O, were you there?

Jesus Christ was born in the Meridian of Time in the city of Bethlehem.  He came to the virgin Mary, who was espoused to a man named Joseph.  The date was April 6, on the Gregorian Calendar.  Jehovah was His name in the World of His Father, but the name Jesus was given to Him on Earth, as decreed by God the Father and announced by the angel Gabriel to both Mary and Joseph.  Angels sang, Celestial trumpets blew, the entire Universe shouted for joy at the birth of the Savior of the World!

I was a Spirit.  You were a spirit.  We all followed Him here to this Earth.  Were we in the Heavenly choir, though?  If not, what were we doing?  If that moment in time led directly to the most glorious, most profound, most glorious and overwhelmingly profound moment in all of history and of all time (for us who were born to this Earth).  Why wouldn’t we have been in the Heavenly choirs?

The King of Kings came to His throne to be born and will return to rule and reign.  Let the Earth receive her King!

Wait for it...

It's coming; it's coming!

JPS

Eternal Joy

Alma is writing to his somewot wayward son, in the 41st chapter of the Book of Alma, and he says in verse four:

4 And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame--mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption--raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other--
5 The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.

So, what will it be like to be eternally happy, to not have to be stopped to linger in the shadow of death, but to be able to feel joy constantly?

Well?

JPS

Strait and narrow

So, it is true that there are an infinite number of paths that all lead back to God, but we need to remember that the strait and narrow path is the only path that arrives at the Celestial Kingdom.  That is just to say that the infinite number of paths must, ultimately, converge and join the covenant pathway!  As good as a person as you can possibly be will not qualify you to enter the Celestial Kingdom UNLESS you also make or accept (after you’ve died and good members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints perform them vicariously for you...) the saving ordinances.

In other words, no matter how much you and the teachings you’ve accepted or even taught in this life partallel the Gospel of Jesus Christ, you had better be led to embrace the TRUTH when it is presented to you or the work done for you!

One door, one baptism, one faith, one hope, one God, one Christ, one truth, one way!

JPS

Unfomfortable

Alma 39:59 And it came to pass that as he went forth among the people, yea, among a people who had separated themselves from the Nephites and called themselves Zoramites, being led by a man whose name was Zoram--and as he went forth amongst them, behold, he was run upon and trodden down, even until he was dead.

Korihor couldn't stay among the righteous Nephites...  He didn't feel comfortable with them any more; didn't want that light around him if he could help it.  Read in Alma 31 that, "... Zoramites were perverting the ways of the Lord, and that Zoram, who was their leader, was leading the hearts of the people to bow down to dumb idols..."

JPS

Something yet to come

In Alma 21:8 we read of an Amalekite man, “And the man said unto [Aaron]: We do not believe that thou knowest any such thing. We do not believe in these foolish traditions. We do not believe that thou knowest of things to come, neither do we believe that thy fathers and also that our fathers did know concerning the things which they spake, of that which is to come.”

Isn't believing that God will save all men, believing in some thing that is yet to come?

JPS

What would you say?

In Alma 21:5, we read: Therefore, as Aaron entered into one of their synagogues to preach unto the people, and as he was speaking unto them, behold there arose an Amalekite and began to contend with him, saying: What is that thou hast testified? Hast thou seen an angel? Why do not angels appear unto us? Behold are not this people as good as thy people?

What would you say?  (Well, if angels only come to those of strong faith and purity, then—and angels only come to you if sent by our God (who knows everything [omniscient], has all power [omnipotent], and is everywhere at the same time [omnipresent]—and that same God has sent angels to us and not to you, then isn’t HE saying we’re better, and not just us thinking we’re better?

JPS

Alma 21:3

In Alma 21:3, it says, “Now the Lamanites of themselves were sufficiently hardened, but the Amalekites and the Amulonites were still harder; therefore they did cause the Lamanites that they should harden their hearts, that they should wax strong in wickedness and their abominations.”

Once you have had the truth preached to you, and have rejected it, you become harder still...  But, once you have accepted the Gospel and reject it, you are the hardest (and only once having received the Gospel and its ordinances, can you become a Son of Perdition [+ shed innocent blood] and crucify Christ in open shame)—you have to have light enough to reject and deny or betray that light (think of a pendulum that can only swing as low as it can swing high...  The rope length is determined by the light possessed!)!

JPS

Kolob’s time-table

In Alma 19:6, it says, “Now, this was what Ammon desired, for he knew that king Lamoni was under the power of God; he knew that the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness--yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God--

My similar experience took longer...  almost four months of a coma is what it took for me...

1 day = 24 hrs

1 day of God = 1000 yrs

1 hour on Kolob = 365 & 1/4 Days per year and 1000 years = 1 day

For every minute that passes by in Heaven, how much time has passed by on Earth?

Let,

a = 24*60 minutes

b = 1000 years

c = 12 months

Thus,

b/a*c = 8.   33 months (8 months, 28 days, 19 hours, 12 minutes)

For every second that passes by in Heaven, how much time has passed by on Earth?

Let,

a = 24*60*60 seconds

b = 1000 years

c = 12*30 days

Thus,

b/a*c = 4.16 days (4 days, 3 hours, 50 minutes, 24 seconds)

JPS

Invited to come into the prophet's house...

In Alma 15:18 we read that, “Now as I said, Alma having seen all these things, therefore he took Amulek and came over to the land of Zarahemla, and took him to his own house, and did administer unto him in his tribulations, and strengthened him in the Lord.”

That would be so great to have a prophet of the Lord invite us into his house and administer to us!

How many of “us” also need to be strengthened when we have made a hard decision?  How many, then, recognize where to turn to find that strengthening?

JPS

Trepidation

In Alma 18:11, we read of King Lamoni’s encounter with Ammon and the way he feels about the faithfulness of this Nephites who asked to serve him in his kingdom.  After Ammon protects Lamoni’s flocks, he also prepares the chariots for Lamoni, and this is disconcerting to the king...  “Now I surely know that this is the Great Spirit, and I would desire him that he come in unto me, but I durst not.”

Can't come before God without trepidation, but not in a good way--Lamoni feared God!

Lamoni knee that Ammon was a man of God (not because of anything but his example...) and was afraid of letting him be or come close to him, less his proximity would allow God to be that close to him (obviously, not so hot in the logical conclusions territory!).

JPS

Alma 15:8

Alma 15:8 says, “And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed.”

All things truly are spiritual, as Alma says that if Zeezrom has faith in the spiritual redemption of man, he can be temporally healed...  Having faith in the salvation of man meant that he had the faith necessary to be healed--which is nothing compared to the faith necessary to believe that Christ can save us from our sins!

JPS

Zeezrom’s fever

Alma 15:3, “3 And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat.”

Imagine the war happening in his mind (that would have brought him "low with a fever" by itself--the mental battle between who he had been and what he now knew--trying to keep his mind clear and his faith in the truth vs. the pack of lies he had been persuading the people to believe and thus needing to believe the lies himself!

JPS

Saved the righteous in Ammonihah!

In Alma 15:2, after the righteous in Ammonihah were burned; “And they related unto them all that had happened unto their wives and children, and also concerning themselves, and of their power of deliverance.”

What could you say to the men whose wives and children were just burned to death?  How faithful did they have to be to not be angry at Alma & Amulek for NOT saving them with their Priesthood power?  "It looks like you saved yourselves, but could' have saved my wife and children?"  They would have needed to be very faithful indeed!

JPS

Priesthood

Alma chapter 13 is a great chapter on the priesthood.  In verses 3 & 10 it says:

3 And this is the manner after which they were ordained--being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.

—

10 Now, as I said concerning the holy order, or this high priesthood, there were many who were ordained and became high priests of God; and it was on account of their exceeding faith and repentance, and their righteousness before God, they choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to perish;

Being ordained to the office of High Priest doesn’t give you any more priesthood  than being ordained to the office of Elder...  think of the temple: when performing proxy work, they only ordain to the Melchizedek Priesthood, no specific office...  both a high priest and elder have been ordained to the Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God!  Plus, President Nelsen said in 4/18, that the priesthood that the president of the church has is the same priesthood as an elder has...  the difference is only in the keys that the president has, because of his calling...

JPS

First provocation?

In Alma 12:36, we read, “36 And now, my brethren, behold I say unto you, that if ye will harden your hearts ye shall not enter into the rest of the Lord; therefore your iniquity provoketh him that he sendeth down his wrath upon you as in the first provocation, yea, according to his word in the last provocation as well as the first, to the everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according to his word, unto the last death, as well as the first.”

Children of Israel in the wilderness is compared to Adam & Eve partaking of the forbidden fruit--both are banished from the promised land and can enter into God's rest only upon their repentance and repenting of their sins through the Atonement of Christ, the Lord.

Adam&Eve did not sin, but only transgressed the law (for they could not truly know that what they were doing was wrong—not knowing good and evil...) and the Israelites also.  Both were cast out from God's presence and wandered in the World, repenting so that they could enter into The Promised Land!

JPS

The Justice of God

In Alma 11, we hear Amulek’s fight with Zeezrom, in verses 36-41 we hear the summation of how we are to be saved in the kingdom of God:

36 Now Amulek saith again unto him: Behold thou hast lied, for thou sayest that I spake as though I had authority to command God because I said he shall not save his people in their sins.

37 And I say unto you again that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins.

38 Now Zeezrom saith again unto him: Is the Son of God the very Eternal Father?

39 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, he is the very Eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them are; he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last;

40 And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else.

41 Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death; for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works.

... Christ suffers for all for 3 reasons: 1) all must be resurrected and 2) all must have the possibility of returning to God and inheriting Eternal Life, but 3) some will choose not to and they will be damned because Christ suffered for their sins to make it possible for them to receive Eternal Life but they denied Him... 

It was because He suffered for them, He has perfect empathy for them and has perfect charity and mercy to save them perfectly--He also can damn them perfectly (because He suffered for their sins but they denied Him and wouldn't accept His gift!).

JPS

I obeyed the angel... (who wouldn’t!?!)

Alma 10:8 (And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I found the man whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house--and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God.), talks about Amulek’s turning from sin to Godliness—

All it takes is one right choice to get-back on the right track...  and now a whole field of correct or true options are open and available to you!

JPS

Alma 9:16

Says, “For there are many promises which are extended to the Lamanites; for it is because of the traditions of their fathers that caused them to remain in their state of ignorance; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them and prolong their existence in the land.”

Living in a state or world of collusion from the beginning (or meaning that you were born into a world where people are already living collusively) means that there was no genesis of a pattern of self-betrayal--the pattern had already begun when they were introduced into it--they never knew anything different than that sinful world and are only guilty of not heeding the word of God when they are given the chance to repent and stop that cycle!

Now, think of those you know now--are they active members of the church or were they baptized but are less-active because of the neglect of the active?  Don't they fall in the same boat as these Laminates?

JPS

If... Then...

How many times, do we read in the Book of Mormon, especially in the first books, how you will be blessed when you keep the commandments and will be “cut off” if you don’t keep the commandments?

That doesn’t only mean “die”...  You will not enjoy the enabling powers of the Atonement but will have to live your life according to the strength of your flesh and the genius of man (which is more like a Neanderthal or an idiot).  Man is literally nothing without the Lord!  Think of anything that you can do well and know that you are only permitted to do it because of the grace and the enabling powers of Christ!

JPS

Spiritual Preparation

Remember how in Alma 8:5, And it came to pass that the people came to him throughout all the borders of the land which was by the wilderness side. And they were baptized throughout all the land;

Wait for it...

In Alma 8:6 So that when he had finished his work at Melek he departed thence, and traveled three days’ journey on the north of the land of Melek; and he came to a city which was called Ammonihah.

9 Now Satan had gotten great hold upon the hearts of the people of the city of Ammonihah; therefore they would not hearken unto the words of Alma.

10 Nevertheless Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance.

11 Nevertheless, they hardened their hearts, saying unto him: Behold, we know that thou art Alma; and we know that thou art high priest over the church which thou hast established in many parts of the land, according to your tradition; and we are not of thy church, and we do not believe in such foolish traditions.

JPS

Laws of Man vs. Laws of God OR just Laws for both...

In the Book of Mosiah, in the Book of Mormon, we read:

“Mosiah 2:13 Neither have I suffered that ye should be confined in dungeons, nor that ye should make slaves one of another, nor that ye should murder, or plunder, or steal, or commit adultery; nor even have I suffered that ye should commit any manner of wickedness, and have taught you that ye should keep the commandments of the Lord, in all things which he hath commanded you--
14 And even I, myself, have labored with mine own hands that I might serve you, and that ye should not be laden with taxes, and that there should nothing come upon you which was grievous to be borne--and of all these things which I have spoken, ye yourselves are witnesses this day.”

Were they given the commandments as laws or just taught what they should do?  Remember that even a adulterer was punished by law (Although adultery is a misdemeanor in most of the states [21/50] with laws against it, some — including Michigan and Wisconsin — categorize the offense as a felony. Punishments vary widely by state. In Maryland, the penalty is a paltry $10 fine. But in Massachusetts, an adulterer could face up to three years in jail.Apr 17, 2014).  Bearing false witness (lying)?  "Adultery is rarely prosecuted as a criminal offense, but when it is, the arbitrariness of enforcement erodes confidence in the rule of law and unfairly singles out those blindsided by the charge."

JPS

Slothful Servant?

The Book of Omni, in the Book of Mormon, verse 10 & 11 say:

“10 Behold, I, Abinadom, am the son of Chemish. Behold, it came to pass that I saw much war and contention between my people, the Nephites, and the Lamanites; and I, with my own sword, have taken the lives of many of the Lamanites in the defence of my brethren.

11 And behold, the record of this people is engraven upon plates which is had by the kings, according to the generations; and I know of no revelation save that which has been written, neither prophecy; wherefore, that which is sufficient is written. And I make an end.”

Is this evidence of being a slothful servant?  If you know of no revelation but those that have already been written, shouldn't you search for another?  Shouldn't you try to get as much truth as you can?  God is not going to stay his hand and not answer if one of his children asks Him a question...  is He going to give his child a serpent when a fish is what was asked for?

Guess I’m no better, really, at keeping a personal journal...

JPS

Our Heavenly Father has tried to make this life as easy as possible…

Our Heavenly Father has tried to make this life as easy as possible for us and to believe in Christ the most natural and automatic thing and way that we can live and believe! He has all but given our faith to us and all that is left for us to do is believe on Him and exercise the smallest particle of faith--then the blessings come like a snowball effect as we continue to make choices from that seed that we've planted...

Remember what Alma to his sons, in the Book of Mormon? In Alma 37:44-47:
"For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.  And now I say, is there not a type in this thing? For just as surely as this director did bring our fathers, by following its course, to the promised land, shall the words of Christ, if we follow their course, carry us beyond this vale of sorrow into a far better land of promise.  O my son, do not let us be slothful because of the easiness of the way; for so was it with our fathers; for so was it prepared for them, that if they would look they might live; even so it is with us. The way is prepared, and if we will look we may live forever."

Then, again in Alma 38:4 "For I know that thou wast in bonds; yea, and I also know that thou wast stoned for the word’s sake; and thou didst bear all these things with patience because the Lord was with thee; and now thou knows that the Lord did deliver thee."

And later in Alma 39:16-18 "And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming.  And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject. Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?  Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children?"

The words of Christ are plain and simple, as is His Gospel, plain and simple.

JPS

Gratitude: What did it ever get you?

In Section 59 of th Doctrine & Covenants, verses 18-21, it says: 

“18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.

21 And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.”

And in the Book of Mormon, Book of Mosiah, chapter two, verse 23, “And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.

24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?

25 And now I ask, can ye say aught of yourselves? I answer you, Nay. Ye cannot say that ye are even as much as the dust of the earth; yet ye were created of the dust of the earth; but behold, it belongeth to him who created you.”

So, be grateful!

JPS

Irony in the Life of Christ

Ironically, He wasn't passively taken by the wicked people and slain, but He actively and mercifully, and obediently and charitably and knowingly sacrificed Himself by the hands of those wicked men...  "Oh, how wonderful..."

And back in the Book of 1 Nephi, in the Book of Mormon, verse 33, we see irony when the wicked Jews "judge" Him as being worthy of death by crucifixion and hang Him on a tree!

JPS

The Condescention of God

Condescension of God:

Condescension of Christ Elohim = leaves the clouds of light to become the Father of Jesus

Condescension of Christ Jesus = leaves the clouds of light to be born in a manger, to live without a roof over His head, to eat w/ sinners, to be despised by His own people, to be despised and to bear our griefs, and to carry our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted; to be wounded for our transgressions, to be bruised for our iniquities; to have the chastisement of our peace upon him; and to be healed with his stripes, to be cast Him out from among them, and be he Redeemer of the world...  The God of Lights obeying His Father and being baptized, meeting with and teaching and ministering unto the multitudes, and choosing 12 others to assist Him in His work...

JPS

Moroni 7:19 — in the light of Christ

In the Book of Mormon, book of Moroni, chapter seven, verse 19 (Moroni 7:19), we read: “Wherefore, I beseech of you, brethren, that ye should search diligently in the light of Christ that ye may know good from evil; and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.”

Start by choosing the right, and you won’t be able to choose poorly without being prompted to return to the path, or warned not to get off, but also, if you know you’re on the right path and stay on the right path for long, you will be able to see/feel the difference between what is right and what is wrong...  you’ll be able to see what else/who else is similar to that from which you started—it becomes your “standard” to judge from!

JPS

Money and consecration

When there are poor among us, in some ways, they are not free...  not free to make all the choices they would make if they weren’t poor, like, whether or not to go to school, whether or not to buy that (and how large of a car/house/ring to buy), what sort of clothes to wear, how many children to have, who to be friends with, what neighborhood to live in, how much to pay in tithing, and how much to give back to the bishop in consecration...

Righteousness is the great leveler and money is the ultimate separator!When there are poor among us, in some ways, they are not free...  not free to make all the choices they would make if they weren’t poor, like, whether or not to go to school, whether or not to buy that (and how large of a car/house/ring to buy), what sort of clothes to wear, how many children to have, who to be friends with, what neighborhood to live in, how much to pay in tithing, and how much to give back to the bishop in consecration...

Righteousness is the great leveler and money is the ultimate separator!

JPS

Get on the Path Again

We read in the Book of Mormon, in the book of Alma, chapter 10 verse 8: “And it came to pass that I obeyed the voice of the angel, and returned towards my house. And as I was going thither I found the man whom the angel said unto me: Thou shalt receive into thy house--and behold it was this same man who has been speaking unto you concerning the things of God.”

All it takes is one right choice to get-back on the right track...  and now a whole field of correct or true options are open and available to you!

Doctrine and Covenants 64:7 “Nevertheless, he has sinned; but verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, forgive sins unto those who confess their sins before me and ask forgiveness, who have not sinned unto death.”

Make sure you take advantage of that offer to forgive, just about anything (and, just in case you were worried, if you have any doubt in your mind, you have not sinned unto death!).  Just keep repenting and partaking of the Sacrament, for:

3 Nephi 27:19 And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom

All it takes is any sin, and you’re kept out of the presence of God.  Yet, just repent and you’re forgiven!

JPS

Pondering leads to Revelation

Pondering, coupled with faith and the power that comes with it, opens the doors of revelation unlike nothing other.  Pondering is one of the only actions that you can plan for and then choose to do.  It’s an act of double faith!  Pondering = act of faith X 2.  And pondering about pondering = meta-pondering which lowers your faith down to X 1, but it may increase your pondering capabilities!

1 Nephi 11:1
For it came to pass after I had desired to know the things that my father had seen, and believing that the Lord was able to make them known unto me, as I sat ^apondering in mine heart I was ^bcaught away in the Spirit of the Lord, yea, into an exceedingly high ^cmountain, which I never had before seen, and upon which I never had before set my foot.

Helaman 10:2-3
2 And it came to pass that Nephi went his way towards his own house, pondering upon the things which the Lord had shown unto him.

D&C section 138:
1 On the third of October, in the year nineteen hundred and eighteen, I sat in my room pondering over the scriptures;
2 And reflecting upon the great atoning sacrifice that was made by the Son of God, for the redemption of the world;
3 And the great and wonderful love made manifest by the Father and the Son in the coming of the Redeemer into the world;
4 That through his atonement, and by obedience to the principles of the gospel, mankind might be saved.
5 While I was thus engaged, my mind reverted to the writings of the apostle Peter, to the primitive saints scattered abroad throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, and other parts of Asia, where the gospel had been preached after the crucifixion of the Lord.
6 I opened the Bible and read the third and fourth chapters of the first epistle of Peter, and as I read I was greatly impressed, more than I had ever been before, with the following passages:
7 “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
8 “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
9 “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” (1 Peter 3:18–20.)
10 “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.” (1 Peter 4:6.)
11 As I pondered over these things which are written, the eyes of my understanding were opened, and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon me, and I saw the hosts of the dead, both small and great.

Book of Mormon Introduction:
... We invite all men everywhere to read the Book of Mormon, to ponder in their hearts the message it contains, and then to ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ if the book is true. Those who pursue this course and ask in faith will gain a testimony of its truth and divinity by the power of the Holy Ghost. (See Moroni 10:3–5.)

JPS

Being your own Judge!?!

In Alma 41:7 (These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.) it looks, like, from this verse, that the only souls who are going to be their own judges are going to be those who have chosen righteousness--those who choose wickedness are consigned to torment and have no part in their own judgment--only Celestial Bodies judge themselves...

So, you're your own judge, and you're righteous, so you have the mind of Christ, so who is going to be your judge?  Christ--"Christ in se" or Christ's judgement coming through you...  

The image that comes to mind, though, is of those latter-day-saints who are too hard on themselves and who sound like they are being too hard on themselves (whether or not they actually are); is it really an affect?  Is it actually righteous?  And, the point of being judged of yourself, with the same judgment that Christ gives?  Wouldn't that mean that the affect is disingenuous?

Or, whosoever is righteous can walk wherever they want WITHIN the path and be saved (see vs 8)...  some choose to walk on the path of exaltation, others won't, but walking on the path will take you to the Celestial Kingdom!  Once you're in the Celestial Kingdom and have been resurrected with a Celestial Body, then, except for an exalted body, couldn't you choose different paths?

JPS

Owing our happiness to the way we read the scriptures

Alma 44:5
“And now, Zerahemnah, I command you, in the name of that all-powerful God, who has strengthened our arms that we have gained power over you, by our faith, by our religion, and by our rites of worship, and by our church, and by the sacred support which we owe to our wives and our children, by that liberty which binds us to our lands and our country; yea, and also by the maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness; and by all that is most dear unto us--”

We owe our happiness to the maintenance of the word of God!  I see that (catch that really; for the first time in my life--after having read it dozens and hundreds of times!) and need to ask myself: How well am I maintaining the word of God in my life?  How well am I infusing the doctrine of Christ into my soul?  How else can I learn to become like God better than I am now (because really that's what the scriptures are: a guidebook to becoming like Jesus Christ)?  

Think of President Nelson and all of his self-assessed projects (and we only have the ones he's mentioned in a general conference talk...).  Do I read the scriptures like he does?  No?  Good thing he is telling is some ways that he is doing it.  I suppose I should not feel bad about piggy-back-riding on the prophet to become better...

I suppose I should pray about that until I receive an answer...

JPS

Lessons from "Unbreakable"

A few years ago I had told my eldest son, Addison, that I would't buy him Airpods because I would be afraid that he would "cut-himself off" entirely from the Spirit of God and cut him off from the people around him--mostly from his classmates at school.  Funny enough, after time and questions that have made me trust him more (in that regard), we bought him airpods last Christmas...

Last LDS General Conference, the same or a similar issue was raised by Bonnie L. Oscarson, the President of the wold-wide LDS Young Women's program when she delivered her talk, "Who Needs Me Now?"  She says, "We are touched when we see the suffering and great needs of those halfway around the world, but we may fail to see there is a person who needs our friendship sitting right next to us in class."  Or seeing the needs of someone walking down the hallway, literally right in front of us!

However, we can look to a lesson from the movie, Unbreakable, starring Bruce Willis ("David") and Samuel L. Jackson ("Elijah").  David feels an emptiness in his life, maybe always has felt that emptiness.   David has some sort of super-power that makes his body impenetrable.  His cells are "unbreakable."  He is also strong, in an undetermined way or amount.   He was a super-star football player in high school but decided to use the car accident that he was involved in (where his then-girlfriend, now-wife was almost killed) with the girl that would become his wife.

Elijah tells him, after David performs his fist superhero-esque feat of saving a houseful of children that have been kidnapped by a house-napper and killer:

Go to where people are. You won't have to look very long. It's all right to be afraid David. Because this part won't be like a comic book. Real life doesn't fit into little boxes that were drawn for it (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utMjBw3mz3Y).

David has to be that superhero that he was born to be if he doesn't want to feel that emptiness and not fulfill his destiny!

Likewise, Addison and all the hearers-of-Who Needs Me Now?", (including my entire family--that means you too, Quentin!) just like David, needs to pay attention to the Spirit whispering to them (all of us!) to help those who stand in need.  Imagine, you're walking down the hallway at school and someone does need you.  Imagine that you're listening to your favorite steaming station or your new favorite album using your bluetooth connection through your new airpods.  You might have heard the whispering of the Spirit say to you to help or why or in what way you should help, but you are busy focusing on your music or even a broadcast (wouldn't it have been absolutely ironic if you were even listening to "'Good, Better, Best' by Elder Dallin H. Oaks when you ignore that prompting to reach-out and talk to your fellow student?) and can't hear the Holy Ghost whisper to you to help your fellow classmate.

So, who needs us now?  Listen, and you'll hear!  Elder Boyd Kenneth Packer, of the quorum of the twelve apostles, said to the youth of the church:

The gift of the Holy Ghost, if you consent, will guide and protect you and even correct your actions. It is a spiritual voice that comes into the mind as a thought or a feeling put into your heart. … It is not expected that you go through life without making mistakes, but you will not make a major mistake without first being warned by the promptings of the Spirit. This promise applies to all members of the Church. (President Boyd K. Packer, President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, “Counsel to Youth,” Ensign, Nov. 2011, 17–18.)

JPS

see Learning to Hear and Understand the Spirit, Obeying the Whisperings of the Holy Ghost, 

The Whisperings of the Spirit, Helping Others recognize the Whisperings..., & Acting on Promptings ("It is the privilege of every Latter-day Saint to receive daily inspiration through the Spirit. By being worthy of and willing to heed spiritual promptings, we can obtain the guidance Heavenly Father wishes to bless us with. Below, three members share how they listened and responded to promptings of the Spirit and, in turn, received abundant blessings.").

Lessons from "Babe"

Movies can sometimes teach us new things, but mostly they can remind us of truths that we already have learned or know.  That's why I love watching movies--they show us new (maybe unique) ways in which a truth can apply in a certain situation!

For example, Babe--I was watching the movie with my kiddeos and paused to think about what was going on and what my youngest son and daughter might learn (tacitly and probably even unconsciously [that's right, UNCONSCIOUSLY, like how your heart beats without you thinking about it or how an involuntary reflex is triggered without you thinking about it or choosing to move...]).

The truths that I saw being taught in the movie, "Babe":

1) Anyone can accomplish almost anything if you believe in yourself (have a correct idea of who you are and what you can do!).

2) Anyone can accomplish almost anything if someone believes in you (buoys you up with correct ideas of who you are and what you can do!).

3) It's infinitely better to lead by example than to coerce or force (see D&C 121:41-43 "No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood, only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; 42 By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile— 43 Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy;"), and follow Jesus Christ's example!

4) Love can conquer almost anything (as God is Love 1 John 4:8 "He that liveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.")!  God can conquer or achieve or do anything that He sets His mind to!

5) YOU can accomplish almost anything since someone loves you (and all you need to do is realize that God loves you, infinitely!).

JPS