He will fill their needs, the real way back into love with God is by coming to know Him through perfect love.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
1 John 4:8

Note that the same verb "to know" is used to describe the intimate sexual relationship between a husband and wife.

And Adam knew his wife, and she bare unto him sons and daughters, and they began to multiply and to replenish the earth.
     Moses 5:2

A song titled “To Know Me is to Love Me” illustrates the relationship between love and knowledge.  When we know God, we will love Him, not based on His ability to fill our needs, but rather on our ability to serve His needs.  We love Him when we serve Him, and keep His commandments.

If ye love me, keep my commandments.
John 14:15

We are assured that the breech never comes from God.  He is faithful.  He is loving.  He is kind.  He will always fulfill His promises.  He ever remains trustworthy.

Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deuteronomy 7:9

We can always depend on Him.  I will promise to be obedient to every word.  I love Him because I need Him.  I obey His commandments in the same way He loved God by being obedient.

But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do.
John 14:31

I come to know Him as I do His will.

But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1 John 2:5

“Perfected” means “completed.”  The love of God is complete as we are more obedient.  Over time, I become trustworthy.  I no longer go off to worship other gods.  I stay with Him.  I believe more and more.  My faith in Him is increased as my belief in my own ability to be faithful to Him increases.  I come to know Him as I serve Him.

For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?
Mosiah 5:13

As I come to know Him, I begin to love truly, and the cares of the world are lost.  I can receive the Holy Ghost as a constant companion, being comforted and relieving me of all worry, care, or anxiety.

Anxiety
Anxiety is the sensation of being unsure, or lacking stability.  Immature love is unstable because nothing in this world is permanent.  Anyone I love could die tomorrow.  My mom once was offered a puppy that she had fallen in love with, but said, “I’m not going to pay $300 for a dog that could die tomorrow!”  There are no guarantees in life, and the promises we make in love cannot be fulfilled because we have no control over what will happen.  Young couples in love tell each other, “I will always love you!”  or “I will always be there for you!”  but they don’t even know if they’re going to be around tomorrow.  As soon as we realize this truth we become anxious.  We need a more sure foundation.

The sure foundation of charity dispels all anxiety.

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear:
1 John 4:18

I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.  And I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love;
Moroni 8:16-17

The word “everlasting” is essential to love as a foundation.  With charity, worry, care, fear, and anxiety are completely removed, and only peace reigns inside me.  I have a foundation on which to build, the foundation of charity, or the pure love of Christ.  The old foundation of need, or immature love, is taken away because I no longer need.  I don’t fear losing this love because it’s Eternal love, it’s a sure foundation.

...it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.
Helaman 5:12

Christ is the sure foundation.  I would submit to you that it is charity, the pure love of Christ that forms this foundation and brings stability and peace.

The Holy Ghost
Jesus gives a gift to those who follow Him, by doing as He says, even the gift of peace.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
John 14:21-27

The three concepts found in these verses are intricately intertwined:
1. Obedience
2. Love
3. Peace

The three members of the Godhead are all intricately intertwined in these concepts:
1. Father
2. Son
3. Holy Ghost

Those who follow Christ are obedient to everything He says, because His words are not His, but those of the Father.  God gave Him the words that He gives to me.  If I keep His commandments, I’m obeying the will of the Father, and both God the Father and Jesus Christ will abide with me, meaning to stay with me.  I like the way this states, “make our abode with him.”  It’s more than just being near, or coming for an occasional visit, but more like living with.  God the Father and Jesus Christ become my roommates in my little house, my body.  The Father sends the Comforter in the name of Jesus Christ to comfort me, or to fill the need in my heart.  This brings peace.  I’m no longer looking for fulfillment because I’m already filled, I’m connected, I’m loved all the way through my heart and soul.

The sacrament prayers give me the way.

O God, the Eternal Father, we ask thee in the name of thy Son, Jesus Christ, to bless and sanctify this bread to the souls of all those who partake of it, that they may eat in remembrance of the body of thy Son, and witness unto thee, O God, the Eternal Father, that they are willing to take upon them the name of thy Son, and always remember him and keep his commandments which he has given them; that they may always have his Spirit to be with them. Amen.
D&C 20:77,79

As I take upon myself His name, obey His commandments, and remember Him always, then I’m promised to have His Spirit to always be with me.  I follow Him by being obedient to the words given to me through Him by God, the Father.  The gift of charity is given to those who are true followers of Christ.

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 7:47-48

With the Holy Ghost in my heart, I’m comforted, and no longer need the comforts of the world.  I’m pure, clean, and filled with His love.  I don’t need drugs to make me feel better.  I don’t need sex to make a temporary connection.  I don’t need others to validate me.  I don’t need money to buy comforts.  All the things of the world are as dross because I have the pure gold, and I know the difference.  I have the real thing.  I’m filled, complete, and whole.  This isn’t a temporary sensation, but rather a permanent fix.  The hole in my heart is filled such that it’s no longer there.  It’s stable and everlasting.

Once I’m filled by the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, I’m able to truly love others with all my heart.  I can give love, true love.  I can love my wife, my children, and my neighbor with a pure love, untainted by need or want.  I’m truly unselfish, giving from the heart with the only purpose of blessing them.  I love them by giving.  I’m not taking.  I’m not needy.  I have no ulterior motives because I need nothing from them.  I’m already whole and complete, as Jesus has commanded.

Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect.
3 Nephi 12:48

Charity is perfect love, being complete and whole.  God is love.  God is perfect because He is whole.  The gift of charity is truly greater than all the gifts we receive in the world.  It is greater than prophecy, tongues, faith to move mountains, or knowledge.  To love God, being filled with His love, is worth all of the sacrifices I must make.  All of my other gods must go.  I must let them go.  I must sacrifice them on the altar, the sacrifice of a broken heart, letting go of everything of the world, and a contrite spirit, willing to live “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”  (Matthew 4:4)

I need Him.  I know I need Him.  I believe that He can and will fill my needs.  I have faith that He will fill the hole in my heart, and hope that He will grant unto me the gift of charity, the pure love of Christ, when I’m ready.  He is beautiful!  I need Him every hour.  He is the lover of my soul.  He is my all in all.  He is my comfort.  He fills me up.  I will always love Him.  I adore Him.  I worship Him.  Thus, I have fallen in love with God.

Love vs. Friendship

“Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”
                                            Albert Camus

If you didn’t love me:
You wouldn’t be jealous of other relationships.
You wouldn’t need me to prove my love.
You wouldn’t feel angry when I don’t call.
You wouldn't need me to be the same as you.
You wouldn’t be sad because of a missed birthday.
You wouldn't be a harsh critic.
You wouldn’t need me to be something other than what I am.

If you were my friend:
You would call me just to talk.
You would be able to ask for help.
You would let your heart be known.
You would overlook my faults.
You would forget the bad.
You would lean on me.
You would talk to me from your heart,
You would accept me as I am.
You would remember the good.
You would be there.

To love is to know.  You cannot love anyone you don’t know; as King Benjamin said, “For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?”  (Mosiah 5:13)  Whatever you feel about another, but it isn’t love until you know him, and understand his heart, like a longtime friend.

To love is to be with.  You cannot know, or love anyone you don’t spend time with.  Experience brings understanding, acceptance, and friendship.

To love is to be happy with.  Being angry, sad, frustrated, and irritable isn’t loving.  These are all emotions of rejection, they push away.  Love, on the other hand is acceptance, understanding, patience, and tolerance -- the way you treat your best friend, warts and all.

Love isn’t love, friendship is love.

I don’t want you to love me.  

I want you to be my friend.

The Question of Marriage

Marriage is a unique relationship.  Almost everyone wants to get married, but we soon find that it’s hard to be married.  Most marriages start out like a hydrogen atom with a proton and an electron -- they are attracted to one another, but they can’t get too close.  There is an optimal distance where repelling force is perfectly balanced by the attractive force.  The couple together form a hydrogen atom, one is an electron, and the other a proton; one revolves around the other.  One is the strong center, the other revolves around, but they never come together.  They feel this lack as a defect on the part of their spouse being unable to fulfill the promise of marriage and become one.

Wives

First, I notice that women are looking for a way in.  They want to be married, to have a husband, a companion, a helpmeet -- that is, until they get married.  Then, they begin looking for a way out.  Most eventually find it.  It’s pretty easy to find reasons why she cannot trust him.  He has weaknesses.  He has shortcomings.  He’s a hypocrite.  He doesn’t provide well.  He gets angry.  He withholds love.  He doesn’t speak my love language.  We don’t have anything in common.  He’s not like me.  He’s weird.  He thinks different.  He isn’t good with my children.  He lies.  He’s a democrat.  He comes from a different culture.  He doesn’t believe in God.  He has bad habits.  He looks at other women.  He cheated on me.  He’s cold and distant.  The list is endless, and can excuse her from loving him.  She doesn’t need to love him because he doesn’t deserve to be loved.  He can’t be trusted.  Thus wives can keep their heart from their husbands.

Instead, she loves her children.  She puts all of her efforts, her whole heart, into her children, and has none to spare for her husband.  She gives to them.  She loves them.  They are hers, the only ones in the world that are hers -- that is, until they aren’t.  Children grow up and need to fly the nest, find a mate, and become one with them, leaving out the mom.  She is not part of that union, and no longer feels nurtured by her children.  The loss can be tremendous.  The wife built her house on a shaky foundation, and it crumbled.  Now she only has her husband, whom she has avoided for so many years.  Many of these relationships break up.

Husbands

Then, I realized that men do the same, only in a different way.  They pull away.  They get angry.  They become grumpy.  They play sports.  They join clubs.  They work all day, and then all night.  They’re busy.  They don’t have time to spend with their wives.  They forget important dates.  They are generally stressed.  They find an outside source for stress relief.  They don’t come home.  They don’t spend time.  They’re busy.  They keep their heart.

Instead, men often try to get their wives to love them by filling their needs.  Mostly, they substitute love with money, rather than giving themselves -- they buy gifts.  They do lawn care and vehicle maintenance.  They may help with chores and honey-do lists.  They work alone.  As long as the wife needs them to perform tasks, they have something to do, and it feels like a connection.  But, again, it’s a shaky foundation.  There will come a time when the children are gone, and the need is no longer there.  Then, they are left without a relationship.  They have a wife that they have avoided for so many years.  Now her needs have changed, and the glue that held them together doesn’t stick.   They often go out searching for someone else.

Waiting

Most marriages begin more like a parent-child relationship, a child seeks love from a parent, but has no responsibility to return love, nurture, or care.  Each sees themselves as the child, and their spouse as the parent.  The child loves the parent because the parent loves the child first.  Thus, conflict ensues because each is waiting for the other to love first.  This is why they cannot get closer, it’s the repelling force of the atom of marriage.  If they don’t break up, they may live out their lives waiting, and waiting, never realizing the potential of marriage.  They don’t become one, they just live together like the proton and electron, not flying apart, but not joining either.  They’re companions, having a bond, but not that of unity.

Marriage is so disappointing.  It’s unfulfilling.  It’s not a comedy, it’s a tragedy.  The boy doesn’t get the girl in the end.  It’s Romeo and Juliet.  They die, never realizing the unity, love, and wonder of the marriage covenant.  This is why divorce is such a tragedy -- the promise of life is broken.  Children lose faith, they no longer believe that true love is possible so they begin to look for pleasures in the world, becoming dependent on them, instead of seeking true happiness through unity.  Each is waiting for the other to love them.  But that’s never going to happen.  Each can become distant, bitter, or angry at the other for not fulfilling the expectation of the marriage.  “You’re supposed to love me.”  “I’m still waiting.”   We wait forever.  Staying together in an unfulfilled marriage is just as tragic.

“Few there be that find it.”

Some few persist in marriage, growing up, and learning to be unselfish.  They learn that marriage isn’t a question of, “Does my wife love me?” but rather, “Do I love her?”  Learning to love is the basis of feeling loved, which is why waiting for my wife to love me never works.  Unity is achieved not by being loved, but by loving.  It only takes one.  The husband is the leader, and must have the courage to step out in love.  He must be the first to love.  He gives his whole heart, accepting her and loving who she is, a daughter of God, a queen, royalty.  He understands her strengths and weaknesses, and loves her with all his heart.  He isn’t using manipulation to make her do, say, or be anything.  He just loves her for who she is.  He isn’t looking to feel loved, only to love, to give.

They then begin to have an attraction like the poles of a magnet where they are drawn together, the closer they are, the stronger the pull.  The object of life is to become magnets, the man to be the north pole, and the woman to be the south pole.  As they become closer, they are more attracted.  The attraction is love; we are naturally attracted to those who love us.  The closer we are, the more we love, which increases the attraction.  It’s magnetic!

We all inherently know that the best that life has to offer is found in a husband and wife becoming one.  Every culture, every society, in every time has celebrated marriage as the most important relationship.  Indeed, unity is better than all the riches of the Earth.  It is more satisfying than any drug, food, or pleasure.  It’s the highest achievement in life.  It’s the ultimate expression of life.  It is truly living.

This is why every story needs the guy to get the girl in the end.  It’s the promise of fulfillment of life.  A husband and wife who become magnets with opposite poles come together as one -- automatically and magically!  The difference between the tragedy of marriage, and a comedy is a simple question.  They stop being an atoms soon as they stop hoping to be loved, asking, “Does she love me?”  This question becomes impertinent to them as they begin to ask the magnetic question that changes marriage from a tragedy to the ultimate comedy, “Do I love her?”

Choice

The work of God is to give options to His children, that we may all choose what we want.  In order to have a choice, there must be options.  Each option is a gift that is made available through the Lord, Jesus Christ.  There are no other options.  There are no other gifts.  If you reject all of these you just have nothing.  It doesn’t matter what you think or believe,  if it isn’t true, you just have nothing.  Thus, the work of God, bringing His children to Eternal Life, is the work of teaching the truth.  There are many people teaching the truth, but each is teaching on a different level to different people for a different purpose.  Many of these play the "I'm right and you're wrong" game, but really, each is just serving God in a different way by teaching all of the various options to His children.

“For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”  (Moses 1:39)

God's work is to provide the information, knowledge, or truth to each person according to their desires.  He does this through servants who serve at all levels.  Let’s look at the levels of gifts that are available to every person.

Kingdoms of Glory

The work of God is to save His children from death and Hell.  The work goes on at all levels.  There are many levels in Heaven.

“In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”  (John 14:2)

Jesus Christ has made gifts available to all.  We receive the gift we desire.  The work of God is to give these gifts to his children, to bring them into Heaven.  Heaven has three basic levels that are called Telestial, Terrestrial, and Celestial.  Each of them is wonderfully greater than the one before, surpassing in knowledge, power, and glory in all things.  The way I like to think about it is like life on Earth.  The plants are living, and beautiful, and amazing, but animals far surpass the plants in glory, having a brain, being able to learn, and move, and grow continuously.  However, mankind far surpasses animals in ability, growth, knowledge, and glory.  Man can grow continually and forever, increasing in knowledge and power.  This is like the three degrees of Heaven.

The Apostle Paul describes these glories as the sun, moon, and stars.

“Also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial, and bodies telestial; but the glory of the celestial, one; and the terrestrial, another; and the telestial, another.  There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.  So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:”  (JST 1 Corinthians 15:40-42)

The entrance fee into Heaven is simple, quick, easy, and free: confess Christ.  Heaven is free for the asking.  Just say the word, and we’re in, that is the only condition.

“For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”  (Romans 14:11)

Once we confess Christ, each of the various levels of glory in Heaven have different requirements.

Telestial
The lowest level of Heaven is for those who are not faithful, who live selfish lives.

“These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie.”  (D&C 76:103)

Even after living unethical lives, they are saved in a kingdom of Heaven, if they meet the one requirement of confessing Christ.  God is so kind!

“These all shall bow the knee, and every tongue shall confess to him who sits upon the throne forever and ever; For they shall be judged according to their works, and every man shall receive according to his own works, his own dominion, in the mansions which are prepared;”  (D&C 76:110-111)

The “mansions” of Heaven include even the immoral people of the Earth.  God is so merciful to His children, that He brings them all into Heaven, if they will but confess His name.

He gives those in the lowest kingdom work to do.

“And they shall be servants of the Most High;”  (D&C 76:112)

However, in this lowest kingdom of Heaven, they do not experience the glory of Christ or the Father.

“but where God and Christ dwell they cannot come, worlds without end.”  (D&C 76:112)

This is the end of their glory.  Like a plant, they are rooted in the ground, and don’t move, or go on.  However, they do have work to do; they still serve God, and have a measure of joy, singing the praises of God.

Terrestrial
The next level of Heaven is “the glory of the moon.”  These mansions are prepared by Christ for those who are moral and honorable, who live lives of service and love others.  However, they do not accept or listen to the word of God while on the Earth.  They don’t live by faith.  They listen to men instead of to God.  They live out their lives morally, but don’t walk the path to Eternal Life.

“These are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men.”  (D&C 76:75)

The requirement for entrance into this glory is to accept the testimony of Jesus Christ after they die, in the spirit world before the resurrection.

“Who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it.”  (D&C 76:74)

They receive much more glory than those who bow the knee to escape their suffering.  As an animal is to a plant, or the moon to the starts, they can move and learn to a certain extent, but a hawk is always a bird.  It doesn’t become something greater.

Celestial
The highest glory of Heaven is reserved for those who live by faith in this life, or would have if they had it available to them; God is so merciful!  This is the Kingdom of God.  These have the glory of the sun compared to the moon or stars, or the glory of man compared to the animals.  The requirement for entrance into this highest kingdom is simple, but requires covenants and ordinances.  Baptism by water, and by the Holy Ghost, or being born of the water and the Spirit, are essential.  The next part is to remain faithful, enduring in the Spirit, until the end, or the resurrection, living by every word of God.

“They are they who received the testimony of Jesus, and believed on his name and were baptized after the manner of his burial, being buried in the water in his name, and this according to the commandment which he has given—That by keeping the commandments they might be washed and cleansed from all their sins, and receive the Holy Spirit by the laying on of the hands of him who is ordained and sealed unto this power; And who overcome by faith, and are sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, which the Father sheds forth upon all those who are just and true.”  (D&C 76:51-53)

These people live with God, the Father.  They have peace, love, and joy.  They have an inheritance with Christ, and receive “all that the Father hath.”

“Wherefore, all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs and they are Christ's, and Christ is God's.  And they shall overcome all things.  ...These shall dwell in the presence of God and his Christ forever and ever.”  (D&C 76:59-62)

Eternal Life
There’s more.

“In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;”  (D&C 131:1)

In the highest glory of Heaven, the glory of the sun, there are three basic levels of life.  The requirement of baptism, keeping the commandments and enduring to the end are enough to get us to the lowest level of that kingdom, but what about those who want more?  After we are baptized, we can learn about what comes next.  It is found in the Priesthood, which is received by faith after receiving the ordinances and making the covenants.  We can prepare ourselves to go to the temple and receive instruction on how to attain the highest gift of God, Eternal Life.

“you shall have eternal life, which gift is the greatest of all the gifts of God.”  (D&C 14:7)

This gift is promised to those who are faithful, and stay on the path that leads to it.  Only those who desire more will be able to receive it.  This greatest gift is given to those who get on the path, and continue without stopping, or veering off in other directions.  We must keep this goal continually before us, and endure all the sacrifices needed to receive it.  The path is not generally given, but rather specifically to each person who desires this gift.  We are guided by the Holy Ghost individually on our own straight and narrow path.  Paradoxically, the path is the same for everyone -- take the Holy Spirit as your guide.  This occurs after we are baptized by water, and then by the Spirit, or by fire.

The work of God

The work of God, that is going on all around us constantly, is disseminating this knowledge.  The work is to give options to everyone so each can choose a level.  Those who serve the Lord do so on every level.

Telestial work
Some are servants to minister to those who choose a telestial glory.  They’re simply telling those who have lived in ignorance and selfishness to confess the name of Christ so they can enter into Heaven at the lowest level.

Terrestrial work
Many servants of the Lord are teaching people to live moral and ethical lives so they can receive the Lord after they die and enter into the middle kingdom.

Celestial work
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is seeking out those who are willing to be baptized and receive the highest glory.  Members and missionaries traverse the entire Earth, asking people if they want more than they have.  Without the Church, the best they can do is a terrestrial existence, being ethical, moral, and honorable.  The Church offers baptism by water with the authority of God to make the covenants and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This is the ticket into the Celestial glory of Heaven.

Exalted work
And, ultimately, there are those in the Church who are seeking the few who desire Eternal Life, “the greatest gift of all the gifts of God.”

“Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”  (Matthew 7:14)

These are called to minister to those who have already been baptized, and need instruction on how to move forward.  They need to know that there is more, and that they can choose it.  They need to know how to choose it to prepare themselves to receive this “greatest gift of all!”  They are the few, but the gift is made available to all.  Everyone can choose this gift, if they desire it more than any of the others.  Most desire other gifts.  Thus, the servants who are working with the few work one-on-one in a mentor relationship, showing them how to take the Holy Ghost as their guide, always pointing them to God.  It is a higher calling, and an exalted work.

The Real Choice

Now we know what happens after this life.  Now we understand what Heaven is and all the options available, we have the ability to choose.  The work of God is to give all of His children the choice.  Among all these gifts, we can choose.  We are choosing.  When I offer my daughter a gift of a new car, I tell her to go out and choose among all the cars available.  She can choose a used Yugo or a brand new Tesla or a Rolls Royce convertible.  Everything is available to her.  It is my gift, I pay for it, but the choice is hers; it is her preference; she gets what she wants, what fits her.  Either way she will be happy with her new transportation.  Likewise, we have all things available to us.  We are choosing every day; every choice we make is taking us to one or the other.  In the resurrection, our choice will be final -- we will receive the gift we desire, and those who don’t desire any gift will receive nothing.

“Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
And they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
And also they who are quickened by a portion of the telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.
And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.
For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.”  (D&C 88:29-33)

You choose.  What is your goal?  What is your desire?  Which gift do you want?  They are all out there for the asking.  All are available to all.  None have no choice.  Nobody is forced into any part of Heaven.  Those who don’t desire a gift can reject them all, and be completely outside of Heaven forever.  This is pure choice.  It defines us forever.  Our choice defines our eternity.  We can choose any gift -- any gift we want.  We just read the options, the basic gifts, what they are, and what it takes to receive them.  Choose.

The servants of God are doing the work to give everyone a choice.  Whichever you choose, the servants for that gift will find you, and/or you will find them.  We are everywhere, doing the work of the Lord, “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.”