So you are watching TV with your hubby and the Victoria Secret commercial comes on. This is a bit of a problem. The garments you feel secure wearing cannot compete with the fancy, cute underwear in the commercial. The wife next door has a variety of cute outfits she wears but the garments limit a person to the more modest selections. While the church commands you to wear one thing, the typical hubby would probably choose something more appealing to look at. On the other hand, if one spouse is wearing the garments more often than the other, there is the judgemental aspect to deal with: "Why are you not wearing the garments."
Has a High Priest ever been commanded to not wear the garments? This command if found in Leviticus 16:23: "And Aaron shall come into the tabernacle of the congregation, and shall put off the linen garments, which he put on when he went into the holy place, and shall leave them there:" In the next verse, he was to wash and put his own clothes back on. I think this passage is highly significant. Aaron, the high priest, was to take off the holy garments and leave them there when he went out of the holy place. So Aaron dressed two ways. He wore the priestly garments in the holy place and he wore his own garments when he was not in the holy place. Ezekiel 44:19 again tells us, "And when they go forth into the utter court, even into the utter court to the people, they shall put off their garments wherein they ministered, and lay them in the holy chambers, and they shall put on other garments; and they shall not sanctify the people with their garments."
There are bigger questions here, however. Are you going to trust in some garments to protect you or are you going to depend on God's protection? If the power of God cannot protect you, what can a hundred garments do? Are you going to depend on a baptism to save you or on Jesus work on the cross. Yes baptism is a commandment. But if Jesus death is not enough what can a thousand gallons of water do? Are you going to focus on a temple for celestial salvation or focus on Jesus. Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "...let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith;..." Mosiah 3:17 says, "...there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent."
So back to the dilemma. Do you wear the garments to please the church or the cute outfit to please your hubby? The marriage relationship has been designed, instituted and ordained by God. Are you working to strengthen what God has designed?
What if you are a yes and yes person - need to please the church and the hubby? Here is a 4 step plan. 1) Communicate with your spouse. 2) Come to an agreement. 3) Follow the agreement. 4) If there is discontent or a judgemental attitude, repeat steps 1-3. A happy marriage is a good thing.
Monday, September 5, 2016
Sunday, July 3, 2016
Joseph's Hat Trick
How did Joseph Smith translate the Book of Mormon? The Mormon church has published some articles called Gospel Topic Essay (https://www.lds.org/topics/book-of-mormon-translation). In their article called Book Of Mormon Translation under the subheading The Mechanics of Translation, they state, "Some accounts indicate that Joseph studied the characters on the plates. Most of the accounts speak of Joseph's use of the Urim and Thummim (Either the interpreters or the seer stone), and many accounts refer to his use of a single stone. According to these accounts, Joseph placed the interpreters or the seer stone in a hat, pressed his face into the hat to block out extraneous light, and read aloud the English words that appeared on the instrument."
Oliver Cowdery, a principal scribe, testified that Joseph Smith found "two transparent stones, resembling glass, set in silver bows." He said that Joseph Smith used these stones for translation work.
The article also includes Emma Smith's explanation. She said Joseph was, "sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the stone in it, and dictating hour after hour with nothing between us." She said the golden plates "often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen table cloth." When she was asked if Joseph dictated from the Bible or a manuscript "she flatly denied those possibilities:" She said, "He had neither manuscript nor book to read from." She told her son, "...your father would dictate to me for hour after hour; and when returning after meals, or after interruptions, he would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him."
Martin Harris was also a scribe for Joseph Smith according to this article. "Harris later related that as Joseph used the seer stone to translate, sentences appeared. Joseph read those sentences aloud, and after penning the words, Harris would say, 'Written.'" Harris said Joseph "possessed a seer stone, by which he was enabled to translate as well as from the Urim and Thummim, and for convenience he then used the seer stone."
It is a popular notion that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon from golden plates. According to this church article, he translated mostly by looking at some stones in a hat.
Oliver Cowdery, a principal scribe, testified that Joseph Smith found "two transparent stones, resembling glass, set in silver bows." He said that Joseph Smith used these stones for translation work.
The article also includes Emma Smith's explanation. She said Joseph was, "sitting with his face buried in his hat, with the stone in it, and dictating hour after hour with nothing between us." She said the golden plates "often lay on the table without any attempt at concealment, wrapped in a small linen table cloth." When she was asked if Joseph dictated from the Bible or a manuscript "she flatly denied those possibilities:" She said, "He had neither manuscript nor book to read from." She told her son, "...your father would dictate to me for hour after hour; and when returning after meals, or after interruptions, he would at once begin where he had left off, without either seeing the manuscript or having any portion of it read to him."
Martin Harris was also a scribe for Joseph Smith according to this article. "Harris later related that as Joseph used the seer stone to translate, sentences appeared. Joseph read those sentences aloud, and after penning the words, Harris would say, 'Written.'" Harris said Joseph "possessed a seer stone, by which he was enabled to translate as well as from the Urim and Thummim, and for convenience he then used the seer stone."
It is a popular notion that Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon from golden plates. According to this church article, he translated mostly by looking at some stones in a hat.
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Animalistic Priesthood holders
Animalism is a "preoccupation with or motivation by sensual, physical, or carnal appetites rather than moral, spiritual, or intellectual forces" according to Dictionary.com. This describes two priesthood holders in 1 Samuel named Hophni and Phinehas. The were sons of the high priest Eli. 1 Samuel 2:12-17 details their behavior:
"12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.
"12 Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the Lord.
13 And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
14 And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
15 Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16 And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
17 Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the Lord: for men abhorred the offering of the Lord."
Not only did these priests harass and bully the people they also took advantage of women. 1 Samuel 2:22 says, "Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation." These men were animalistic, following their carnal appetites.
At the same time the Bible tells us a wonderful story about a random woman named Hannah from the tribe of Ephriam. Her husband had two wives. Her sister wife, Peninnah had children but Hannah had none. Peninnah continually harassed her to tears for having no children. She was completely miserable. 1 Samuel 10-17 describes her desperation:
"10 And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
11 And she vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the Lord all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12 And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the Lord, that Eli marked her mouth.
13 Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14 And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15 And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.
16 Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17 Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18 And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad."
God answered her prayer and she gave birth to a boy. She named him Samuel. Her family was not of the tribe of Levi. Her husband was not a descendant of Aaron. They were not involved with the priesthood work but she did give her son to God. He lived and worked at the sanctuary with the priests. Though we forget the story of the priests Hophni and Phinehas, we all remember the story of Samuel. He grew up to become a great prophet and leader in Israel. He anointed Israel's first two kings, Saul and David. Please read this interesting story of Hannah, Samuel, Eli, Hophni and Phinehas in the first four chapters of 1 Samuel.
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Prophet of 1,000 wives!
"Supposing that I have a wife or a dozen of them, and she should say, "You cannot be exalted without me," and suppose they all should say so, what of that?...Suppose that I lose the whole of them before I go into the spirit world, but that I have been a good, faithful man all the days of my life, and lived my religion, and had favour with God, and was kind to them, do you think I will be destitute there. No, the Lord says there are more there than there are here. They have been increasing there; they increase there a great deal faster than we do here,...
In the spirit world there is an increase of males and females, there are millions of them, and if I am faithful all the time, and continue right along with brother Brigham, we will go to brother Joseph and say, 'Here we are brother Joseph; we are here ourselves are we not, with none of the property we possessed in our probationary state, not even the rings on our fingers: 'He will say to us, 'come along, my boys, we will give you a good suit of clothes. Where are your wives?' 'They are back yonder; they would not follow us.' 'Never mind,' says Joseph, 'Here are thousands, have all you want.'"
Brigham Young walked this back some by limiting a man to 999 wives.
"I met with the Quorum and Presidency in the temple....President Woodruff then spoke '...In searching out my genealogy I found about four hundred of my female kindred who were never married. I asked Pres. Young what I should do with them. He said for me to have them sealed to me unless there were more that 999 of them.' The doctrine startled me, but I had it done,..." Daily Journal of Abraham H. Cannon, April 5, 1894, Vol. 18, pp 66-67
Brigham Young stated, "We are complained of for having more wives than one. I don't begin to have a many as I shall have by and by, nor you either, if you are faithful." (Journal of discourses, vol. 8, page 222)
George Q. Cannon "...remarked that people wondered how many wives and children I had. He may inform them, that I shall have wives and children by the million, and glory, and riches and power and dominion, and kingdom after kingdom, and reign triumphantly." (Journal of Discourses, Vol. 8, page 178)
The great prophet Moses gave a commandment about kings, "Neither shall he multiply wives to himself, that his heart turn not away;..." (Deuteronomy 17:17)
King Solomon had a thousand women! Although he was the wisest man on earth, 1 Kings 11:3-4 tells us, "And he had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines: and his wives turned away his heart. For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father." Because of this God promised to take the Israelite kingdom away from him and give it to one of his servants. (1 Kings 11:11)
The Old Testament has a number of stories of disaster and heartache resulting from polygamy. Let us go back to the beginning. After God made Eve and presented her to Adam, he said, "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24) He didn't say a thousand flesh but rather one flesh.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
Repentance
Is hell a reality? The devil says it is not a reality.
2 Nephi 28:21-23 "And others will he (the devil) pacify, and loll them away into carnal security, that they will say: all is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well - and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell. And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none - and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance. Ye, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment."
Is hell a place for people who have procrastinated in repenting?
Alma 34:35 "For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked."
Is this really the final state of repentance procrastinators? Isn't there some kind of work that can be done for them?
Alma 34:33 "And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed."
Obviously a person in such a situation would want a chance to escape.
Alma 34:34 "You cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this;..."
Many people say that repentance is a "gradual process" - it takes time. However, we are not guaranteed tomorrow. We may not have time for a gradual process. We could die in a car wreck. We could be hit by a drunk driver or a texting driver. Some people will die of heart attacks and strokes. It is best to repent right now!
Alma 34:31-32 "Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you. For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."
Does it sound too easy?
2 Nephi 25:23 "..;for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
For those of us who are hard-headed, it is after we try and do all we can do that we realize it is NOT enough. We actually do have to depend on God's grace, not ourselves, to save us.
The self-righteous Jews stated that Abraham was their father and God was their father. They were irate when Jesus said their father was the devil.
John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do...."
The Book of Mormon claims that we must be "born again" and "become His sons and daughters".
Mosiah 27:25-26 "And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."
It is a miracle of God to be changed from a "carnal and fallen state" to a state of "righteousness" - where good deeds are flowing out of you naturally.
My friend, do not procrastinate your repentance. Turn to the God who is the unchangeable being in Moroni 8:18 and who is the only "true and living God" in Alma 11:27-39. Be reborn. Become a new creation. May God be with you.
2 Nephi 28:21-23 "And others will he (the devil) pacify, and loll them away into carnal security, that they will say: all is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well - and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell. And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none - and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance. Ye, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment."
Is hell a place for people who have procrastinated in repenting?
Alma 34:35 "For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; therefore, the spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked."
Is this really the final state of repentance procrastinators? Isn't there some kind of work that can be done for them?
Alma 34:33 "And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed."
Obviously a person in such a situation would want a chance to escape.
Alma 34:34 "You cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this;..."
Many people say that repentance is a "gradual process" - it takes time. However, we are not guaranteed tomorrow. We may not have time for a gradual process. We could die in a car wreck. We could be hit by a drunk driver or a texting driver. Some people will die of heart attacks and strokes. It is best to repent right now!
Alma 34:31-32 "Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you. For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors."
Does it sound too easy?
2 Nephi 25:23 "..;for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do."
For those of us who are hard-headed, it is after we try and do all we can do that we realize it is NOT enough. We actually do have to depend on God's grace, not ourselves, to save us.
The self-righteous Jews stated that Abraham was their father and God was their father. They were irate when Jesus said their father was the devil.
John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do...."
The Book of Mormon claims that we must be "born again" and "become His sons and daughters".
Mosiah 27:25-26 "And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."
It is a miracle of God to be changed from a "carnal and fallen state" to a state of "righteousness" - where good deeds are flowing out of you naturally.
My friend, do not procrastinate your repentance. Turn to the God who is the unchangeable being in Moroni 8:18 and who is the only "true and living God" in Alma 11:27-39. Be reborn. Become a new creation. May God be with you.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Is Easter Important?
There were two missionaries praying. One jumped up and said, "I have a vision from God." He said God had revealed to him that the church should tear down the temples. His friend responded, "You are my missionary companion, but you are NOT a Mormon."
Two preachers were praying during that same week. One jumped up and said, "I have a vision from God." He said God revealed to him that they should take the story of Jesus' death on the cross out of their Bible. His preacher friend responded, "You are a religious person but you are NOT a Christian."
There can be fake Mormons, fake Christians and fake lemonade. Real lemonade is made with real lemons. Real Christianity has a cross. As we read the Old Testament, the scriptures point to the cross, point to the cross and point to the cross. The crucifixion is detailed 4 times in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The rest of the New Testament points back to the Cross. In Corinthians 2:2, the Apostle Paul said, "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."
Two preachers were praying during that same week. One jumped up and said, "I have a vision from God." He said God revealed to him that they should take the story of Jesus' death on the cross out of their Bible. His preacher friend responded, "You are a religious person but you are NOT a Christian."
There can be fake Mormons, fake Christians and fake lemonade. Real lemonade is made with real lemons. Real Christianity has a cross. As we read the Old Testament, the scriptures point to the cross, point to the cross and point to the cross. The crucifixion is detailed 4 times in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The rest of the New Testament points back to the Cross. In Corinthians 2:2, the Apostle Paul said, "For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified."
Saturday, March 5, 2016
Choose your God this day
President Lorenzo Snow
"As man is, God once was; as God is man can become". These were the words of Mormon prophet and president Lorenzo Snow. Moroni 8:18 speaks of another God who is not a changeable being: "For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity." This God did not begin as a spirit being. He was not required to take on the form of a man. He did not have to ascend into exaltation. He definitely did not have to become God. He always HAS BEEN God and will always BE God.
Have you been praying to an exalted man or the eternal God found in Moroni 8:18? If you have been worshiping an exalted man, he is not the God found in Moroni 8:18. It is a big temptation to seek our own glory and exaltation! It is tempting to focus on a goddess wife. It is very tempting to try to ascend to godhood over our own world. REPENT, REPENT, REPENT!!! Let us bend our knee to the great God that always was, always is and always will be God! Let us submit ourselves to His will. Let us only worship Him in all of His majesty!!!
"...and I will not give my glory unto another." Isaiah 48:11
"Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me," Isaiah 46:9
"Hearken unto me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last." Isaiah 48:12
"I am the LORD, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded the, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me, I am the LORD, and there is none else." Isaiah 45:5-6
"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else." Isaiah 45:18
"...there is no God else beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else." Isaiah 45:21-22
"To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be like?" Isaiah 46:5
"Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God." Isaiah 44:6
"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? ye are even my witnesses, Is there a God beside me? yea, there is no God; I know not any." Isaiah 44:8
"I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images." Isaiah 42:8
"To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One?" Isaiah 40:25
"...I am the LORD, the first, and with the last; I am he." Isaiah 41:4
"And Zeezrom said unto him: Thou sayest there is a true and living God. And Amulek said: yea, there is a true and living God. Now Zeezrom said: Is there more than one God? And he answered, No." Alma 11:26-29
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