In my Hebrew class recently, we have begun translating Genesis 22 and discussing some of the meanings behind the vocabulary in it. One of the phrases in there translates out to in the KJV of the Bible "that God did tempt Abraham" whereas in the Hebrew manuscript - it reads "וְהָאֱלֹהִים נִסּה אֶת־אַבְרָהָם" which is translated out to mean "and God tested Abraham"...
...only it doesn't REALLY translate out to the latter. The problem is that the verb form that is used in this instance isn't something we can relate to in English. Its what's known as an "intensive verb" meaning that it takes on the basic form of a verb, but it means so much more. For instance - we sometimes say fight, but we want a way to say "a really intense fight where both both competitors are putting their all into it" - but we don't have a one word verb for it. Thus, in Hebrew its the same way.
The reason I bring this up is because of what Bro. Baron began teaching us - which in turn inspired me to search the scriptures even further and come to a better understanding of what this means to me personally.
We begin our study of greater understanding with the 132nd Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, verse 29 (the one Bro. Baron directed us to read) which reads:
"Abraham received all things whatsoever he received, by relvealtion and commandment, by my word, saith the Lord, and hath entered into his exaltation and sitteth upon his throne." (Emphasis added)
Note that the key phrase in here is the words "all things." This inspired me to consider another scripture that I think more of us are familiar with - Abraham 3: 25 which reads:
"and we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them;"(Emphasis added.
Again, notice the presence of the phrase "all things" - specifically all things that the Lord commands. As we consider this even more, we turn to the two scriptures in the footnotes - Doctrine and Covenants 98:14 and Doctrine and Covenants 124:55:
14: therefore, be not afraid of your enemies, for I have decreed in my heart, saith the Lord, that I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death, that you may be found worthy." (Emphasis added)
55: "And again, verily I say unto you, I command you again to build a house to my name, even in this place, that you may prove yourselves unto me that ye are faithful in all things whatsoever I command you, that I may bless you and crown you with honor, immortality and eternal life. (Emphasis added).
Notice again and again the presence and specification of the term "all things" - but more importantly - the promise we gain from the 55th verse there which are those same blessings awarded to Abraham according to the first verse we studied.
Why was the term "test" even questioned in the first place? Its because the beginning of the verse in Genesis 22 reads "And it came to pass, that after these things..." The term "these things" is believed to refer to Genesis 11-22 which chronicles the life of Abraham. When studying these chapters, one will note that Abraham had been through many trials and tests already. Thus, for Abraham to be "tested" yet again in this instance - was either redundant, improperly cited, or as the Hebrew manuscript dictates - the term "test" is an intensive verb - meaning that it was much more than a test.
My interpretation is that the Lord wanted Abraham to "prove that he was faithful to Him in all things This is wholly applicable to our lives because of what the Lord asks of us. Each of us were sent to mortality to be tested, but not merely to pass, nor to endure all of the simple tests given to us, but rather for each and every one us to prove our faithfulness to the Father in all things that we are commanded to do - or worded in other ways to endure it well.
We must ask ourselves after knowing this - "am I doing what I can to prove in all things that I am being faithful to the Lord?" "Do I have faith enough to act upon anything I have been called to do at His hand?" "What can I do to show greater devotion to God and His commandments?"
I'm not perfect, nor will I ever be, but this did awaken me to a new train of thought - to see if I am proving myself worthy of inheriting those same blessings as Father Abraham!
26 September 2009
21 September 2009
Our Final Judgment?
This is a post that I eluded to making the other night, but one that I'm not entirely sure how to enumerate on really. This is because it is somewhat speculative in nature and really doesn't have a lot of firm backing for it. Yes, there are things that can be pieced together, but for the most part, its just wondering.
We talk of the nature of God a lot, especially the demeanor of Christ, but do we really consider the infinity of that nature / demeanor? What I mean by this, is we understand Jesus Christ to be a very loving Elder Brother, but yet when considering His role in the final judgment, I believe that there's a good many of us that tend to alter our perceptions of Him and how things will be. The biggest problem is that we don't know - on any of it, because no one has ever gone through it before. We do know several things about its potential though, and we know of things both in heaven and on earth that may give us greater insight into the subject.
My first considerations of this topic actually occurred not with the post from the other night, but as I was working in the temple one day over the seven week break. As I considered the work that was being done for the dead - and the phrase "the hearts of the fathers turned to the children and the hearts of the children turned to the fathers," I began to wonder what things would be like in the hereafter when we meet those that we have done the work for.
While pondering this issue, I began to wonder if perhaps the dead have a bigger role in our lives than we can possibly imagine. My personal belief is that they do, and I'll explain why:
Fact: We know that the government of the Church is in similitude to the government of heaven. Thus, for occurrences, words, and blessings to be bound on earth and accordingly in heaven - the Church must function according to the established patterns of the heretofore and hereafter. Keeping that in mind, one must consider the workings of the Church and how that might be similar to those scenarios which we might encounter after this life.
Fact: We know that the Savior himself will be our judge, with Joseph Smith at his side advising / judging also: Parley P. Pratt says: "He [Joseph Smith] will continue holding those keys through all eternity, and will stand—yes, again in the flesh upon this Earth, as the head of the Latter-day Saints, under Jesus Christ, and under Peter, James and John. He will hold the keys to judge the generation to whom he was sent, and will judge my brethren that preside over me; and will judge me, together with the Apostles ordained by the word of the Lord through him and under his administration. When this is done, those Apostles will judge this generation and the Latter-day Saints; and they will judge them with that judgment which Jesus Christ will give unto them; and they will have the same spirit and the same mind as Jesus Christ, and their judgment will be His judgment, for they will be one * * * Brother Brigham, who now presides over us, will hold the keys under Brother Joseph; and he and his brethren, who hold the keys with him, or under his direction, will judge the people; for they will hold those keys to all eternity, worlds without end. By those keys they will have to judge this generation; and Peter, James, and John will hold the keys to preside over, and judge, and direct Brother Joseph to all eternity; and Jesus Christ will hold the keys over them and over us, under His Father, to whom be all the glory" (Journal of Dis., Vol. V., p. 196).
Fact: We know that the Bishops and Presidents of the Stakes and Wards of Zion stand in the place of Christ and judge according to the manner in which He Himself may render judgment.
Thus - based on all of this, if the Bishops and Stake Presidents judge according to the pattern of Christ, then the way in which that judgment is pronounced must be similar in nature! Now, that having been said, it opens up a school of thought as to how the rest of this occurs.
I say this most humbly and regretfully - but I've been a part of a disciplinary council, so I have first-hand knowledge of how they work. That aside, there is also additional information found in the Scriptures that may offer us additional insight. I invite you to read at this time the 102nd Section of the Doctrine and Covenants - there's far more in there than should be needfully posted here, as to keep the length from exceeding its already expansive size.
When studying this section, one will observe the proceedings of the High Council and how they must "pick sides" in assisting the Stake President with rendering judgment to accused members of the Church. This is a similar pattern to what is conducted in a Bishop's Court - with the Bishop serving as judge, and each counselor taking opposing sides in the case.
That said, we can understand that Jesus Christ will be the judge up in Heaven, and we can assume that Joseph and all the other prophets of our dispensation will draw sides accordingly and argue our individual cases on our behalf. With the sides chosen however, there are those instances in which the accused may stand before the court and present evidences in their behalf (vs. 17-19). Now, having been through a disciplinary council myself, I know from experience, that some of the evidences that can and ought to be presented are not only the hard evidences (those that will be presented out of the "books that are written") but also character evidences presented by others. When I went through this, my good friend and Elder's Quorum President at the time was presented before the Court to offer up a character witness in my behalf.
Now, this will be true I'm sure in the hereafter also - with those close to us being able to present references of our character to the Lord, but I believe that there are yet others that will be able to present a much greater character witness to Him than we have previously considered: the dead!
They will possibly be our most reliable and most detrimental witnesses for and against us. Those that have gone before us will have knowledge of our actions on earth and be able to testify of them accordingly, but they will also be able to stand before the Lord and unequivocally recognize their salvation as being a result of our performance of temple ordinances in their behalf. While not everyone will be grateful for our parts in their salvation, we can be certain that there will be a fair number of individuals that will recognize the charity bestowed upon them, and will seek to repay that in some form.
Additionally, in recognizing this - it is a literal fulfillment of the prophecies that we cannot be saved without our dead. In this instance, I believe this is how our salvation is to occur! We will need to rely on the dead and hope that our charity in performing ordinances in their behalf will be reciprocated - as would be the case in a Christ-like environment.
Those are my thoughts - I could be TOTALLY wrong, but I don't know. Just something that's been on my mind though.
We talk of the nature of God a lot, especially the demeanor of Christ, but do we really consider the infinity of that nature / demeanor? What I mean by this, is we understand Jesus Christ to be a very loving Elder Brother, but yet when considering His role in the final judgment, I believe that there's a good many of us that tend to alter our perceptions of Him and how things will be. The biggest problem is that we don't know - on any of it, because no one has ever gone through it before. We do know several things about its potential though, and we know of things both in heaven and on earth that may give us greater insight into the subject.
My first considerations of this topic actually occurred not with the post from the other night, but as I was working in the temple one day over the seven week break. As I considered the work that was being done for the dead - and the phrase "the hearts of the fathers turned to the children and the hearts of the children turned to the fathers," I began to wonder what things would be like in the hereafter when we meet those that we have done the work for.
While pondering this issue, I began to wonder if perhaps the dead have a bigger role in our lives than we can possibly imagine. My personal belief is that they do, and I'll explain why:
Fact: We know that the government of the Church is in similitude to the government of heaven. Thus, for occurrences, words, and blessings to be bound on earth and accordingly in heaven - the Church must function according to the established patterns of the heretofore and hereafter. Keeping that in mind, one must consider the workings of the Church and how that might be similar to those scenarios which we might encounter after this life.
Fact: We know that the Savior himself will be our judge, with Joseph Smith at his side advising / judging also: Parley P. Pratt says: "He [Joseph Smith] will continue holding those keys through all eternity, and will stand—yes, again in the flesh upon this Earth, as the head of the Latter-day Saints, under Jesus Christ, and under Peter, James and John. He will hold the keys to judge the generation to whom he was sent, and will judge my brethren that preside over me; and will judge me, together with the Apostles ordained by the word of the Lord through him and under his administration. When this is done, those Apostles will judge this generation and the Latter-day Saints; and they will judge them with that judgment which Jesus Christ will give unto them; and they will have the same spirit and the same mind as Jesus Christ, and their judgment will be His judgment, for they will be one * * * Brother Brigham, who now presides over us, will hold the keys under Brother Joseph; and he and his brethren, who hold the keys with him, or under his direction, will judge the people; for they will hold those keys to all eternity, worlds without end. By those keys they will have to judge this generation; and Peter, James, and John will hold the keys to preside over, and judge, and direct Brother Joseph to all eternity; and Jesus Christ will hold the keys over them and over us, under His Father, to whom be all the glory" (Journal of Dis., Vol. V., p. 196).
Fact: We know that the Bishops and Presidents of the Stakes and Wards of Zion stand in the place of Christ and judge according to the manner in which He Himself may render judgment.
Thus - based on all of this, if the Bishops and Stake Presidents judge according to the pattern of Christ, then the way in which that judgment is pronounced must be similar in nature! Now, that having been said, it opens up a school of thought as to how the rest of this occurs.
I say this most humbly and regretfully - but I've been a part of a disciplinary council, so I have first-hand knowledge of how they work. That aside, there is also additional information found in the Scriptures that may offer us additional insight. I invite you to read at this time the 102nd Section of the Doctrine and Covenants - there's far more in there than should be needfully posted here, as to keep the length from exceeding its already expansive size.
When studying this section, one will observe the proceedings of the High Council and how they must "pick sides" in assisting the Stake President with rendering judgment to accused members of the Church. This is a similar pattern to what is conducted in a Bishop's Court - with the Bishop serving as judge, and each counselor taking opposing sides in the case.
That said, we can understand that Jesus Christ will be the judge up in Heaven, and we can assume that Joseph and all the other prophets of our dispensation will draw sides accordingly and argue our individual cases on our behalf. With the sides chosen however, there are those instances in which the accused may stand before the court and present evidences in their behalf (vs. 17-19). Now, having been through a disciplinary council myself, I know from experience, that some of the evidences that can and ought to be presented are not only the hard evidences (those that will be presented out of the "books that are written") but also character evidences presented by others. When I went through this, my good friend and Elder's Quorum President at the time was presented before the Court to offer up a character witness in my behalf.
Now, this will be true I'm sure in the hereafter also - with those close to us being able to present references of our character to the Lord, but I believe that there are yet others that will be able to present a much greater character witness to Him than we have previously considered: the dead!
They will possibly be our most reliable and most detrimental witnesses for and against us. Those that have gone before us will have knowledge of our actions on earth and be able to testify of them accordingly, but they will also be able to stand before the Lord and unequivocally recognize their salvation as being a result of our performance of temple ordinances in their behalf. While not everyone will be grateful for our parts in their salvation, we can be certain that there will be a fair number of individuals that will recognize the charity bestowed upon them, and will seek to repay that in some form.
Additionally, in recognizing this - it is a literal fulfillment of the prophecies that we cannot be saved without our dead. In this instance, I believe this is how our salvation is to occur! We will need to rely on the dead and hope that our charity in performing ordinances in their behalf will be reciprocated - as would be the case in a Christ-like environment.
Those are my thoughts - I could be TOTALLY wrong, but I don't know. Just something that's been on my mind though.
19 September 2009
Stuff Gleaned From Hebrew Class
I'm way excited here! There's a ton of WAY AWESOME things that I've learned in my Hebrew class the last several days that I just HAVE to tell everyone! Let's see if I can explain it here:
1. Today's class started with a discussion of the day in Jewish culture -
ראש חשנח
Which we know to be as "Rosh Hashana"
Now, the Jewish culture celebrates this as the "new year" - even though it falls on the 1st day of the 7th month. Now, keep in mind also, that the Jewish culture abides by a lunar calendar, not a civil calendar. This is significant for what I'm about to tell you in several ways.
As it was explained by Bro. Baron, my professor, the adversary has largely corrupted this day - there is nothing in the Levitical writings of the Old Testament to state that the new year is to be celebrated on this day as the other holidays described in there. What is written is that this day should be a celebration of the blowing of the trumpets to signify the final harvest of the season and the beginning of the second part of the year.
Now - keep all that in mind and go to Joseph Smith History 1:59 where we read:
This is a VERY significant day when you boil it down to it! Consult here:
Chabad.org
The conversion of the date to the Jewish equivalent is Tisheri 1 - which is the first day of the 7th month...i.e. the New Year! Great! Now what?
Well, turn to the 4th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants - verse 4: For behold, the field is white, all ready to harvest and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul.
Remember that the true nature of the celebrations of Rosh Hashana are to be the celebration of the harvest - NOT the New Year! Yet, the adversary has managed to focus on the non-doctrinal celebration of a non-existent New Year, in an effort to hide the fact that the plates were given to young Joseph on that very day - which ushered in a new DISPENSATION - not just a year. What are the field and the sickle in the 4th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants? It is to mean the world being harvested with the gospel and the Book of Mormon.
The awesomeness doesn't stop there though! Who gave young Joseph the plates? None other than the Angel Moroni. What is he always portrayed carrying? A TRUMPET!!!! Coincidence? We think not!!!!!
2) The Hebrew depiction of the words for man (איש) and for the word woman(אשה) are much closer in correlation than many of us realize!
Note that the two words in their Hebraic format share four common characters, with only the י and the ה being unique to each of them. Where the man contains the yod and the woman contains the hey, they in and of themselves are insignificant - but when combined with the other: יה they become the Hebrew abbreviation for Jehovah!!!! Pretty cool huh???? Thus - the man by himself, and the woman by herself cannot attain to anything god-like, but when given in marriage under God's rule, they obtain the ability to unite and become as God himself! Also - yet ANOTHER argument AGAINST same-sex marriage!
3) The term Hosanna is translated from Hebrew to mean "Save us, please" - thus when we offer our Hosanna shout in the temple dedication ceremony - it is literally a plea to God to offer salvation to ALL - both the living and the dead! More coolness huh?
Chew on those for tonight! :-)
1. Today's class started with a discussion of the day in Jewish culture -
ראש חשנח
Which we know to be as "Rosh Hashana"
Now, the Jewish culture celebrates this as the "new year" - even though it falls on the 1st day of the 7th month. Now, keep in mind also, that the Jewish culture abides by a lunar calendar, not a civil calendar. This is significant for what I'm about to tell you in several ways.
As it was explained by Bro. Baron, my professor, the adversary has largely corrupted this day - there is nothing in the Levitical writings of the Old Testament to state that the new year is to be celebrated on this day as the other holidays described in there. What is written is that this day should be a celebration of the blowing of the trumpets to signify the final harvest of the season and the beginning of the second part of the year.
Now - keep all that in mind and go to Joseph Smith History 1:59 where we read:
At length the time arrived for obtaining the plates, the Urim and Thummim, and the breastplate. On the twenty-second day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, having gone as usual at the end of another year to the place where they were deposited, the same heavenly messenger delivered them up to me with this charge: that I should be responsible for them; that if I should let them go carelessly, or through any neglect of mine, I should be cut off; but that if I would use all my endeavors to preserve them, until he, the messenger, should call for them, they should be protected.
This is a VERY significant day when you boil it down to it! Consult here:
Chabad.org
The conversion of the date to the Jewish equivalent is Tisheri 1 - which is the first day of the 7th month...i.e. the New Year! Great! Now what?
Well, turn to the 4th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants - verse 4: For behold, the field is white, all ready to harvest and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul.
Remember that the true nature of the celebrations of Rosh Hashana are to be the celebration of the harvest - NOT the New Year! Yet, the adversary has managed to focus on the non-doctrinal celebration of a non-existent New Year, in an effort to hide the fact that the plates were given to young Joseph on that very day - which ushered in a new DISPENSATION - not just a year. What are the field and the sickle in the 4th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants? It is to mean the world being harvested with the gospel and the Book of Mormon.
The awesomeness doesn't stop there though! Who gave young Joseph the plates? None other than the Angel Moroni. What is he always portrayed carrying? A TRUMPET!!!! Coincidence? We think not!!!!!
2) The Hebrew depiction of the words for man (איש) and for the word woman(אשה) are much closer in correlation than many of us realize!
Note that the two words in their Hebraic format share four common characters, with only the י and the ה being unique to each of them. Where the man contains the yod and the woman contains the hey, they in and of themselves are insignificant - but when combined with the other: יה they become the Hebrew abbreviation for Jehovah!!!! Pretty cool huh???? Thus - the man by himself, and the woman by herself cannot attain to anything god-like, but when given in marriage under God's rule, they obtain the ability to unite and become as God himself! Also - yet ANOTHER argument AGAINST same-sex marriage!
3) The term Hosanna is translated from Hebrew to mean "Save us, please" - thus when we offer our Hosanna shout in the temple dedication ceremony - it is literally a plea to God to offer salvation to ALL - both the living and the dead! More coolness huh?
Chew on those for tonight! :-)
17 September 2009
What is the Work and Glory of God?
Okay, I've gotten enough hints that I need to put a new blog up here, so I'm going to do my best here to see what I can do. The problem is that I'm not quite sure how I want to say this all because of the many insights that I've had on the topic.
There are I believe two scriptures that will effectively set the basis for my discussion right now. You might pull your own scriptures out to mark them with any thoughts that you might have. The first is in Moses 1:39:
For behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man
Basic Seminary scripture there - my Seminary teacher would be proud of me that I did that from memory. Okay not really - everyone and their nursery kids know that scripture from memory. The second scripture that I will present however, I believe adds a great deal of depth into our potential understanding of the first - Doctrine and Covenants 93:36:
The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
We put the two together and we see that the work and intelligence / light / truth of God is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Okay? Clear as mud right? Now, here's where it gets interesting...
1) Prior to our existence as spiritual beings, we were intelligences. Abraham 3: 22 clearly states this, reading: Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was... In other words, we were beings of a lesser form of pure light and/or truth.
This notion is further cemented with the words "here is matter unorganized" and its following story for those that are familiar with the phrase. Where else do we read about this? The 131st Section of the Doctrine and Covenants!:
There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes. (Verse 7)
Modern-day scientists actually have this concept right when they state that matter cannot be created or destroyed - only organized or put into chaos. Concurrently - we were the organized creation of God the Father, and are beings of intelligence in His likeness. Now, hold onto that thought for a few minutes as you read more...
2) As we turn back one section from the last, to the 130th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, we read in the 18th and 19th verses:
18. Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. 19. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.
The words "unto" and "and" in the previous passage are KEY words that help us to understand the meaning of these scriptures. We will perhaps understand the first part - about the attaining of intelligence by cross-referencing to 2 Nephi 9:13:
O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.
Thus - intelligence becomes translated to mean perfection in this case. In other words - whatever principle of perfection we reach in this life, we carry with us to the next. This is backed up in the later phrase referring to knowledge and intelligence. Thus - knowledge is our faith, the imperfect knowledge which we gain in this life which eventually evolves into a charitable celestial knowledge and eventually into intelligence.
3. As if we need further backing for this insight - consider the phrase the "light of Christ" We know from above that the glory of God is intelligence...or in other words light and truth Hmmm - so if intelligence is to mean perfection and intelligence is also light and truth - then perfection is to be light and truth also. (Hence the dwelling place of God is in Exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom).
Further: For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil...wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. (Moroni 7:16)
There we have the term "perfect knowledge" again - which is to say intelligence. Thus, what we glean from all this, especially after cross-referencing other scriptures (which I will not attempt to do here) is that every mortal soul upon this earth has a measure of perfection within them at birth and throughout their lives. The Fall of Adam and Eve was such that imperfection - the partaking of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil - was brought into a temple of perfection and therefore one could not behold the other in their presence, and the imperfections were cast out - in this case Adam and Eve out of the Garden.
While we cannot hope to obtain complete perfection or intelligence in this life, we can build upon the intelligence inherently within ourselves as Spirit children of Divine beings and Spirit brothers and sisters of a perfect Brother.
Our attaining of immortality and eternal life will not be Hurculean and nature like Disney's film was, but it will largely be determined in this life by the choices we make. As we push ourselves to grow and we seek for further light and knowledge from Father - just as Adam did when he was cast out of the Garden, we will one day return to the presence of our God and present to him the elements of our perfected countenances and accept our judgment accordingly (that'll be a future blog btw!) There's some stuff for you to think about there!
There are I believe two scriptures that will effectively set the basis for my discussion right now. You might pull your own scriptures out to mark them with any thoughts that you might have. The first is in Moses 1:39:
For behold, this is my work and my glory to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man
Basic Seminary scripture there - my Seminary teacher would be proud of me that I did that from memory. Okay not really - everyone and their nursery kids know that scripture from memory. The second scripture that I will present however, I believe adds a great deal of depth into our potential understanding of the first - Doctrine and Covenants 93:36:
The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
We put the two together and we see that the work and intelligence / light / truth of God is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Okay? Clear as mud right? Now, here's where it gets interesting...
1) Prior to our existence as spiritual beings, we were intelligences. Abraham 3: 22 clearly states this, reading: Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was... In other words, we were beings of a lesser form of pure light and/or truth.
This notion is further cemented with the words "here is matter unorganized" and its following story for those that are familiar with the phrase. Where else do we read about this? The 131st Section of the Doctrine and Covenants!:
There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes. (Verse 7)
Modern-day scientists actually have this concept right when they state that matter cannot be created or destroyed - only organized or put into chaos. Concurrently - we were the organized creation of God the Father, and are beings of intelligence in His likeness. Now, hold onto that thought for a few minutes as you read more...
2) As we turn back one section from the last, to the 130th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants, we read in the 18th and 19th verses:
18. Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection. 19. And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.
The words "unto" and "and" in the previous passage are KEY words that help us to understand the meaning of these scriptures. We will perhaps understand the first part - about the attaining of intelligence by cross-referencing to 2 Nephi 9:13:
O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect.
Thus - intelligence becomes translated to mean perfection in this case. In other words - whatever principle of perfection we reach in this life, we carry with us to the next. This is backed up in the later phrase referring to knowledge and intelligence. Thus - knowledge is our faith, the imperfect knowledge which we gain in this life which eventually evolves into a charitable celestial knowledge and eventually into intelligence.
3. As if we need further backing for this insight - consider the phrase the "light of Christ" We know from above that the glory of God is intelligence...or in other words light and truth Hmmm - so if intelligence is to mean perfection and intelligence is also light and truth - then perfection is to be light and truth also. (Hence the dwelling place of God is in Exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom).
Further: For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil...wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God. (Moroni 7:16)
There we have the term "perfect knowledge" again - which is to say intelligence. Thus, what we glean from all this, especially after cross-referencing other scriptures (which I will not attempt to do here) is that every mortal soul upon this earth has a measure of perfection within them at birth and throughout their lives. The Fall of Adam and Eve was such that imperfection - the partaking of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil - was brought into a temple of perfection and therefore one could not behold the other in their presence, and the imperfections were cast out - in this case Adam and Eve out of the Garden.
While we cannot hope to obtain complete perfection or intelligence in this life, we can build upon the intelligence inherently within ourselves as Spirit children of Divine beings and Spirit brothers and sisters of a perfect Brother.
Our attaining of immortality and eternal life will not be Hurculean and nature like Disney's film was, but it will largely be determined in this life by the choices we make. As we push ourselves to grow and we seek for further light and knowledge from Father - just as Adam did when he was cast out of the Garden, we will one day return to the presence of our God and present to him the elements of our perfected countenances and accept our judgment accordingly (that'll be a future blog btw!) There's some stuff for you to think about there!
09 September 2009
Identity Theft of Another Form
Recently, I was asked to do the security for my complex on a permanent basis. As I've contemplated what must be done to secure the public areas, and thought about the different measures taken to safeguard various locations in our lives, I began thinking about in a more in-depth stance.
Throughout a typical day we perform many safeguarding routines, often subconsciously or even passively. We lock our car doors when exiting our vehicles, secure our houses and apartments, pat our back pockets periodically to make sure that we have our wallets or keys or whatever, and continuously think about creative ways to create difficult passwords while still being able to remember them. We even make sure that we have all the necessary phone numbers in our cell phones just in case we need to call someone in an emergency.
As a whole though, we are wildly irresponsible when it comes to our spiritual security.
Let us consider the typical day of many a member of the Church (including myself at times): We roll out of bed after hitting the snooze button on our alarm multiple times. We realize that we are now later than we had planned on being and must now rush to make up for lost time. We quickly grab something to eat on the way out the door and head off to our intended destination. Along the way we realize that we've forgotten something or a delay has arisen and we silently "pray" that we'll get through the new struggle and curse ourselves for being so irresponsible. Following that day's labors we come home and are engrossed in the latest sitcom and then retire to our beds only when we nearly fall asleep in our chairs, barely placing our heads on the pillow before exhaustion consumes our physical bodies.
While this may seem a little too condensed for a day and somewhat cliche, the fact of the matter is that its true...for a lot of people.
We go about our lives claiming to be children of God, and members of the Church, or whatever title you want to place in there, but do we really consider what it takes to be that? As a student at BYU-Idaho we carry student identification cards, and we have signed our names on a contract indicating that we will follow the rules that we have agreed to at all times, and in all things, and in all places. Thus, the cards in our wallets not only identify us to the school, but they become a symbolic identity of what we stand for.
What identity do we present to the world, or even to our roommates and families? Each week when partaking of the sacrament, we covenant to "always remember Him, and keep His commandments which he has given [us]" in an exchange for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. The question is though - how much do we REALLY remember Him? Further, what kind of an identity do we really carry out into the world, much less secure for ourselves?
Do we safeguard our lives at every chance we get, or do we hastily move about our daily activities failing to remember who we are and what we stand for? Just because we associate with those that do not hold our same standards, do we even make it known to them what we DO stand for, or instead, do we simply ignore the guilt pangs in our conscience or just go along with the crowd?
What about the judgments we pass on a daily basis? Do we judge according to the will and way of the Lord, or are we quick to be acted upon by the influences of the adversary and fail to act for ourselves in a rational way? Do we allow unrighteous dominion to enter the doors of our spiritual havens or rationale to be bent in the pursuit of something less than godlike?
What about our Spiritual Computers....our brains? Do we have those "password protected" - or in other words, do we control the thoughts of our minds such that the adversary cannot penetrate them and get into the hearts of our systems? The adversary knows the thoughts of our minds just as the Lord does, and to even rationalize in theory only is to unsafely reveal those things which may make our Spirits vulnerable to the wiles of the devil.
Let us not forget our Spiritual cell phones! Why is it that we fail to call home and talk to our Heavenly Father more frequently than not, and yet we are so willing to call our mortal parents and annoy them multiple times a day? Why is it that when we get the sniffles or have trouble functioning physically that we rush to the nearest physician for the latest in medicine, but yet even when we have massive Spiritual heart attacks we don't even seek the advice and healing power of the Master?
In fact, why is that we only turn to God in our lives in the most desperate times of need? How is it that we can go about our lives treating God like a Spiritual Paramedic that's called by the dialing of three digits, and fail to address him at any other time?
We call ourselves Children of God, and we claim to belong to His Church, but what identity have we sought to secure for ourselves? Have our identities been stolen by the adversary and shaped by him to become what HE wants them to be - weak, brittle, and rather crowd-like in nature, or have we taken the initiative in our lives to mold our identities to become similar to that of the Savior himself and emulate his footsteps always?
Just more to think about!
Throughout a typical day we perform many safeguarding routines, often subconsciously or even passively. We lock our car doors when exiting our vehicles, secure our houses and apartments, pat our back pockets periodically to make sure that we have our wallets or keys or whatever, and continuously think about creative ways to create difficult passwords while still being able to remember them. We even make sure that we have all the necessary phone numbers in our cell phones just in case we need to call someone in an emergency.
As a whole though, we are wildly irresponsible when it comes to our spiritual security.
Let us consider the typical day of many a member of the Church (including myself at times): We roll out of bed after hitting the snooze button on our alarm multiple times. We realize that we are now later than we had planned on being and must now rush to make up for lost time. We quickly grab something to eat on the way out the door and head off to our intended destination. Along the way we realize that we've forgotten something or a delay has arisen and we silently "pray" that we'll get through the new struggle and curse ourselves for being so irresponsible. Following that day's labors we come home and are engrossed in the latest sitcom and then retire to our beds only when we nearly fall asleep in our chairs, barely placing our heads on the pillow before exhaustion consumes our physical bodies.
While this may seem a little too condensed for a day and somewhat cliche, the fact of the matter is that its true...for a lot of people.
We go about our lives claiming to be children of God, and members of the Church, or whatever title you want to place in there, but do we really consider what it takes to be that? As a student at BYU-Idaho we carry student identification cards, and we have signed our names on a contract indicating that we will follow the rules that we have agreed to at all times, and in all things, and in all places. Thus, the cards in our wallets not only identify us to the school, but they become a symbolic identity of what we stand for.
What identity do we present to the world, or even to our roommates and families? Each week when partaking of the sacrament, we covenant to "always remember Him, and keep His commandments which he has given [us]" in an exchange for the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. The question is though - how much do we REALLY remember Him? Further, what kind of an identity do we really carry out into the world, much less secure for ourselves?
Do we safeguard our lives at every chance we get, or do we hastily move about our daily activities failing to remember who we are and what we stand for? Just because we associate with those that do not hold our same standards, do we even make it known to them what we DO stand for, or instead, do we simply ignore the guilt pangs in our conscience or just go along with the crowd?
What about the judgments we pass on a daily basis? Do we judge according to the will and way of the Lord, or are we quick to be acted upon by the influences of the adversary and fail to act for ourselves in a rational way? Do we allow unrighteous dominion to enter the doors of our spiritual havens or rationale to be bent in the pursuit of something less than godlike?
What about our Spiritual Computers....our brains? Do we have those "password protected" - or in other words, do we control the thoughts of our minds such that the adversary cannot penetrate them and get into the hearts of our systems? The adversary knows the thoughts of our minds just as the Lord does, and to even rationalize in theory only is to unsafely reveal those things which may make our Spirits vulnerable to the wiles of the devil.
Let us not forget our Spiritual cell phones! Why is it that we fail to call home and talk to our Heavenly Father more frequently than not, and yet we are so willing to call our mortal parents and annoy them multiple times a day? Why is it that when we get the sniffles or have trouble functioning physically that we rush to the nearest physician for the latest in medicine, but yet even when we have massive Spiritual heart attacks we don't even seek the advice and healing power of the Master?
In fact, why is that we only turn to God in our lives in the most desperate times of need? How is it that we can go about our lives treating God like a Spiritual Paramedic that's called by the dialing of three digits, and fail to address him at any other time?
We call ourselves Children of God, and we claim to belong to His Church, but what identity have we sought to secure for ourselves? Have our identities been stolen by the adversary and shaped by him to become what HE wants them to be - weak, brittle, and rather crowd-like in nature, or have we taken the initiative in our lives to mold our identities to become similar to that of the Savior himself and emulate his footsteps always?
Just more to think about!
07 September 2009
The Infinity of Choice
Over the last two weeks while in Church, I have tried to pay close attention to the promptings that I've felt and try to discern different bits of knowledge from what has been taught in classes. As I've pondered the many things that have been taught and brought up, there was an ideal that came to mind that I wish to address at this time.
Mankind has control over an infinite element - choice!
This may be somewhat of an abstract statement to comprehend, but perhaps with my explanation here it will be more clear.
Let us first examine a set of scriptures from 2nd Nephi 9:
For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfill the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord. Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement - save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. -- 2 Nephi 9: 6-7
The key to this passage is that the Atonement is infinite. Why? It must be infinite to cover the infinity of agency! Additionally this infinity of agency is what allowed the Plan to be presented, the war to take place in heaven, and thereafter the Fall to take place on earth! There were not just two sides in the war in heaven - there were many, just as there were not just two choices in the Garden - there were an infinite amount of possibilities.
This idea seems to be further backed up when after partaking of the fruit, Adam and Eve are brought to the realization that they have become as the Gods - knowing good from evil and everything in between. There is an even simpler way of explaining this though!
In Moses 1:39 - we learn that the work and glory of the Lord is bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. The eternal life of man is to be understood to be eternal life with God the Father, and inheriting all that he has. In two places in the 20th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants we are told about the infinite power of God. Thus if God is infinite in His power, and we are to inherit all that He hath, then the element of choice must be infinite also in order to allow for that potential!
What does this mean to us though? What good is it to know that we have infinite choice? To know that we have infinite choice is to come to the knowledge of many things: 1) That God trusts us enough that he does not necessitate commanding in all things (D&C 58:26-28). For God to command in all things is to deny us of agency.
The second element that we gain from this understanding though is probably the most important: By understanding the infinity of choice, we gain a much greater understanding of the workings of the Holy Ghost in our lives! What?!?!? Examine the following scripture:
And he said, Go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord. and, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after after the fire a still small voice.
The Lord could easily command us to do many things or speak in heavy voices or with great power - but at that point he removes our agency from listening. The other advantage of speaking through the still small voice is that it causes men to seek for the answers and for the words that it speaks to them. In other words, in order to enjoy the guidance of the Spirit - one must choose to do so!
How blessed we are to learn from the promptings of the still small voice and to have an infinite control over our ability to choose. While our choices do not always guarantee action or success, we are still given that ability - predicated upon our exercise of righteous judgment. As long as we stay righteous though - the rest is up to us...literally!
Mankind has control over an infinite element - choice!
This may be somewhat of an abstract statement to comprehend, but perhaps with my explanation here it will be more clear.
Let us first examine a set of scriptures from 2nd Nephi 9:
For as death hath passed upon all men, to fulfill the merciful plan of the great Creator, there must needs be a power of resurrection and the resurrection must needs come unto man by reason of the fall; and the fall came by reason of transgression; and because man became fallen they were cut off from the presence of the Lord. Wherefore, it must needs be an infinite atonement - save it should be an infinite atonement this corruption could not put on incorruption. -- 2 Nephi 9: 6-7
The key to this passage is that the Atonement is infinite. Why? It must be infinite to cover the infinity of agency! Additionally this infinity of agency is what allowed the Plan to be presented, the war to take place in heaven, and thereafter the Fall to take place on earth! There were not just two sides in the war in heaven - there were many, just as there were not just two choices in the Garden - there were an infinite amount of possibilities.
This idea seems to be further backed up when after partaking of the fruit, Adam and Eve are brought to the realization that they have become as the Gods - knowing good from evil and everything in between. There is an even simpler way of explaining this though!
In Moses 1:39 - we learn that the work and glory of the Lord is bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. The eternal life of man is to be understood to be eternal life with God the Father, and inheriting all that he has. In two places in the 20th Section of the Doctrine and Covenants we are told about the infinite power of God. Thus if God is infinite in His power, and we are to inherit all that He hath, then the element of choice must be infinite also in order to allow for that potential!
What does this mean to us though? What good is it to know that we have infinite choice? To know that we have infinite choice is to come to the knowledge of many things: 1) That God trusts us enough that he does not necessitate commanding in all things (D&C 58:26-28). For God to command in all things is to deny us of agency.
The second element that we gain from this understanding though is probably the most important: By understanding the infinity of choice, we gain a much greater understanding of the workings of the Holy Ghost in our lives! What?!?!? Examine the following scripture:
And he said, Go forth and stand upon the mount before the Lord. and, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after after the fire a still small voice.
The Lord could easily command us to do many things or speak in heavy voices or with great power - but at that point he removes our agency from listening. The other advantage of speaking through the still small voice is that it causes men to seek for the answers and for the words that it speaks to them. In other words, in order to enjoy the guidance of the Spirit - one must choose to do so!
How blessed we are to learn from the promptings of the still small voice and to have an infinite control over our ability to choose. While our choices do not always guarantee action or success, we are still given that ability - predicated upon our exercise of righteous judgment. As long as we stay righteous though - the rest is up to us...literally!
06 September 2009
You Are What You Eat
My apologizes to my readers for my extended hiatus. I just needed a break to gather my thoughts, deal with a few things, etc.
As I worked in the temple this morning and fell ill, I had been considering the prompting that I had about the phrase "you are what you eat." Surely many of us have heard this on many an occasion and have chosen to disregard it or chalk it up to the fact that we've heard it before and it really doesn't matter to us - there's no way we become a hamburger because we eat them...or do we?
Literally speaking, no, we will not wake up tomorrow surrounded by two sesame seed buns because we polished off a dozen burgers the night before. Those that frequent this location though know that I rarely speak in a literal sense however...
As I pondered the ramifications of this statement, I came to the conclusion that this statement applies to us MUCH more on a spiritual plane than it ever will on a physical one. In fact, a goodly part of the world suffers from an eating disorder, including those inside the Church!
Just as that statement is true though, so also is the inverse of that statement - we cannot become that which we do not eat - or partake - of. Yet, despite the knowledge of what "crash" or "fad" diets do to our body in a physical sense, or the constant warning of the harmful effects of one substance or another when ingested - we all claim at one point or another that "we won't be like that" or that "I'll never resort to that method"...and yet many of us do those very things to ourselves in a spiritual sense!
Bulimia is an eating disorder especially prevalent among female teenagers and young adults. The individual with the disorder often practices a routine of binge consumption of food and subsequent purging of that which was eaten. This is done to fool the stomach into thinking that the body has ingested food, when in reality it has already been ejected from it. This in turn causes a rather rapid weight loss in that person. While this is a common practice among many females, it is much more a commonality among males in its spiritual form.
In many a male mind, the term "Amen" has become synonymous with the practice of quickly racing home after Church on Sundays and quickly changing out of one's clothes and immediately tackling the latest football game or golf match, or fixing a meal to quell those hunger pangs felt during the third hour Priesthood meeting. As the Sunday routines begin, the lessons of those Sunday meetings are quickly forgotten and nary pondered again - in other words purged from memory. Is this not Spiritual Bulimia in its most acute form? I think it is! Its not limited to just men either, females are guilty of it also, but it is FAR more prevalent among the males.
Let us not forget about the spiritual anorexics though! Many of us would never dream of trying to subsist on a daily diet of a few grapes or a couple of spoonfuls of yogurt...but yet we're perfectly comfortable ignoring our prayers, justifying those actions which may not necessarily be right, leaving our scriptures in the same spot from Sunday to Sunday, or even sleeping through our Church meetings. We somehow expect those tiny morsels that do manage to find our stomachs to nourish and sustain us on a daily basis.
Let's not forget about those "fad" diets either - the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, low-fat / no-fat diet, Nutrisystem, etc. I believe that the Doctrine & Covenants adequately prescribes the diets we should follow in the 89th Section - also known as the Word of Wisdom:
5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
7 And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
8 And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.
9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.
10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.
18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.
Look at some of the counsel that we've been given within other scriptures: 1) We are commanded to freely and frequently partake of the BREAD of life - which is Christ Jesus. 2) We have been asked to focus less on the deep doctrine (meat) and more on the simple doctrines (milk - dairies). 3) We know that fruits and vegetables are good for us - just as we are commanded to offer up service (the fruits of our labors) and strengthen our testimonies (growing the seeds of faith in our hearts). 4) We are commanded not to spend our money on that which is of no worth or our labors for that which cannot satisfy (i.e. Spiritual "fats and candies")
Further we are commanded to "feast upon the words of Christ." Are we doing our best as Saints to follow the Word of Wisdom to its fullest? Do we inject those toxins that "health experts" present to us - telling us that a little bit of each daily may be actually good for us? Rather - do we fall prey to those temptations that the adversary presents to us, convincing us that the partaking or embracing of such won't harm us, but may actually help us?
I think we all need to reexamine our lives and figure out what diet we are currently on and decide if that's the one that the Lord has prescribed to us or not!
As I worked in the temple this morning and fell ill, I had been considering the prompting that I had about the phrase "you are what you eat." Surely many of us have heard this on many an occasion and have chosen to disregard it or chalk it up to the fact that we've heard it before and it really doesn't matter to us - there's no way we become a hamburger because we eat them...or do we?
Literally speaking, no, we will not wake up tomorrow surrounded by two sesame seed buns because we polished off a dozen burgers the night before. Those that frequent this location though know that I rarely speak in a literal sense however...
As I pondered the ramifications of this statement, I came to the conclusion that this statement applies to us MUCH more on a spiritual plane than it ever will on a physical one. In fact, a goodly part of the world suffers from an eating disorder, including those inside the Church!
Just as that statement is true though, so also is the inverse of that statement - we cannot become that which we do not eat - or partake - of. Yet, despite the knowledge of what "crash" or "fad" diets do to our body in a physical sense, or the constant warning of the harmful effects of one substance or another when ingested - we all claim at one point or another that "we won't be like that" or that "I'll never resort to that method"...and yet many of us do those very things to ourselves in a spiritual sense!
Bulimia is an eating disorder especially prevalent among female teenagers and young adults. The individual with the disorder often practices a routine of binge consumption of food and subsequent purging of that which was eaten. This is done to fool the stomach into thinking that the body has ingested food, when in reality it has already been ejected from it. This in turn causes a rather rapid weight loss in that person. While this is a common practice among many females, it is much more a commonality among males in its spiritual form.
In many a male mind, the term "Amen" has become synonymous with the practice of quickly racing home after Church on Sundays and quickly changing out of one's clothes and immediately tackling the latest football game or golf match, or fixing a meal to quell those hunger pangs felt during the third hour Priesthood meeting. As the Sunday routines begin, the lessons of those Sunday meetings are quickly forgotten and nary pondered again - in other words purged from memory. Is this not Spiritual Bulimia in its most acute form? I think it is! Its not limited to just men either, females are guilty of it also, but it is FAR more prevalent among the males.
Let us not forget about the spiritual anorexics though! Many of us would never dream of trying to subsist on a daily diet of a few grapes or a couple of spoonfuls of yogurt...but yet we're perfectly comfortable ignoring our prayers, justifying those actions which may not necessarily be right, leaving our scriptures in the same spot from Sunday to Sunday, or even sleeping through our Church meetings. We somehow expect those tiny morsels that do manage to find our stomachs to nourish and sustain us on a daily basis.
Let's not forget about those "fad" diets either - the Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, low-fat / no-fat diet, Nutrisystem, etc. I believe that the Doctrine & Covenants adequately prescribes the diets we should follow in the 89th Section - also known as the Word of Wisdom:
5 That inasmuch as any man drinketh wine or strong drink among you, behold it is not good, neither meet in the sight of your Father, only in assembling yourselves together to offer up your sacraments before him.
6 And, behold, this should be wine, yea, pure wine of the grape of the vine, of your own make.
7 And, again, strong drinks are not for the belly, but for the washing of your bodies.
8 And again, tobacco is not for the body, neither for the belly, and is not good for man, but is an herb for bruises and all sick cattle, to be used with judgment and skill.
9 And again, hot drinks are not for the body or belly.
10 And again, verily I say unto you, all wholesome herbs God hath ordained for the constitution, nature, and use of man—
11 Every herb in the season thereof, and every fruit in the season thereof; all these to be used with prudence and thanksgiving.
12 Yea, flesh also of beasts and of the fowls of the air, I, the Lord, have ordained for the use of man with thanksgiving; nevertheless they are to be used sparingly;
13 And it is pleasing unto me that they should not be used, only in times of winter, or of cold, or famine.
14 All grain is ordained for the use of man and of beasts, to be the staff of life, not only for man but for the beasts of the field, and the fowls of heaven, and all wild animals that run or creep on the earth;
15 And these hath God made for the use of man only in times of famine and excess of hunger.
16 All grain is good for the food of man; as also the fruit of the vine; that which yieldeth fruit, whether in the ground or above the ground—
17 Nevertheless, wheat for man, and corn for the ox, and oats for the horse, and rye for the fowls and for swine, and for all beasts of the field, and barley for all useful animals, and for mild drinks, as also other grain.
18 And all saints who remember to keep and do these sayings, walking in obedience to the commandments, shall receive health in their navel and marrow to their bones;
19 And shall find wisdom and great treasures of knowledge, even hidden treasures;
20 And shall run and not be weary, and shall walk and not faint.
21 And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the destroying angel shall pass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them. Amen.
Look at some of the counsel that we've been given within other scriptures: 1) We are commanded to freely and frequently partake of the BREAD of life - which is Christ Jesus. 2) We have been asked to focus less on the deep doctrine (meat) and more on the simple doctrines (milk - dairies). 3) We know that fruits and vegetables are good for us - just as we are commanded to offer up service (the fruits of our labors) and strengthen our testimonies (growing the seeds of faith in our hearts). 4) We are commanded not to spend our money on that which is of no worth or our labors for that which cannot satisfy (i.e. Spiritual "fats and candies")
Further we are commanded to "feast upon the words of Christ." Are we doing our best as Saints to follow the Word of Wisdom to its fullest? Do we inject those toxins that "health experts" present to us - telling us that a little bit of each daily may be actually good for us? Rather - do we fall prey to those temptations that the adversary presents to us, convincing us that the partaking or embracing of such won't harm us, but may actually help us?
I think we all need to reexamine our lives and figure out what diet we are currently on and decide if that's the one that the Lord has prescribed to us or not!
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