Looking To Zion Lite
The Condensed Version for Super Busy Moms
(Still with fewer calories!)
The Third Cornerstone: The Law
To Qualify as a cornerstone:
• It must be an eternal principle
• It must support and sustain itself
• It must be sanctioned by Heavenly Father
The world is in constant motion, and the adversary of man is tirelessly working for our undoing. Therefore, our Eternal Father, has blessed us today with a series of records that detail His workings among His children of the ancient and recent past. He has also given us a prophet who gives us modern instruction and guidance, direction that when followed faithfully will help to keep us safely out of Satan’s clutches.
The laws are eternal. They support and sustain themselves when applied in the correct spirit and without our own spin on things. And since they were given to man, by God through His prophets, I think we can safely say that they are sanctioned by our Heavenly Father.
These laws and duties are given for our benefit, to help us govern ourselves and to draw us together. Will we be able to follow these laws perfectly, 100% of the time? Eventually, after a great deal of hard work and personal sacrifice. So, if we can’t follow the laws perfectly right now, and He knows that, what does Heavenly Father truly expect of us?
Nothing more than to be better than we were the day before! One step at a time.
________________________________________
Looking To Zion Not-So-Lite
(Meat and Potatoes! Mmmmm!)
The Third Cornerstone: The Law
You know, it’s really simple to intellectualize all of this stuff; but, it’s a bear to put it into practice. I keep reminding myself that I need to take baby steps, rather than sweeping changes. Baby steps have staying power. I need to take more baby steps in my life – in applying these things that I’m writing about (so I’m not a hypocrite) and in just about every other aspect of my life. So, in honor of baby steps, I’m scaling back to just the Sunday posts. I’ll eventually work myself back into multiple weekly posts, but for now, baby steps…
That said, let’s look at the third cornerstone: The Law.
Man! Just writing that gives me the chills! There’s so much weight backing that one little, three letter word. Why does it have such a heavy, and dare I say it – negative connotation? Are laws bad? No. Inconvenient perhaps, but they are not bad. God, over the course of human history, has established rules and laws for us to follow. He has given us organization through the spiritual leadership of His prophets. This has been his model since the days of Adam, and it has been a model that has worked wonders in keeping God’s Children on track. The Old Testament testifies of this, as do the New Testament, the Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants. Why would He deviate from a process that works so well?
He gifted unto Moses ten laws that would guide Israel to lay down the foundation for their own Zion. He sent us His Anointed to fulfill all the old promises, and give us new rules that were more in tune with His ultimate goal. Did He abolish the old laws? No. They are still as valid today as they were to the Israelites in times past. They are there in the new laws too, being fulfilled as we obediently follow the principles that are so much more flexible, but require us to actively think more about what we are doing and how we are doing it.
But the world is in constant motion, and the adversary of man is tirelessly working for our undoing. Therefore, God, our Eternal Father, has blessed us today with a prophet who is doing the same thing as Moses did. Giving us laws and guidelines that will keep us safely out of Satan’s clutches. These laws aren’t for His benefit, and in fact, I believe wholeheartedly that He’d much rather not have to constantly spell out what we need to do…repetatively.
How many times, as parents or caregivers to young children, do you wish that you didn’t have to repeat yourself over and over, sasying the same things again and again? How many times have you looked Heavenward and wondered: “When will they get it?” – I feel that our Father in Heaven often has similar feelings about us. The difference between our reaction and His, is that He hopes we will take advantage of all the hard earned knowledge we’ve gained from our previous hundred thousand mistakes and apply it to our current situation – and He does it with a smile, and without the eye rolling exasperation and frustration that so often accompanies our reactions.
I’m sure that we all can agree that the Laws of God are many and diverse. Some feel restrictive, while others seem simple and straightforward. Some feel written just for us, personally, while others…we wonder who they were meant for. Some we feel a desperate need to cling to, and some we dismiss as being less important, or perhaps less directed towards us. And this is all before Satan gets involved and starts splitting hairs by getting us to interpret the Law in order to justify our actions. That is where trouble really begins. I apologize to any attorneys out there (especially my brother-in-law Kevin), but I feel that the moment we try amending the Law to rationalize our personal beliefs and to ensure our personal gain...that’s the moment we have stepped from the safety of the straight and narrow, and into the confounding mists. God's law is straightforward, and it embraces both justice and mercy, so all of our needs are taken care of within the laws He sets down. It may not accommodate all of our wants, and therein lies the point of contention that Satan seeks to exploit.
When I find myself falling into this practice, or entertaining my desire to tailor the laws to justify my choices, I wonder if I’m doing any better than the Children of Israel did. There are moments that I ask myself – am I making a golden calf, or am I remaining faithful to God’s Law and the covenants I’ve made? And believe me, I do my fair share of rationalizing and loop-hole hunting. Why do I do it? I don’t like losing, or feeling like a failure. Our world places too much emphasis on success, and it isn’t even the correct vision of success! God’s laws aren’t about who’s better than whom, or who can be the most obedient to such and such principle. These laws are our road map to salvation and exaltation. They are the things we have to do in order to return to live with our Heavenly Father again.
In Zion, these rules and laws are meant to give us structure and to teach us how to live harmoniously. They draw us together and bind us as one. We aren’t meant to punish each other over them, and they aren’t meant to be used to judge one another harshly or without compassion. We are all on different mile markers of the same road. And we all have a unique perspective of the journey we’ve taken on that road back home to God. That is not to say we will not be punished for transgressing God’s laws. No, God’s laws are very much black and white. He does not work in gray, nor does He muddy the waters. He is a God of Justice and Mercy, and is bound by a strict code. He is exact in His obedience and observance of that code. If we expect to enter into His celestial kingdom how can we expect any less of ourselves? Does this mean we need to obey perfectly in order to qualify for Zion?
Eventually, yes. Please note that I said eventually.
It will take time for us to develop solid habits. We’re actually laying the groundwork as we speak. Each of the small tasks we are given to do, is a Law of Heaven applied to a real life circumstance. When given a small task that doesn’t make sense, ask yourself this: “How does this build Zion?” or “What Law is being fulfilled by this precept that my leaders are handing down to me?” In all truth, doing the small things is more difficult than doing the big things. I personally believe that the big things cost us less in the long run.
We currently do not have the social structure backing us that will make fulfilling the simple tasks an easy prospect. We are constantly at war with the world around us, just to set aside one night in seven for the sole benefit of strengthening our family. When we think about the Law of Tithing, our thoughts are also drawn to the mind-numbing amount of bills that we are required to pay. Visiting the sick and the needy are challenges of a completely higher magnitude altogether, in light of the taxing requirements demanded of us just to survive in the world, let alone live in it.
Being one hundred percent obedient, one hundred percent of the time is a great challenge. Yet, when we apply the lessons we’ve learned so far…when we have laid the first two cornerstones securely, we gain strength and momentum. Our relationship with the Savior grants us patience and an understanding, not to mention the knowledge and comfort His love brings to our lives. Our application of the Triumvirate of Faith, Hope, and Charity makes fulfilling the multitude of little tasks that our Prophet, the scriptures, and the general leadership of the church, asks of us less burdensome and easier to bear. Heavenly Father expects a great deal of us. Likewise, He promises a great deal in return.
So, just what does He expect of us?
For us to progress steadily from one day to the next in perfecting ourselves. He desires exact and abiding obedience to all of His laws – big and small. He also expects us to falter a great deal in the process of our perfecting ourselves. He even made concessions for when we do in the form of the Atonement! Can we honestly believe that we will suddenly walk into Zion and…BOOM!...we’re magically going to be perfect in our obedience? Not in the least! And we’re being very silly if that is our expectation. Like I hinted above, it takes time, effort, and a great many small steps in order to reach the pinnacle that we are reaching for. Zion will come, but not until we are faithfully living all of the laws that God has given to us.
I liken it to climbing a mountain. When I was a kid, my family and I went out to Utah to be sealed in the temple. While there, friends took us up to Mount Timpanogos. Somehow they convinced us to hike the trail, up to the caves. I was eleven at the time. I will tell you plainly, there came a point in the trek, when I was simply looking at my feet and saying to myself: “Just one more step. Just one more, and then I’ll stop.” That mantra got me to our destination, and through the cave, and back down the mountain again.
God knows our abilities, and it’s only when we get comfortable in our routines that He sends us trials, and challenges, and new understanding. Each and every one of these things promtps us to take just one more step along the path to perfection. Yet, on the other end of the spectrum, in our zeal to perfect ourselves, we often bite off more than we can chew or entertain unrealistic expectations of ourselves. We try to run long before we’ve perfected walking. In the immortal words of the wise old tortoise: “Slow and steady wins the race.”
We cannot perfect ourselves in a day, but within our day we can discover perfection. We must be exact in moments, and those moments will incrementally build upon themselves. The more exact in our obedience to these laws that we become, the closer we are to our Heavenly Father. The closer we are to our God, the closer we become to Zion.
Do not be discouraged if your journey seems longer than your neighbor’s. We are all unique and though the road is the same, we each will experience different things as we travel along it. We must be true to the ideal of being better than we were the day before, as we strive to perfect our obedience. You can only judge yourself, against yourself; and even then, do so lovingly and with an eye single to the prize. Are you closer to your goal than you were yesterday? Yes indeed! Even if it is only one step closer! That, in the end, is what makes all the difference!
Until next week,
Jeffrey
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
The Second Cornerstone: The Triumvirate
Looking To Zion Lite
The Condensed Version for Super Busy Moms
(Now with fewer calories!)
The Second Cornerstone: The Triumvirate
To Qualify as a cornerstone:
Looking To Zion Not-So-Lite
(Full of zest, flavor, and waaay too many calories for our own good!)
We spoke of Jesus Christ as the first cornerstone. His perfection and Atonement are the Hub of the great and eternal plan of salvation that has been acting out since before the creation of the world. He is an external, guiding force for Zion. It is because of Him that Zion is even possible.
The second cornerstone is a bit more abstract, and is made up of three aspects, rather than one contiguous ideology. I’m going out on a limb here, and submitting that the second cornerstone is on equal footing with the first. This cornerstone is a trinity of attributes, namely: Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Before you lynch me as a heretic, please allow me to explain my reasoning. Without this triumvirate of essential principles, Christ could not be the person He is. These attributes are both an essential part of our existence, and a vehicle for our salvation. Where Jesus Christ and His Atonement were given to us, these three attributes are what we give in return. In essence, they are our half of the Covenant of Salvation that we make at baptism.
They are each verbs; ideas in action…they don’t sit idle within us. Where Christ is the external guidance, Faith, Hope, and Charity are the internal. And when we are actively perfecting their use, we are helping others to perfect themselves. They are in effect, just as essential to our salvation as the Atonement is.
As principles, these three things, especially the third aspect, are the driving force throughout creation itself, and all of the laws of the Gospel are tied to them. By making these three attributes a focus in our lives we change ourselves and the world around us from the inside out. It is subtle and gentle, and comes together incrementally in moments and steps, but the change does come.
I could write a book about each of these three attributes, and in truth each one deserves to be addressed individually. No doubt, one day, I’ll revisit them and give them the individual respect they deserve. Today, however, I’m just going to introduce them. So, let’s start off with Faith.
“Faith is knowing that the sun will rise…” (Faith, # 96, LDS Children’s Song Book.) That’s how the Primary song goes. Of all the concepts cited in the scriptures, the attribute of Faith is most likely the one mentioned most. Love probably ties with it, and repentance is a close second, but Faith as a concept is taught quite a bit by the scriptures. With all this attention, its importance should be quite plain. Yet, it is probably the most misunderstood and misinterpreted principle in the gospel. Perhaps this is because there are so many aspects to the principle. It isn’t simply belief, as some people mistakenly imply. There are many times throughout the New Testament, where Jesus chides and rebukes His disciples and the people of Israel for their unbelief. They (and we are just as guilty of this) professed belief, yet their actions dictated otherwise. Faith requires that we move forward. We cannot sit idle, twiddling our thumbs and saying: “All is right with the world.” If we say we believe it will force us to act on those beliefs.
Faith endures loyally. It is a choice to embrace belief, when all around you do not. It weathers every storm, because it is built on our understanding. The more we know God, the easier it is to believe in Him. If it falters, then it is due to our lack of understanding. When we have true Faith, we can take that blind step into the darkness without hesitation. Why will it be easy? Simply put, we will have the confidence that we are doing the right thing; and when we do the right thing, God backs us up. In this life or the next.
Hope is one of those slippery concepts that doesn’t want to be defined. It springs eternal, yet you can lose it so very easily. It is more than desire, and much more complex than anticipation or expectation. It’s founded on positive emotion, and inspires the same in turn. It is more than optimism and dreams of a better tomorrow. It uses our imagination to fuel itself, yet it’s not all mental; there is an emotional aspect to it too. Hope is closely tied to Faith, much like a twin. It is also founded in understanding. Of the three, I find it the hardest to quantify. It remains a mystery to me.
Charity on the other hand is straight forward. It is the greatest, and most necessary of the three. It never faileth. (1 Cor. 13) It is the compassionate service that arises from Faith and Hope. It is the concern we show our family and friends, when their world is in turmoil. It is the unconditional acceptance we shower on our children as babies, and as adults. It is the secret act you perform, just to see the smile on someone’s face. It is the willingness to understand another’s point of view, and the act of really seeing a person as a Child of God – in spite of the way they behave, speak, or present themselves. It is loving when there is no cause to love. It is often the physical expression of Faith’s and Hope’s affection. And while Charity is the most demonstrative of the Triumvirate, it too has its hidden depths and mysteries.
Each of these three attributes act as anchors for our spirits. They tie us to Christ and our Heavenly Father; for as we embrace and use the Triumvirate in our lives, we cannot help but draw nearer to them. Zion cannot live without these three attributes. They are its life’s blood. A citizenship without these three principles supporting it, it is doomed to implode. For in their absence – Unbelief, Despair, and Pride all hold sway over the hearts of men. This is what Nephi was referring to when he said:
As we apply these attributes first in our hearts, and then externally, we slowly become a closer knit people. Our minds and actions align and we eventually begin to share the same goals and desires. Our thoughts and actions unify under one purpose. We change, and Zion is the result.
So, find your Faith. Shroud it in Hope. And nurture it through expressions of Charity.
Until Sunday,
Jeffrey
The Condensed Version for Super Busy Moms
(Now with fewer calories!)
The Second Cornerstone: The Triumvirate
To Qualify as a cornerstone:
- It must be an eternal principle
- It must support and sustain itself
- It must be sanctioned by Heavenly Father
- Faith
- Hope
- Charity
Looking To Zion Not-So-Lite
(Full of zest, flavor, and waaay too many calories for our own good!)
We spoke of Jesus Christ as the first cornerstone. His perfection and Atonement are the Hub of the great and eternal plan of salvation that has been acting out since before the creation of the world. He is an external, guiding force for Zion. It is because of Him that Zion is even possible.
The second cornerstone is a bit more abstract, and is made up of three aspects, rather than one contiguous ideology. I’m going out on a limb here, and submitting that the second cornerstone is on equal footing with the first. This cornerstone is a trinity of attributes, namely: Faith, Hope, and Charity.
Before you lynch me as a heretic, please allow me to explain my reasoning. Without this triumvirate of essential principles, Christ could not be the person He is. These attributes are both an essential part of our existence, and a vehicle for our salvation. Where Jesus Christ and His Atonement were given to us, these three attributes are what we give in return. In essence, they are our half of the Covenant of Salvation that we make at baptism.
They are each verbs; ideas in action…they don’t sit idle within us. Where Christ is the external guidance, Faith, Hope, and Charity are the internal. And when we are actively perfecting their use, we are helping others to perfect themselves. They are in effect, just as essential to our salvation as the Atonement is.
As principles, these three things, especially the third aspect, are the driving force throughout creation itself, and all of the laws of the Gospel are tied to them. By making these three attributes a focus in our lives we change ourselves and the world around us from the inside out. It is subtle and gentle, and comes together incrementally in moments and steps, but the change does come.
I could write a book about each of these three attributes, and in truth each one deserves to be addressed individually. No doubt, one day, I’ll revisit them and give them the individual respect they deserve. Today, however, I’m just going to introduce them. So, let’s start off with Faith.
“Faith is knowing that the sun will rise…” (Faith, # 96, LDS Children’s Song Book.) That’s how the Primary song goes. Of all the concepts cited in the scriptures, the attribute of Faith is most likely the one mentioned most. Love probably ties with it, and repentance is a close second, but Faith as a concept is taught quite a bit by the scriptures. With all this attention, its importance should be quite plain. Yet, it is probably the most misunderstood and misinterpreted principle in the gospel. Perhaps this is because there are so many aspects to the principle. It isn’t simply belief, as some people mistakenly imply. There are many times throughout the New Testament, where Jesus chides and rebukes His disciples and the people of Israel for their unbelief. They (and we are just as guilty of this) professed belief, yet their actions dictated otherwise. Faith requires that we move forward. We cannot sit idle, twiddling our thumbs and saying: “All is right with the world.” If we say we believe it will force us to act on those beliefs.
Faith endures loyally. It is a choice to embrace belief, when all around you do not. It weathers every storm, because it is built on our understanding. The more we know God, the easier it is to believe in Him. If it falters, then it is due to our lack of understanding. When we have true Faith, we can take that blind step into the darkness without hesitation. Why will it be easy? Simply put, we will have the confidence that we are doing the right thing; and when we do the right thing, God backs us up. In this life or the next.
Hope is one of those slippery concepts that doesn’t want to be defined. It springs eternal, yet you can lose it so very easily. It is more than desire, and much more complex than anticipation or expectation. It’s founded on positive emotion, and inspires the same in turn. It is more than optimism and dreams of a better tomorrow. It uses our imagination to fuel itself, yet it’s not all mental; there is an emotional aspect to it too. Hope is closely tied to Faith, much like a twin. It is also founded in understanding. Of the three, I find it the hardest to quantify. It remains a mystery to me.
Charity on the other hand is straight forward. It is the greatest, and most necessary of the three. It never faileth. (1 Cor. 13) It is the compassionate service that arises from Faith and Hope. It is the concern we show our family and friends, when their world is in turmoil. It is the unconditional acceptance we shower on our children as babies, and as adults. It is the secret act you perform, just to see the smile on someone’s face. It is the willingness to understand another’s point of view, and the act of really seeing a person as a Child of God – in spite of the way they behave, speak, or present themselves. It is loving when there is no cause to love. It is often the physical expression of Faith’s and Hope’s affection. And while Charity is the most demonstrative of the Triumvirate, it too has its hidden depths and mysteries.
Each of these three attributes act as anchors for our spirits. They tie us to Christ and our Heavenly Father; for as we embrace and use the Triumvirate in our lives, we cannot help but draw nearer to them. Zion cannot live without these three attributes. They are its life’s blood. A citizenship without these three principles supporting it, it is doomed to implode. For in their absence – Unbelief, Despair, and Pride all hold sway over the hearts of men. This is what Nephi was referring to when he said:
“For the Spirit of the Lord will not always strive with man. And when the Spirit ceaseth to strive with man then cometh speedy destruction, and this grieveth my soul.” 2 Ne. 26: 11We will inevitably return to these three at a later date, to explore them in more depth. In the meantime, I will continue to study them and their application. I encourage you to do the same.
As we apply these attributes first in our hearts, and then externally, we slowly become a closer knit people. Our minds and actions align and we eventually begin to share the same goals and desires. Our thoughts and actions unify under one purpose. We change, and Zion is the result.
So, find your Faith. Shroud it in Hope. And nurture it through expressions of Charity.
Until Sunday,
Jeffrey
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The First Cornerstone: Jesus Christ
Looking To Zion Lite
The Condensed Version for Super Busy Moms
(Now with fewer calories!)
The First Cornerstone: Jesus Christ
To Qualify as a cornerstone:
• It must be an eternal principle
• It must support and sustain itself
• It must be sanctioned by Heavenly Father
Jesus Christ, His Atonement, and His Love are the Hub of everything. Yet, accepting and building a relationship with Christ is not an easy thing to do. In order to truly connect with Christ we must accept two very important facts about Him:
1. He is perfect
2. He had a mission of love that was directed to us individually, as much as it was the rest of the world.
As we accept and obey Christ, we will slowly begin to emulate Him. In doing so, we love more perfectly and in turn make more perfect choices.
________________________________________
Looking To Zion Not-So-Lite
(Full of zest, flavor, and waaay too many calories for our own good!)
The First Cornerstone: Jesus Christ
So, we’re talking about cornerstones. In order to qualify as a cornerstone, there are certain criteria that must be met. I have chosen three, but I suppose we could apply more if there truly is a need to.
The first criterion is probably the most important. A cornerstone must be an eternal principle. We are building Zion to last, therefore its foundation must be built on lasting principles. The second criterion is like the first, in that it must sustain and support itself. A cornerstone that is dependent on outside factors to perform its duty, will not withstand the immense pressures that will be brought to bear against it. The third and final criterion is that they are sanctioned by Heavenly Father. You cannot build the City of God on a foundation that is not endorsed by God Himself. The city would implode without the confidence that these three criteria reinforce.
So, we bring ourselves back to the cornerstones. I mentioned four stones in my last post, one for each cardinal point of the city; Jesus Christ; the trinity of: Faith, Hope, and Charity; the Law of God (both the gospels of long ago and those laws revealed through modern day prophets); and finally the Family.
The first stone is the Savior. His atonement is at the hub of everything, therefore He is the primary cornerstone to build upon. It seems so matter-of-fact, and yet people still question His divinity and their relation to Him. I don’t blame them really. It’s so hard to connect with a perfect being. What worth do you, an imperfect being, could you possibly have in their eyes?
All my life, I’ve struggled with my relationship to the Savior. Heavenly Father, on the other hand, has been very easy to connect with. I believe this to be due to the fact that I grew up with a loving dad, who truly loved me unconditionally. He loved me when I wrecked the car. He loved me when I told him I was going to be an artist (and then chose a really expensive art school full of really strange and unique people to attend). He even loved me when I was angry with him. So, for me, loving and accepting Heavenly Father was a no-brainer.
Accepting Jesus Christ, as a perfect elder brother, was not so easy. There are times that I still find it difficult. But this difficulty comes from ignorance and misunderstanding, more than dislike or disbelief.
In order to truly connect to Jesus Christ, we must accept two very important facts about Him. The first: He is perfect. Some of you, like me, will ask: “How is that even possible?” Trying to embrace such a concept is very difficult, in light of the comparison we must make against our own imperfect lives. Here is how I reconcile this idea of perfection. He chose perfectly in every situation because he was taught to do so by his parents.
I believe Mary and Joseph taught Jesus with divine supervision. Logic states that they had to have heavenly help in order to raise a child who chose perfectly in every situation. They also had to maintain a life style that allowed for that aid to be given. When I think of Mary and Joseph, I feel that the only reason they weren’t taken from the Earth due to their righteousness, was the fact that they had other missions to perform. I freely admit that this is supposition on my part. The scriptures don’t elaborate on the Savior’s childhood, or the challenges he faced growing up. Do I believe Jesus made mistakes? Yes. Shocking I know, but bear with me. Making mistakes is not the same as sinning or transgressing God’s Laws.
As the grandson of a carpenter, I learned at an early age that shaping wood is a process that inevitably leads to many mistakes. It is a craft that takes patience and willingness to learn. I can see Jesus, working alongside Joseph making many small mistakes or miscalculations. But I can also see him learning from them so that He never made the same mistake twice.
Yet, when faced with the choice to sin, Jesus of Nazareth, knew who He was. He’d been taught from an early age, and understood the mission that His Heavenly Father had given Him. In studying his ministry, we can see that there are many times that He could have fulfilled the letter of the law, without having to go the “extra mile” as it were. One specific moment comes to mind: the death of John the Baptist.
The death of dear friend and family member is earth-shattering. For Jesus, who loved His cousin John so dearly, to hear that this beloved family member had been assassinated by a corrupt and evil government…it was a harsh reality. Can you imagine how you would have felt in his place? Set aside the normal pain and loss we feel at the death of a loved one. Now imagine that you lost that person to a deliberate, premeditated, murder by those that were governing you. Is it any wonder that Jesus went off to have some alone time?
But the populace, ignorant of His pain, or perhaps desirous to comfort Him in His hour of need, followed Him. Now if it were me, I would have asked for two or three days to mourn and deal with the feelings that were pressing on me. But what does Jesus do? He sets aside His pain and teaches them. And when He was done, He takes five loaves of bread and two fishes and feeds the multitude - all five thousand men, and an unknown number of women and children.
Jesus was perfect. He was perfect in the choices He made, in His deportment, and in His love.
The second fact we must accept in order to truly connect to Jesus Christ has to do with His love and the mission that He was sent here to accomplish. The Atonement, at the best of times, is difficult to comprehend. There are things about it that I cannot comprehend – the fact that it is a universal and eternal atonement for instance. I’ve wrestled with that for a long time, but I’ve come to the conclusion that as a mortal, with a mortal’s understanding of time, space, and eternity; there is absolutely no way that I can have a perfect understanding of this singular moment in history. I can accept that there are things that I will need to learn in the life to come, and that some answers require patience and long suffering to achieve.
However, there are a couple of things about the Atonement that I do understand, and those give me grounding and a more intimate connection to my Savior.
The first: the Atonement has been planned for since before the Earth was created. If you sit down and calculate all the things that needed to be done and in place, in order to simply allow Jesus the opportunity to be born…well, it’s humbling. Now, take into account all of the careful steps that Heavenly Father needed to take in order to not only prepare His son for the Atonement, but in order to preserve Jesus’ agency. He had to sit back and allow Satan and his angels free reign in abusing, tempting, and conspiring against someone who for all intents and purposes had earned a ticket on the express back to Heaven. He had to allow Jesus to be murdered, under the pretenses of justice. Then He had to turn away from His suffering son, nailed so cruelly to the cross, just long enough for Satan to tempt Jesus one last time, so that True Justice would be appeased. Then after all was said and done, the story of the Atonement was preserved and then distributed to the four corners of the Earth. Why? All, so that we might benefit from the fruits of this singularly unique sacrifice.
The second point about the Atonement is humbling. The Atonement was done for you and me, and every other living being that has or will grace this planet. Some of you may question this. It’s understandable when you sit down and think about the numbers of people involved. How can this act be for me, or how can I be special, when I’m one of a seemingly infinite number of souls? Jesus knew you and me, personally, before we came to this world. He knows us even now. The spirit is eternal; it isn’t bound by our limited perceptions. He may or may not have remembered us during His time in Gethsemane, but He did understand the importance of His mission. He understood that mission and He completed it.
And here’s the kicker: it was all planned and executed for your personal, and individual, benefit.
He doesn’t name names, or single out a specific racial profile. He doesn’t designate a specific time period, or limit the benefits of the Atonement to a financial bracket. He paints with a broad brush, and includes all who are willing to “reason together”. The Atonement was meant for all of God’s children.
We cannot build God’s City, without first having an abiding relationship with Him and His son. We cannot know the Father except through the Son, for they are one in spirit and purpose. This is why Jesus is the first cornerstone. Is it hard to accept Jesus? Yes it is. There’s just so much that we don’t really understand about the man, let alone his divine appointment. But the more we learn about Him, the easier it is to see our own importance reflected through His life and teachings. Does it matter that I don’t have a perfect understanding of the science, logic, motive, or eternal repercussions of the miracles He performed or the Atonement itself?
No, there are a lot of things that I don’t understand perfectly. I can’t program my DVD Player perfectly, and I certainly don’t understand my wife perfectly. My children are a mystery to me; and I’m still trying to figure out how our government survives, let alone works. I won’t even broach the math and sciences that elude me. I understand each of them enough to accept them though. I understand their relationship to me, and therefore I’m able to invest more time into learning about them.
In accepting Christ and making Him a cornerstone of Zion, we embrace His perfection and the love He offers us so freely. We can find a haven of confidence and trust in this world of deceit and half-truths in following a perfect guide. And as we follow this perfect guide, and obey His compassionate counsel, we will be uplifted and know that we are loved unconditionally and without pretense. Over time, as we successfully obey, we will see a change slowly take root in our lives. For as we obey and emulate our Savior, we in turn become more like Him. We will love unconditionally, and our choices slowly become more and more perfect.
Until Thursday,
Jeffrey
The Condensed Version for Super Busy Moms
(Now with fewer calories!)
The First Cornerstone: Jesus Christ
To Qualify as a cornerstone:
• It must be an eternal principle
• It must support and sustain itself
• It must be sanctioned by Heavenly Father
Jesus Christ, His Atonement, and His Love are the Hub of everything. Yet, accepting and building a relationship with Christ is not an easy thing to do. In order to truly connect with Christ we must accept two very important facts about Him:
1. He is perfect
2. He had a mission of love that was directed to us individually, as much as it was the rest of the world.
As we accept and obey Christ, we will slowly begin to emulate Him. In doing so, we love more perfectly and in turn make more perfect choices.
________________________________________
Looking To Zion Not-So-Lite
(Full of zest, flavor, and waaay too many calories for our own good!)
The First Cornerstone: Jesus Christ
So, we’re talking about cornerstones. In order to qualify as a cornerstone, there are certain criteria that must be met. I have chosen three, but I suppose we could apply more if there truly is a need to.
The first criterion is probably the most important. A cornerstone must be an eternal principle. We are building Zion to last, therefore its foundation must be built on lasting principles. The second criterion is like the first, in that it must sustain and support itself. A cornerstone that is dependent on outside factors to perform its duty, will not withstand the immense pressures that will be brought to bear against it. The third and final criterion is that they are sanctioned by Heavenly Father. You cannot build the City of God on a foundation that is not endorsed by God Himself. The city would implode without the confidence that these three criteria reinforce.
So, we bring ourselves back to the cornerstones. I mentioned four stones in my last post, one for each cardinal point of the city; Jesus Christ; the trinity of: Faith, Hope, and Charity; the Law of God (both the gospels of long ago and those laws revealed through modern day prophets); and finally the Family.
The first stone is the Savior. His atonement is at the hub of everything, therefore He is the primary cornerstone to build upon. It seems so matter-of-fact, and yet people still question His divinity and their relation to Him. I don’t blame them really. It’s so hard to connect with a perfect being. What worth do you, an imperfect being, could you possibly have in their eyes?
All my life, I’ve struggled with my relationship to the Savior. Heavenly Father, on the other hand, has been very easy to connect with. I believe this to be due to the fact that I grew up with a loving dad, who truly loved me unconditionally. He loved me when I wrecked the car. He loved me when I told him I was going to be an artist (and then chose a really expensive art school full of really strange and unique people to attend). He even loved me when I was angry with him. So, for me, loving and accepting Heavenly Father was a no-brainer.
Accepting Jesus Christ, as a perfect elder brother, was not so easy. There are times that I still find it difficult. But this difficulty comes from ignorance and misunderstanding, more than dislike or disbelief.
In order to truly connect to Jesus Christ, we must accept two very important facts about Him. The first: He is perfect. Some of you, like me, will ask: “How is that even possible?” Trying to embrace such a concept is very difficult, in light of the comparison we must make against our own imperfect lives. Here is how I reconcile this idea of perfection. He chose perfectly in every situation because he was taught to do so by his parents.
I believe Mary and Joseph taught Jesus with divine supervision. Logic states that they had to have heavenly help in order to raise a child who chose perfectly in every situation. They also had to maintain a life style that allowed for that aid to be given. When I think of Mary and Joseph, I feel that the only reason they weren’t taken from the Earth due to their righteousness, was the fact that they had other missions to perform. I freely admit that this is supposition on my part. The scriptures don’t elaborate on the Savior’s childhood, or the challenges he faced growing up. Do I believe Jesus made mistakes? Yes. Shocking I know, but bear with me. Making mistakes is not the same as sinning or transgressing God’s Laws.
As the grandson of a carpenter, I learned at an early age that shaping wood is a process that inevitably leads to many mistakes. It is a craft that takes patience and willingness to learn. I can see Jesus, working alongside Joseph making many small mistakes or miscalculations. But I can also see him learning from them so that He never made the same mistake twice.
Yet, when faced with the choice to sin, Jesus of Nazareth, knew who He was. He’d been taught from an early age, and understood the mission that His Heavenly Father had given Him. In studying his ministry, we can see that there are many times that He could have fulfilled the letter of the law, without having to go the “extra mile” as it were. One specific moment comes to mind: the death of John the Baptist.
The death of dear friend and family member is earth-shattering. For Jesus, who loved His cousin John so dearly, to hear that this beloved family member had been assassinated by a corrupt and evil government…it was a harsh reality. Can you imagine how you would have felt in his place? Set aside the normal pain and loss we feel at the death of a loved one. Now imagine that you lost that person to a deliberate, premeditated, murder by those that were governing you. Is it any wonder that Jesus went off to have some alone time?
But the populace, ignorant of His pain, or perhaps desirous to comfort Him in His hour of need, followed Him. Now if it were me, I would have asked for two or three days to mourn and deal with the feelings that were pressing on me. But what does Jesus do? He sets aside His pain and teaches them. And when He was done, He takes five loaves of bread and two fishes and feeds the multitude - all five thousand men, and an unknown number of women and children.
Jesus was perfect. He was perfect in the choices He made, in His deportment, and in His love.
The second fact we must accept in order to truly connect to Jesus Christ has to do with His love and the mission that He was sent here to accomplish. The Atonement, at the best of times, is difficult to comprehend. There are things about it that I cannot comprehend – the fact that it is a universal and eternal atonement for instance. I’ve wrestled with that for a long time, but I’ve come to the conclusion that as a mortal, with a mortal’s understanding of time, space, and eternity; there is absolutely no way that I can have a perfect understanding of this singular moment in history. I can accept that there are things that I will need to learn in the life to come, and that some answers require patience and long suffering to achieve.
However, there are a couple of things about the Atonement that I do understand, and those give me grounding and a more intimate connection to my Savior.
The first: the Atonement has been planned for since before the Earth was created. If you sit down and calculate all the things that needed to be done and in place, in order to simply allow Jesus the opportunity to be born…well, it’s humbling. Now, take into account all of the careful steps that Heavenly Father needed to take in order to not only prepare His son for the Atonement, but in order to preserve Jesus’ agency. He had to sit back and allow Satan and his angels free reign in abusing, tempting, and conspiring against someone who for all intents and purposes had earned a ticket on the express back to Heaven. He had to allow Jesus to be murdered, under the pretenses of justice. Then He had to turn away from His suffering son, nailed so cruelly to the cross, just long enough for Satan to tempt Jesus one last time, so that True Justice would be appeased. Then after all was said and done, the story of the Atonement was preserved and then distributed to the four corners of the Earth. Why? All, so that we might benefit from the fruits of this singularly unique sacrifice.
The second point about the Atonement is humbling. The Atonement was done for you and me, and every other living being that has or will grace this planet. Some of you may question this. It’s understandable when you sit down and think about the numbers of people involved. How can this act be for me, or how can I be special, when I’m one of a seemingly infinite number of souls? Jesus knew you and me, personally, before we came to this world. He knows us even now. The spirit is eternal; it isn’t bound by our limited perceptions. He may or may not have remembered us during His time in Gethsemane, but He did understand the importance of His mission. He understood that mission and He completed it.
And here’s the kicker: it was all planned and executed for your personal, and individual, benefit.
Isa. 1: 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
He doesn’t name names, or single out a specific racial profile. He doesn’t designate a specific time period, or limit the benefits of the Atonement to a financial bracket. He paints with a broad brush, and includes all who are willing to “reason together”. The Atonement was meant for all of God’s children.
We cannot build God’s City, without first having an abiding relationship with Him and His son. We cannot know the Father except through the Son, for they are one in spirit and purpose. This is why Jesus is the first cornerstone. Is it hard to accept Jesus? Yes it is. There’s just so much that we don’t really understand about the man, let alone his divine appointment. But the more we learn about Him, the easier it is to see our own importance reflected through His life and teachings. Does it matter that I don’t have a perfect understanding of the science, logic, motive, or eternal repercussions of the miracles He performed or the Atonement itself?
No, there are a lot of things that I don’t understand perfectly. I can’t program my DVD Player perfectly, and I certainly don’t understand my wife perfectly. My children are a mystery to me; and I’m still trying to figure out how our government survives, let alone works. I won’t even broach the math and sciences that elude me. I understand each of them enough to accept them though. I understand their relationship to me, and therefore I’m able to invest more time into learning about them.
In accepting Christ and making Him a cornerstone of Zion, we embrace His perfection and the love He offers us so freely. We can find a haven of confidence and trust in this world of deceit and half-truths in following a perfect guide. And as we follow this perfect guide, and obey His compassionate counsel, we will be uplifted and know that we are loved unconditionally and without pretense. Over time, as we successfully obey, we will see a change slowly take root in our lives. For as we obey and emulate our Savior, we in turn become more like Him. We will love unconditionally, and our choices slowly become more and more perfect.
Until Thursday,
Jeffrey
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Stones
Looking To Zion Lite
The Condensed Version for Super Busy Moms
(Now with fewer calories!)
Building Zion to last will require the laying of a solid foundation, and that foundation is maintained by four spiritual cornerstones: Jesus Christ; Faith, Hope, and Charity; the Law of God (both the gospels of long ago and modern day); and the Family. These four immovable and eternal cornerstones will lay the foundation for the greatest city the world has ever known.
________________________________________
Looking To Zion Not-So-Lite
(Full of zest, flavor, and waaay too many calories for our own good!)
The kids are finally back in school and the house is relatively quiet again. I’m feeling a bit of “empty nest syndrome” – which is par for course this time of year. We’ve weathered the kids’ birthdays and somehow made time for a small vacation this summer. All in all, I’d dub the last three months a success.
So with all the focus on family over the last little while, it seems strange that I’ve been thinking about rocks. Specifically, cornerstones. You know…the great big, honking huge, stones that were used in the old days to lay the foundation of a building? Yeah, those kinds of rocks. You see, when I was younger, I had the opportunity to work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, caring for some of their most sacred and historical sites. It was the best job I’ve ever had, hands down, for the simple fact that Heavenly Father was my boss; and every day I woke up knowing that the work I would be doing was necessary. I had a purpose and knew that my hard efforts were appreciated.
For those that have never worked for the Church before most positions require you to hold a temple recommend in order for you to even qualify for the job. It was an endorsement of worthy service, and ensured that everyone working together had the same moral commitment. The work always started with a hymn, a prayer, and spiritual thought from the scriptures. There were no lewd jokes, there were no office politics, and everyone was genuinely happy to see each other. It was so different from any other job I’ve ever had! I was so very blessed to hold one of those positions, and I fervently wish I could hold a job like it again.
As much as I wish to write more about the job, today’s blog isn’t so much about the job I held as it is about one of the responsibilities I had while on the job.
One of the sites that I cared for was the temple grounds at Far West, Missouri. There are few places on Earth that fill me with such peace, and as I tended the grounds I always felt the Spirit keenly. It is sacred ground. For those who have never been there, the temple grounds are situated off the beaten track, deep in the farm country of Caldwell County, Missouri. The temple grounds are, in fact, surrounded by farmers’ fields and the soothing sounds of nature. It is a quiet place, bereft of the hubbub of highway or busy crowd. All you can hear are the sounds of the wind blowing across the fields and through the trees, and the song of birds as the go about their day. I often would close my eyes during my lunch break and revel in the sense of peace. I rarely get to feel that in my life, and every time I finished mowing and pruning I left Far West feeling comforted and happy. It truly is a sacred place.
Upon entering the temple grounds, directly to your left and to your right there are two very large stones. Both measure approximately three feet wide by four feet long, and I couldn’t even begin to imagine how much they weigh. These are two of the corner stones that were laid down on July 4, 1838. They are large and very weathered, but their purpose was set aside to hold up a singularly important piece of architecture. I’ve always imagined that they were chosen with great care and laid with exactness.
Every time I see those stones, I have to marvel at all the effort, planning, and troubleshooting that had to go into moving them from where they were quarried, to where they now reside. For those of you who have seen the movie “The Mountain of the Lord,” you have an understanding of just what went into such an endeavor during that time period.
Today the Lord has given us modern tools and technologies that make building a much more exact science. We can build bigger, faster, and more conveniently than we could in the past – but not necessarily better. Cornerstones have largely become obsolete, more symbolic than functional; but spiritually, they are requisite to our salvation. Without these spiritual cornerstones, the foundation of our testimony is weak and will easily falter.
This thought has pressed upon me a great deal of late. In fact it won’t leave me alone. It leads me to ask: What are the four great spiritual cornerstones that Zion will be built upon? What are the stones that will not only support the church and its purpose collectively, but also each of us individually?
These are the four cornerstones that I came up with: Jesus Christ; Faith, Hope, and Charity; the Law of God (both the gospels of long ago and modern day); and the Family. I’ll go more into each one of my choices as the week goes on.
But what do you think? What are the cornerstones that you feel Zion should be based on?
Until Tuesday!
Jeffrey
P.S. I was convinced to try out shorter posts for a while. It means that I'll be posting more during the week, assuming you can stand to hear from me that often. Either way, I'd like to know your thoughts. Which is better? One long post updated every Sunday, or three smaller posts spread out over the course of the week? Email me at zionblogger@gmail.com and let me know!
The Condensed Version for Super Busy Moms
(Now with fewer calories!)
Building Zion to last will require the laying of a solid foundation, and that foundation is maintained by four spiritual cornerstones: Jesus Christ; Faith, Hope, and Charity; the Law of God (both the gospels of long ago and modern day); and the Family. These four immovable and eternal cornerstones will lay the foundation for the greatest city the world has ever known.
________________________________________
Looking To Zion Not-So-Lite
(Full of zest, flavor, and waaay too many calories for our own good!)
The kids are finally back in school and the house is relatively quiet again. I’m feeling a bit of “empty nest syndrome” – which is par for course this time of year. We’ve weathered the kids’ birthdays and somehow made time for a small vacation this summer. All in all, I’d dub the last three months a success.
So with all the focus on family over the last little while, it seems strange that I’ve been thinking about rocks. Specifically, cornerstones. You know…the great big, honking huge, stones that were used in the old days to lay the foundation of a building? Yeah, those kinds of rocks. You see, when I was younger, I had the opportunity to work for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, caring for some of their most sacred and historical sites. It was the best job I’ve ever had, hands down, for the simple fact that Heavenly Father was my boss; and every day I woke up knowing that the work I would be doing was necessary. I had a purpose and knew that my hard efforts were appreciated.
For those that have never worked for the Church before most positions require you to hold a temple recommend in order for you to even qualify for the job. It was an endorsement of worthy service, and ensured that everyone working together had the same moral commitment. The work always started with a hymn, a prayer, and spiritual thought from the scriptures. There were no lewd jokes, there were no office politics, and everyone was genuinely happy to see each other. It was so different from any other job I’ve ever had! I was so very blessed to hold one of those positions, and I fervently wish I could hold a job like it again.
As much as I wish to write more about the job, today’s blog isn’t so much about the job I held as it is about one of the responsibilities I had while on the job.
One of the sites that I cared for was the temple grounds at Far West, Missouri. There are few places on Earth that fill me with such peace, and as I tended the grounds I always felt the Spirit keenly. It is sacred ground. For those who have never been there, the temple grounds are situated off the beaten track, deep in the farm country of Caldwell County, Missouri. The temple grounds are, in fact, surrounded by farmers’ fields and the soothing sounds of nature. It is a quiet place, bereft of the hubbub of highway or busy crowd. All you can hear are the sounds of the wind blowing across the fields and through the trees, and the song of birds as the go about their day. I often would close my eyes during my lunch break and revel in the sense of peace. I rarely get to feel that in my life, and every time I finished mowing and pruning I left Far West feeling comforted and happy. It truly is a sacred place.
Upon entering the temple grounds, directly to your left and to your right there are two very large stones. Both measure approximately three feet wide by four feet long, and I couldn’t even begin to imagine how much they weigh. These are two of the corner stones that were laid down on July 4, 1838. They are large and very weathered, but their purpose was set aside to hold up a singularly important piece of architecture. I’ve always imagined that they were chosen with great care and laid with exactness.
Every time I see those stones, I have to marvel at all the effort, planning, and troubleshooting that had to go into moving them from where they were quarried, to where they now reside. For those of you who have seen the movie “The Mountain of the Lord,” you have an understanding of just what went into such an endeavor during that time period.
Today the Lord has given us modern tools and technologies that make building a much more exact science. We can build bigger, faster, and more conveniently than we could in the past – but not necessarily better. Cornerstones have largely become obsolete, more symbolic than functional; but spiritually, they are requisite to our salvation. Without these spiritual cornerstones, the foundation of our testimony is weak and will easily falter.
This thought has pressed upon me a great deal of late. In fact it won’t leave me alone. It leads me to ask: What are the four great spiritual cornerstones that Zion will be built upon? What are the stones that will not only support the church and its purpose collectively, but also each of us individually?
These are the four cornerstones that I came up with: Jesus Christ; Faith, Hope, and Charity; the Law of God (both the gospels of long ago and modern day); and the Family. I’ll go more into each one of my choices as the week goes on.
But what do you think? What are the cornerstones that you feel Zion should be based on?
Until Tuesday!
Jeffrey
P.S. I was convinced to try out shorter posts for a while. It means that I'll be posting more during the week, assuming you can stand to hear from me that often. Either way, I'd like to know your thoughts. Which is better? One long post updated every Sunday, or three smaller posts spread out over the course of the week? Email me at zionblogger@gmail.com and let me know!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
The Mission
(written on August 8, 2010)
Moses 1:4
And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands; but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, for the never cease.
So I was performing my new Sunday ritual this morning; wake up, ignore the haze of pain that was working my body over like a prize fighter, stumble into the dining room where my laptop was set up, and pulled up the Mormon Channel (http://radio.lds.org/). I pulled up the link for the Mormon Messages (which I discovered last week for the first time – here’s the link for those that haven’t found it yet - http://www.youtube.com/MormonMessages) and began watching all the clips that I had missed. My eldest son, who just happens to turn fourteen this week, (HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!) decided to sit down beside me. We watched a few and then I tried to be sneaky and watch some of the clips that they have specifically for youth.
Imagine my surprise, when I pulled up a clip called “The Magnificent Priesthood”- featuring a talk by David L. Beck, the Young Men General President. My intent was to reiterate the importance of my son’s commitment to his priesthood covenant since he’s being ordained a Teacher next week.
(I’m sure that you can see where this is going.)
As is generally the case, my intent backfired on me. Well, to a certain point. Chris got the message I was hoping for, but while I was sitting there feeling all smug in my parental wisdom, celebrating the fact that I had gotten to him, the Spirit snuck up and blindsided me.
The video clip streamed to a point, about three quarters through, where Brother Beck summarizes the scripture I opened this post with:
“Behold thou art my son and I have a work for you…”
I have had moments in the past where the Lord has spoken to me, where His spirit has fallen upon me with the strength and weight of a freight train. They are beautiful, mind-boggling, sacred moments that I cherish dearly. This was one of those moments.
I came again to the sudden and intimate realization that I was a child of God, that I was loved, and that I had a purpose in this grand farce called life. Me…can you imagine?! This imperfect man, with this broken body, and this wandering mind stuffed so full of dreams…the guy who loves playing video games and watching cartoons as much as his kids. I am His son, and He has work for me to do.
I am important to His plan, in some unfathomable way – as in, I have things that only I can do; people that only I can connect with, or jobs that I am uniquely qualified for.
It was…it was a “WOW!” moment. And no, I’m not talking about the game with all the Orcs and Elves. It was a one in a million moment of perfect clarity. It was something that I needed to capture and share. So I immediately set down to write; and while I wrote, I asked myself what it was that God could want of me. I knew it would tie in with building Zion in some way, because everything else in my life has seemed to be on the same track.
So, in my meandering way, I pondered. And while I pondered, my youngest rampaged around the house channeling Godzilla taking a stroll through Tokyo proper. The middle son was desperate for me to help him with a logic puzzle he was stuck on, and my oldest was trying to teach himself a song on the piano…with lots of repetition. Contrary to what most would believe, these are the perfect conditions to ponder in for me. It was due to all the background noise that I understand a portion of the work that my Heavenly Father has reserved for me.
It will be, without a doubt, my greatest work too.
My mission is to raise my children in righteousness.
Some of you will say: “Cliché!” or “What a Primary answer!” But, it is true. How does this all relate to Zion? Simply put, the family is the foundation of Zion. The family is the foundation of any society, and all the ills or triumphs attained by a people can be directly traced back to the families that live within the confines of that society. If our families are broken and dysfunctional, then can we expect anything less for our government? If our families are bound together in love, acceptance, and selfless service what then will our society look like?
The family is the keystone of Zion. Plain and simple.
I freely admit that every family situation is different, and my lot in life is not going to reflect yours. No family unit is perfect, regardless of what they may look like on the surface. No parent is perfect, and their relationships with their children always have room for improvement. I know a number of single mothers, and more than my share of divorcees, or the children of divorcees. I’ve known a few widowers too. They live difficult, but still fulfilling, lives. Do we label them as broken and dysfunctional? Are they contributors to the decline of our society? Do we shower them with our pity and say: “Poor you…”
No.
Not just no, but emphatically no!
All families have a place in Zion, regardless of size or struggle, for Zion is the greatest and most close knit family experience we will ever know. I know a beautiful family from when we lived in Austin, TX. And one of the parents comes from what we would traditionally call a “broken home” – and yet they are the single most righteous and loving family I have ever seen. There are a few that come very close to their example, and I’m sure you know families like them. They serve their fellow man faithfully, in spite of, or even because of, open adversity inside and outside of the church. They love openly, and take time to do the little things that every family seems to struggle with.
They sound perfect don’t they? Well, they’re not. But they are still my Zion Poster Family, and if I knew it wouldn’t embarrass them so much to be labeled such, I would be using their picture to show the world what a Zion family looks like. When you sit in their presence, they make you desire to do more and be better. They are an inspiration; not for what they do – that is a byproduct of their belief. They are an inspiration because they believe so passionately in the gospel’s two great laws: Love God, and Love thy neighbor as thyself.
I have been blessed to see a handful of such examples in my life. The number is small, but growing. No doubt you have someone that you know who fits into this category of family. They are the people who strive to do good, just for the sake of doing good, and not for the recognition of man or God. They are the people who love easily, and include you in their lives free of condition. They are the people who remember your birthday, or the birthday of your spouse, or some other small frivolous detail. They are the people who step up and serve, as a family, without regard for themselves.
They are the people you desperately measure yourself against. They are the people who you expect to be translated at any moment. Are they perfect? No. But, they are perfecting themselves one moment at a time. That is what we see. That is the spirit that we feel. That is the spirit that will build Zion.
So, I’m reviewing and taking stock of the lessons that I am teaching my children. I’m looking towards their future and praying that I’m giving them the things that they need to not only survive the World, but to overcome it. I’m trying to find and maintain that spirit of unity and love, to develop a spirit of Zion in my home. Am I making mistakes? Ask my sons or my wife, and they will undoubtedly giggle or outright laugh. Invariably though, they will nod their heads enthusiastically. I make a ton of mistakes. But I, like many of you out there reading this, understand the importance of messing up and learning from our mistakes. We learn and move onward, looking forward to something better.
We learn how and who to be from our parents and those that raise us. We absorb their actions and examples from a young age, and live in similitude to those we emulate. I often find myself channeling my mother or father, and I cringe. Not because they were bad parents, but because I had vowed long ago to be my own person. I love my parents, and they loved theirs. But rather than emulating them, and invariably their imperfections, what if we chose someone else to pattern our lives after? What would our world be like if we chose our elder brother Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father to those examples? What would our lives be like? How would we be different in just one little thing? What would our world and relationships look like?
Plainly put…Zion.
May your week be fruitful and filled with joy!
Jeffrey
Moses 1:4
And, behold, thou art my son; wherefore look, and I will show thee the workmanship of mine hands; but not all, for my works are without end, and also my words, for the never cease.
So I was performing my new Sunday ritual this morning; wake up, ignore the haze of pain that was working my body over like a prize fighter, stumble into the dining room where my laptop was set up, and pulled up the Mormon Channel (http://radio.lds.org/). I pulled up the link for the Mormon Messages (which I discovered last week for the first time – here’s the link for those that haven’t found it yet - http://www.youtube.com/MormonMessages) and began watching all the clips that I had missed. My eldest son, who just happens to turn fourteen this week, (HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRIS!) decided to sit down beside me. We watched a few and then I tried to be sneaky and watch some of the clips that they have specifically for youth.
Imagine my surprise, when I pulled up a clip called “The Magnificent Priesthood”- featuring a talk by David L. Beck, the Young Men General President. My intent was to reiterate the importance of my son’s commitment to his priesthood covenant since he’s being ordained a Teacher next week.
(I’m sure that you can see where this is going.)
As is generally the case, my intent backfired on me. Well, to a certain point. Chris got the message I was hoping for, but while I was sitting there feeling all smug in my parental wisdom, celebrating the fact that I had gotten to him, the Spirit snuck up and blindsided me.
The video clip streamed to a point, about three quarters through, where Brother Beck summarizes the scripture I opened this post with:
“Behold thou art my son and I have a work for you…”
I have had moments in the past where the Lord has spoken to me, where His spirit has fallen upon me with the strength and weight of a freight train. They are beautiful, mind-boggling, sacred moments that I cherish dearly. This was one of those moments.
I came again to the sudden and intimate realization that I was a child of God, that I was loved, and that I had a purpose in this grand farce called life. Me…can you imagine?! This imperfect man, with this broken body, and this wandering mind stuffed so full of dreams…the guy who loves playing video games and watching cartoons as much as his kids. I am His son, and He has work for me to do.
I am important to His plan, in some unfathomable way – as in, I have things that only I can do; people that only I can connect with, or jobs that I am uniquely qualified for.
It was…it was a “WOW!” moment. And no, I’m not talking about the game with all the Orcs and Elves. It was a one in a million moment of perfect clarity. It was something that I needed to capture and share. So I immediately set down to write; and while I wrote, I asked myself what it was that God could want of me. I knew it would tie in with building Zion in some way, because everything else in my life has seemed to be on the same track.
So, in my meandering way, I pondered. And while I pondered, my youngest rampaged around the house channeling Godzilla taking a stroll through Tokyo proper. The middle son was desperate for me to help him with a logic puzzle he was stuck on, and my oldest was trying to teach himself a song on the piano…with lots of repetition. Contrary to what most would believe, these are the perfect conditions to ponder in for me. It was due to all the background noise that I understand a portion of the work that my Heavenly Father has reserved for me.
It will be, without a doubt, my greatest work too.
My mission is to raise my children in righteousness.
Some of you will say: “Cliché!” or “What a Primary answer!” But, it is true. How does this all relate to Zion? Simply put, the family is the foundation of Zion. The family is the foundation of any society, and all the ills or triumphs attained by a people can be directly traced back to the families that live within the confines of that society. If our families are broken and dysfunctional, then can we expect anything less for our government? If our families are bound together in love, acceptance, and selfless service what then will our society look like?
The family is the keystone of Zion. Plain and simple.
I freely admit that every family situation is different, and my lot in life is not going to reflect yours. No family unit is perfect, regardless of what they may look like on the surface. No parent is perfect, and their relationships with their children always have room for improvement. I know a number of single mothers, and more than my share of divorcees, or the children of divorcees. I’ve known a few widowers too. They live difficult, but still fulfilling, lives. Do we label them as broken and dysfunctional? Are they contributors to the decline of our society? Do we shower them with our pity and say: “Poor you…”
No.
Not just no, but emphatically no!
All families have a place in Zion, regardless of size or struggle, for Zion is the greatest and most close knit family experience we will ever know. I know a beautiful family from when we lived in Austin, TX. And one of the parents comes from what we would traditionally call a “broken home” – and yet they are the single most righteous and loving family I have ever seen. There are a few that come very close to their example, and I’m sure you know families like them. They serve their fellow man faithfully, in spite of, or even because of, open adversity inside and outside of the church. They love openly, and take time to do the little things that every family seems to struggle with.
They sound perfect don’t they? Well, they’re not. But they are still my Zion Poster Family, and if I knew it wouldn’t embarrass them so much to be labeled such, I would be using their picture to show the world what a Zion family looks like. When you sit in their presence, they make you desire to do more and be better. They are an inspiration; not for what they do – that is a byproduct of their belief. They are an inspiration because they believe so passionately in the gospel’s two great laws: Love God, and Love thy neighbor as thyself.
I have been blessed to see a handful of such examples in my life. The number is small, but growing. No doubt you have someone that you know who fits into this category of family. They are the people who strive to do good, just for the sake of doing good, and not for the recognition of man or God. They are the people who love easily, and include you in their lives free of condition. They are the people who remember your birthday, or the birthday of your spouse, or some other small frivolous detail. They are the people who step up and serve, as a family, without regard for themselves.
They are the people you desperately measure yourself against. They are the people who you expect to be translated at any moment. Are they perfect? No. But, they are perfecting themselves one moment at a time. That is what we see. That is the spirit that we feel. That is the spirit that will build Zion.
So, I’m reviewing and taking stock of the lessons that I am teaching my children. I’m looking towards their future and praying that I’m giving them the things that they need to not only survive the World, but to overcome it. I’m trying to find and maintain that spirit of unity and love, to develop a spirit of Zion in my home. Am I making mistakes? Ask my sons or my wife, and they will undoubtedly giggle or outright laugh. Invariably though, they will nod their heads enthusiastically. I make a ton of mistakes. But I, like many of you out there reading this, understand the importance of messing up and learning from our mistakes. We learn and move onward, looking forward to something better.
We learn how and who to be from our parents and those that raise us. We absorb their actions and examples from a young age, and live in similitude to those we emulate. I often find myself channeling my mother or father, and I cringe. Not because they were bad parents, but because I had vowed long ago to be my own person. I love my parents, and they loved theirs. But rather than emulating them, and invariably their imperfections, what if we chose someone else to pattern our lives after? What would our world be like if we chose our elder brother Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father to those examples? What would our lives be like? How would we be different in just one little thing? What would our world and relationships look like?
Plainly put…Zion.
May your week be fruitful and filled with joy!
Jeffrey
Sunday, August 08, 2010
Trivialities
Notwithstanding all the challenges life tends to throw at you, I have found that the moment you begin to walk a path that dedicates you to God, all manner of evil explodes from the woodwork, not unlike a swarm of cockroaches, with the sole intent of overwhelming you. This dedicated design of destruction is focused on undermining your efforts and preventing you from staying true to the path you have set for yourself. That said, in an attempt to get a jump on Satan and his staff of spiritual telemarketers, I am writing this installment of the Zion blog immediately following the last.
For the last two years, the topic of Zion has pressed upon my mind most heavily. Every time I go to church, each lesson taught has been received with the thought: “How does this apply to building Zion?” I find myself hungry to see the community of God built.
At the same time, I must confess to my shame, a fear of seeing it built. Considering my last post, this mindset might seem hypocritical or paradoxical. Yet, I will freely admit to feelings of immense discomfort as I think about all of the changes I need to make in my life, in order to see my cornerstone of Zion built in my heart. There are so many little things that I enjoy, trivialities really, which prevent me from any meaningful progress towards my dream.
Point in fact. I love reading and I love art. I love quality illustration and the beautiful draftsmanship in line art. I find myself pulled to the marriage of these two media, which takes form in comic books, manga (Japanese comic books), and graphic novels. It is childish I know, but I love reading about underdog characters empowering themselves and overcoming their enemies and challenges. There is something liberating about a character that never quits, or is faced with a seemingly impossible task. Perhaps the draw is in the fact that I see myself all too clearly in their plights. I feel quite overwhelmed with the adversity that is constantly making itself known in my life, and preventing me from attaining my ultimate desire. That resonance makes it terribly difficult to put these stories away and focus on what God needs.
When I think of walking away from them, and giving them up for good, my gut clenches and my mind starts looking for excuses on how to keep them in my life. I made the attempt once, to quit “cold turkey” as it were. It involved a commitment to not buy another comic book or video game. My intent was to “grow up” and “…put away childish things…” (1 Cor. 13:11). But, walking away from something that has literally shaped and defined your life is not easy. Finding a story or an artist that maintains a “divine standard” is pretty much futile in today’s world. Becoming that type of creator is even more daunting.
To hear me speak, you’d think I was an addict. In a very real way, I am. And so are you. We are addicted to our trivialities – things that really have no place in God’s kingdom, and yet we have made them such an integral and needful part of our lives. If you doubt me, or question the truth of my words, I challenge you to have a media free week; seven days without television, radio, video games, cell phones, email, or internet. How long can you last? What will you do with your time? How will you survive without being connected, logged on, or plugged in? Can you do it? Will you?
I cannot see Zion being flooded with these distractions. Will we have technology in Zion? Undoubtedly. However, I seriously doubt that we will use these advancements as we do now. Zion is a place where we are drawn together, and where these technologies serve to aid in the service of others. Media will be uplifting and wholesome. It will inspire us to live better lives, rather than showing us the “reality” just outside our door.
There are so many trivialities that distract us from Zion. We all have our small addictions that seem harmless on the surface, but subtly drag us invariably away from the straight and narrow. There are a great many things in our lives that don’t seem trivial at all, and they too distract us from the dream of Zion. Personal relationships, bills, the daily toil of making ends meet, illness…the list is quite endless. We are naturally drawn to, and distracted by, life’s symphonies. Satan knows this and adds in his own spin and melodies. Thus we find ourselves sucked into the unfolding dramas, both real and fictional, of life; and we are delicately drawn away – step by step, from the path that God has set for us.
It seems entirely too obvious. In the words of my sons, this is what is called a “D’uh!” moment. The problem is, while obvious, we do very little to solve the problem. How do we do it? How do we give up all our little comforts? How do we give away all of our worries? How do we build a dream when our first inclination is to stay huddled in our comfort zone? My solution may not be the same as yours, but it works for me so I thought I’d share it.
Simply put, I try to imagine what Zion will be like. What will it look like? What would my day look like? What job will I have, how will I support my family? How will my neighbors act towards me? What will school be like for my children? How? What? Why? Take some time this week, if you choose to take the Media Deprivation Challenge – take some time and put yourself in Zion. And when you’ve imagined it, try to make the dream a reality in small moments and small steps. Read a classic, sing a song, serve a friend or a stranger when the opportunity arises - or even make an opportunity arise! In the end, you will see that your addiction to the trivialities of life will fade, all on its own. All those mountainous problems that are doing their best to crush you, will become lighter and more manageable. Life will become something pleasant and enjoyable in spite of all the distractions.
I leave you with my love and prayers. I hope you have a good week, and that the Lord’s blessing with follow you always.
Until next week!
Jeffrey
For the last two years, the topic of Zion has pressed upon my mind most heavily. Every time I go to church, each lesson taught has been received with the thought: “How does this apply to building Zion?” I find myself hungry to see the community of God built.
At the same time, I must confess to my shame, a fear of seeing it built. Considering my last post, this mindset might seem hypocritical or paradoxical. Yet, I will freely admit to feelings of immense discomfort as I think about all of the changes I need to make in my life, in order to see my cornerstone of Zion built in my heart. There are so many little things that I enjoy, trivialities really, which prevent me from any meaningful progress towards my dream.
Point in fact. I love reading and I love art. I love quality illustration and the beautiful draftsmanship in line art. I find myself pulled to the marriage of these two media, which takes form in comic books, manga (Japanese comic books), and graphic novels. It is childish I know, but I love reading about underdog characters empowering themselves and overcoming their enemies and challenges. There is something liberating about a character that never quits, or is faced with a seemingly impossible task. Perhaps the draw is in the fact that I see myself all too clearly in their plights. I feel quite overwhelmed with the adversity that is constantly making itself known in my life, and preventing me from attaining my ultimate desire. That resonance makes it terribly difficult to put these stories away and focus on what God needs.
When I think of walking away from them, and giving them up for good, my gut clenches and my mind starts looking for excuses on how to keep them in my life. I made the attempt once, to quit “cold turkey” as it were. It involved a commitment to not buy another comic book or video game. My intent was to “grow up” and “…put away childish things…” (1 Cor. 13:11). But, walking away from something that has literally shaped and defined your life is not easy. Finding a story or an artist that maintains a “divine standard” is pretty much futile in today’s world. Becoming that type of creator is even more daunting.
To hear me speak, you’d think I was an addict. In a very real way, I am. And so are you. We are addicted to our trivialities – things that really have no place in God’s kingdom, and yet we have made them such an integral and needful part of our lives. If you doubt me, or question the truth of my words, I challenge you to have a media free week; seven days without television, radio, video games, cell phones, email, or internet. How long can you last? What will you do with your time? How will you survive without being connected, logged on, or plugged in? Can you do it? Will you?
I cannot see Zion being flooded with these distractions. Will we have technology in Zion? Undoubtedly. However, I seriously doubt that we will use these advancements as we do now. Zion is a place where we are drawn together, and where these technologies serve to aid in the service of others. Media will be uplifting and wholesome. It will inspire us to live better lives, rather than showing us the “reality” just outside our door.
There are so many trivialities that distract us from Zion. We all have our small addictions that seem harmless on the surface, but subtly drag us invariably away from the straight and narrow. There are a great many things in our lives that don’t seem trivial at all, and they too distract us from the dream of Zion. Personal relationships, bills, the daily toil of making ends meet, illness…the list is quite endless. We are naturally drawn to, and distracted by, life’s symphonies. Satan knows this and adds in his own spin and melodies. Thus we find ourselves sucked into the unfolding dramas, both real and fictional, of life; and we are delicately drawn away – step by step, from the path that God has set for us.
It seems entirely too obvious. In the words of my sons, this is what is called a “D’uh!” moment. The problem is, while obvious, we do very little to solve the problem. How do we do it? How do we give up all our little comforts? How do we give away all of our worries? How do we build a dream when our first inclination is to stay huddled in our comfort zone? My solution may not be the same as yours, but it works for me so I thought I’d share it.
Simply put, I try to imagine what Zion will be like. What will it look like? What would my day look like? What job will I have, how will I support my family? How will my neighbors act towards me? What will school be like for my children? How? What? Why? Take some time this week, if you choose to take the Media Deprivation Challenge – take some time and put yourself in Zion. And when you’ve imagined it, try to make the dream a reality in small moments and small steps. Read a classic, sing a song, serve a friend or a stranger when the opportunity arises - or even make an opportunity arise! In the end, you will see that your addiction to the trivialities of life will fade, all on its own. All those mountainous problems that are doing their best to crush you, will become lighter and more manageable. Life will become something pleasant and enjoyable in spite of all the distractions.
I leave you with my love and prayers. I hope you have a good week, and that the Lord’s blessing with follow you always.
Until next week!
Jeffrey
Sunday, August 01, 2010
A Beginning
My wife, God bless her and keep her, introduced this idea of writing a blog to me quite a long time ago. My first reaction was: “How in the world am I supposed to come up with something interesting to say once a week? No one in their right mind wants to hear me rant, let alone read what I have to say.”
Needless to say, God was working through her and incidentally has been working on me ever since. This humble, stumbling attempt is the result. I ask for your patience and empathy as you read my words, and I fervently pray that the Holy Spirit of God works through me as I share my thoughts and insights with you concerning this singularly most important work: the building of a true Zion in our day.
Some people in the world will look at me strangely, citing the impracticality and my obvious impairment in even thinking such an endeavor was possible. My answer to them, and to you, is a simple one. God has set us the task, Enoch already managed to see the task through, and so it must be possible. I freely admit that the task is daunting. If I’m completely honest with myself, it looks downright impossible in this day and age. Then I look to a more modern attempt, Joseph’s Nauvoo, and I acknowledge that the prize is not so far out of reach after all. It simply requires strong hands, loyal hearts, and willing spirits.
The real and physical city of Zion will not spring up from the rich soil of Jackson County fully formed. No, her foundations need to be laid with care and a single-minded focus; “… line upon line, precept upon precept…” (2 Ne. 28:30, Isa. 28: 10, 13, 17) - one brick and one stone at a time. We will begin building Zion within our own hearts, and the cornerstones of that beautiful city will be laid down in the sanctity of our own home.
This is perhaps the most difficult undertaking. Our hearts are already taxed with worries for family and self; whether it is in providing for those we love, or being pressed by the personal conflicts and challenges of our lives. The inevitable first step to laying the cornerstone for Zion in our hearts, is in changing our minds. We must “…give away…” (Alma 22:18) all our sins and all things that rob us of the spirit of Zion.
This is inevitably where most people will look at me and scoff. Come on, Jeffrey! This is the twenty first century! Is that truly practical? We’re living in a world where pretty much everything robs us of the spirit of Zion! To this, I must nod my head sagely and agree. Satan’s plans have built up a huge amount of inertia, all with the single minded purpose of frustrating and derailing the efforts of God’s children to make this great dream come true.
Even as I acknowledge this fact, I also must in turn recognize the fact that God is greater than Satan. The great adversary of all mankind has warred unceasingly to frustrate the divine plan of happiness since the founding of the world. In spite of the devil’s tireless efforts, the plan has moved forward unceasingly. I know that the city of Zion is as real as any community we live in today. I know it is real, and in my heart I see it. Its pure white walls and majestic towers, look out on the land as watchmen inspiring man and woman alike – reminding each and every one of her citizens that God is in the Heavens, watching over us all. Zion is a place where every man, woman, and child is valued for who they are – not what they earn, or for how much they know, or the family they happened to born to. All have their place, and all are valued on equal footing. Zion’s children see eye to eye and heart to heart. There is no prevarication or falsehood in their demeanor or actions. They truly are of one heart and one mind.
Can you imagine such a place? Is it any wonder that the early communities of the Latter-day Saints were feared? I submit to that they were a powerhouse of progressive ideas and traditional values that changed the status quo. They stood for something greater than themselves, and that gave them power. Zion is a place that will change the status quo. It is a place of industry, not commercial industry, but industry. It is a haven from Satan’s world, and in my heart I will see it built sooner rather than later.
I will now step down from my soapbox for a week, leaving you with my testimony. God lives. He is working constantly and without end for one thing: our exaltation. To this end, He has sent us guidance anew, in the form of a prophet and twelve apostles who speak with His voice. He has given us his gospel, proclaimed and preserved in the scriptures – the First Witness, the Bible. The Second Witness, the Book of Mormon. It is through listening to these modern prophetic voices, and living by the teachings of these ancient books of testimony that we will secure our cornerstones.
Once those stones are fixed and unmoving, we will lay the foundations of Zion throughout the world. And the time will come, when God calls His children back to that special place; and there we will build unto Him a city of such magnitude and beauty that all the world will marvel. It will surpass all that this world has ever seen, and the people will love without hesitation or compulsion. Then will God come, and He will walk the streets. He will sit in our homes with us, and teach us even greater things than this world has ever known. And we will be of one heart and one mind and one spirit, and we will fear no more – for God will be with us.
This is my testimony. I give it freely and seal it in the name of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. God bless you all in the coming week, and should He be willing, I will write to you again one week from now.
Needless to say, God was working through her and incidentally has been working on me ever since. This humble, stumbling attempt is the result. I ask for your patience and empathy as you read my words, and I fervently pray that the Holy Spirit of God works through me as I share my thoughts and insights with you concerning this singularly most important work: the building of a true Zion in our day.
Some people in the world will look at me strangely, citing the impracticality and my obvious impairment in even thinking such an endeavor was possible. My answer to them, and to you, is a simple one. God has set us the task, Enoch already managed to see the task through, and so it must be possible. I freely admit that the task is daunting. If I’m completely honest with myself, it looks downright impossible in this day and age. Then I look to a more modern attempt, Joseph’s Nauvoo, and I acknowledge that the prize is not so far out of reach after all. It simply requires strong hands, loyal hearts, and willing spirits.
The real and physical city of Zion will not spring up from the rich soil of Jackson County fully formed. No, her foundations need to be laid with care and a single-minded focus; “… line upon line, precept upon precept…” (2 Ne. 28:30, Isa. 28: 10, 13, 17) - one brick and one stone at a time. We will begin building Zion within our own hearts, and the cornerstones of that beautiful city will be laid down in the sanctity of our own home.
This is perhaps the most difficult undertaking. Our hearts are already taxed with worries for family and self; whether it is in providing for those we love, or being pressed by the personal conflicts and challenges of our lives. The inevitable first step to laying the cornerstone for Zion in our hearts, is in changing our minds. We must “…give away…” (Alma 22:18) all our sins and all things that rob us of the spirit of Zion.
This is inevitably where most people will look at me and scoff. Come on, Jeffrey! This is the twenty first century! Is that truly practical? We’re living in a world where pretty much everything robs us of the spirit of Zion! To this, I must nod my head sagely and agree. Satan’s plans have built up a huge amount of inertia, all with the single minded purpose of frustrating and derailing the efforts of God’s children to make this great dream come true.
Even as I acknowledge this fact, I also must in turn recognize the fact that God is greater than Satan. The great adversary of all mankind has warred unceasingly to frustrate the divine plan of happiness since the founding of the world. In spite of the devil’s tireless efforts, the plan has moved forward unceasingly. I know that the city of Zion is as real as any community we live in today. I know it is real, and in my heart I see it. Its pure white walls and majestic towers, look out on the land as watchmen inspiring man and woman alike – reminding each and every one of her citizens that God is in the Heavens, watching over us all. Zion is a place where every man, woman, and child is valued for who they are – not what they earn, or for how much they know, or the family they happened to born to. All have their place, and all are valued on equal footing. Zion’s children see eye to eye and heart to heart. There is no prevarication or falsehood in their demeanor or actions. They truly are of one heart and one mind.
Can you imagine such a place? Is it any wonder that the early communities of the Latter-day Saints were feared? I submit to that they were a powerhouse of progressive ideas and traditional values that changed the status quo. They stood for something greater than themselves, and that gave them power. Zion is a place that will change the status quo. It is a place of industry, not commercial industry, but industry. It is a haven from Satan’s world, and in my heart I will see it built sooner rather than later.
I will now step down from my soapbox for a week, leaving you with my testimony. God lives. He is working constantly and without end for one thing: our exaltation. To this end, He has sent us guidance anew, in the form of a prophet and twelve apostles who speak with His voice. He has given us his gospel, proclaimed and preserved in the scriptures – the First Witness, the Bible. The Second Witness, the Book of Mormon. It is through listening to these modern prophetic voices, and living by the teachings of these ancient books of testimony that we will secure our cornerstones.
Once those stones are fixed and unmoving, we will lay the foundations of Zion throughout the world. And the time will come, when God calls His children back to that special place; and there we will build unto Him a city of such magnitude and beauty that all the world will marvel. It will surpass all that this world has ever seen, and the people will love without hesitation or compulsion. Then will God come, and He will walk the streets. He will sit in our homes with us, and teach us even greater things than this world has ever known. And we will be of one heart and one mind and one spirit, and we will fear no more – for God will be with us.
This is my testimony. I give it freely and seal it in the name of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. God bless you all in the coming week, and should He be willing, I will write to you again one week from now.
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