Mormon Direction

Would you take advice about life from a person who hates life and is miserable?

Would you seek advice as to ethics from a criminal or person who lies, is dishonest, cheats, misleads others, etc?

Would you take relationship advice from a person who has gender issues and follows those issues as his/her gospel-like principles?

Would you respect and follow the example of a person who showed a bad example?

I would hope you do not any of the above things, but in life, this presents a dilemma to all of us. This applies to anything; your spouse, relative, your own parents, your employer or immediate supervisor and so forth. The dilemma of being in a place or position of having to hear or listen to the counsel from a corrupted person. It is a hard thing to swallow for the best of us.

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With the array of differing doctrines in the general Christian community among the many Christian denominations, one wonders who is true and who is not. I say this from the perspective of a new convert or one who is investigating which church to join.

When I researched the many beliefs of the many Christian denominations, I began to find a consistent pattern among all of them. This pattern refers to “perspective”. The thing within each person that determines how he/she will view and comprehend God’s word. It is “perspective” that will either serve a person well or mislead them.

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During a time of suffering or affliction the opening for Satan’s influence is greater than when you are in joy.  This occurred to Jesus during his suffering where Satan tried to tempt him to sway Jesus away from his faith. continue reading…

Glenn Beck, for those that do not know, is a commentary celebrity, a talk show host on CNN show called, of course, “The Glenn Beck Program”.  I came to see his show only within the last year, but as I understand, he was quite outspoken and vivid to say the least in his past years as a talk-show host and commentary celebrity. I watch his shows from time to time if the topic interests me, but once in a while he comes up with a spot or two that is well worth the listen.

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When God gives his will on matters, many expect this would be through revelation or inspiration. When we look at Church leaders, we generally expect they would be recipients of revelation or inspiration and if we do not see the results of this, some of us may become saddened, disappointed or even disheartened because we work with the hope that our Church leaders (local leaders or the General Authorities) are led by God.

I hear upset or disappointment come from members every so often of how this leader or that leader failed here or should of done something there. As much as this is “murmuring” and we should not do it, we do get caught into that habit from time to time. It is part of being mortal, but this is not what you like to hear and instead you would likely want to know something that helps you deal with these struggles and frustrations felt and experienced about Church leaders. Well, there is something that will help.
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One day, when I was in the Sunday School Presidency, we had to find a replacement teacher for one of the Sunday school classes. We sat for about thirty minutes, making a list of names of members that would be able to take the calling. Then we spent more time to narrow the list down to three names, making a short list, but once done, we could not come to a decision as to who would be first on the list, which would be our recommendation to the Bishop.

We decided that each of us would silently pray to Heavenly Father as to his will. Once we each completed our prayers, we each silently and separately wrote down what our individual inspiration gave us.  Once done, we each revealed what our inspiration was and the first name we each wrote down was the same person. The second, third and fourth names, from each of us, did not match the order we each gave them.
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 “Cannot be saved in ignorance” refers to the Word of God and his Law having no affect within you to quicken you. When there is no affect, it amounts to separation and outer darkness, which is a separation from God’s word. Such a person ”has no light within him”.

God’s word and law having no effect within occurs when a person chooses not to learn and grow spiritually, where the word of God and his laws are ignored or made unimportant.

To read his gospel is only part of how we overcome ignorance. To overcome ignorance requires the “tilling by the Spirit” upon our inner ground, so the word (seed) can take root and grow. Else ignorance prevails and this is liken to barren ground where no fruit can manifest.

When there is no fruit, is it not true that the Lord will burn those unfruitful trees as he said within the scriptures? Is it not true that some of those who advocate Christ but have insufficent light within them, will be told by him that he does not know them? This will occur because they refuse or fail to overcome their spiritual ignorance and as a result, “cannot be saved in ignorance”.

 There has been an uproar about prophets ever since Joseph Smith became one. Many times I wondered why people would resist a prophet so much. It seems this is a repeat of what occurred within the scriptures, that a prophet of God is rejected and scorned. What I have noticed is that a prophet that speaks in the name of God, for God, for salvation and redemption, having no interest in self-profit is shunned, while a prophet that appeases the interests of the world and people is praised. This exact pattern exists in the Bible as well as in the Book of Mormon. Still, it seems incomprehensible that people would not accept and not see a true prophet of God.

I believe that this involves the power of free choice which each one of us possess. I refer to the power that each of us have and exercise when either accepting Joseph Smith as the prophet of God or not. There must be a reason or cause that leads people to have such a difficult time with accepting the reality of a prophet and why people do not humble themselves and act in faith, asking God? Why they are so resistant to the idea of submitting themselves. What I have realized, at this point, that it is easier for people to not bother seeking the truth on the matter. Why is this?

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