Likening Isaiah 30 - "...speak unto us smooth things,"

 1 Woe to the rebellious children, saith the Lord, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord:

 10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

 11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us.

 12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon:

 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant

 14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.

Is this us?  Do we walk with an appearance of having the gospel in our lives but in reality it is a covering that is superficial and not of the spirit, that we may continue on in our own paths and lay aside the Lord's counsel? 

I hear many voices from various camps that are telling the seers to not see and the prophets to not prophecy right things because the things the prophets are saying are not in agreement with political correctness and personal agendas.  Do we want smooth things so we can continue to pursue our own traditions and philosophies and/or not offend our associates.  Do we want the prophets to be "on the right side of history," (a futuristic version of revisionist history!:)  Or, do we believe that all is well in Zion, that Zion propsereth and we have no need to change.  Or, do we trust in the arm of flesh more than in the arm of the lord.  

The Lord warns us that this false premise cannot last and will be broken as a potter's vessel which will not be able to carry fire from the hearth or water from the well.  Thus we become unable to hold the spiritual fire of the holy ghost or the living waters from the wells of salvation, and are not nourished and watered by the spirit and we languish in spiritual malnutrition or we leave the well altogether.  Sobering thoughts. 

Taking Personal Note........

... and had seduced the more part of the righteous until they had come down to believe in their works and partake of their spoils....

This little phrase in Helaman 6:38 arrested my attention this morning as I was reading in The Book of Mormon.  We become seduced by the world and the philosophies of the world in two ways - we subscribe to the "works" the world has to offer and/or the "spoils" which we cannot resist partaking of.  It is easy to be enamored with academia, social agendas, professionalism, business and financial success, political philosophies, scientific research, fame and fortune. When practices bring riches, position, praise or prestige along with it how can we turn away!

This scripture was not referring to the honest endeavors of those seeking to further truth and knowledge and the application of that knowledge but to the false philosophies of those seeking to overthrow righteousness and enthrone teachings and practices that go against the commandments of God. 

Owning Repentance

The Repentance of Peter - Carl Heinrich

"The suffering and distress endured by people of this earth is the result of unrepented and unremitted sin.....Just as suffering and sorrow attend sin, so happiness and joy attend forgiveness of sins."  

                                                                    (Marion G. Romney - conference Report, Apr 1959, 11)

This is not a popular belief in our day and age.  We balk at the notion that repentance and unhappiness are intertwined.  But if we humbly examine this idea it is not hard to see that many difficulties of life, other than those that come from living in a mortal existence, in one way or another are connected to sin, our own or the sins of others.  The idea of unremitted sin (as a different category than unrepented sin) is also worth pondering. How do we receive a remission of our sins after we have repented?

We live in a prideful age.  We don't like being accountable.  Repentance, however is a merciful tool, a gift.  Living life each day with a repentant and humble heart allows us to retain a remission of our sins and receive the spirit of God in our lives that sustains us through the difficulties inherent in living in this world.  It gives us peace of mind

Here is Wikipedia's definition of repentance:

Repentance is the activity of reviewing one's actions and feeling contrition or regret for past wrongs. It generally  involves a commitment to personal change and the resolve to live a more responsible and humane life.

Another definition from lds.org.

Repentance is more than simply acknowledging wrongdoings. It is a change of mind and heart. It includes turning away from sin and turning to God for forgiveness. It is motivated by love for God and the sincere desire to obey His commandments.

Repentance is the greatest of all gifts from our Lord and Savior.  It allows us to change and to not be saddled with the consequences of our choices forever.  It opens the door for a remission of sin which opens the door for our greatest happiness.  Repentance is forward thinking and forward moving.  

The True and the Good

Some time ago I studied Swedenborg's writings for a few years.  I was intrigued how closely some of his beliefs aligned with the restored gospel.  I have often thought of his division of heaven into the True and the Good.  The True are those who love and seek truth above and beyond all else.  The Good are those who have performed good unto others above and beyond all else.  

I love the truth! 

"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32

I also love the good!  

"And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."  Luke 6:31

Really, I think truth can be vanity without the good and good can be ignorant without the truth.  Together they make a balanced whole. We have both head and feet; one to seek and know the truth and the other to carry us about in acting out the good.  Between the two resides the heart where in lies the love of God and all mankind, the pure love of Christ, the source of both the true and the good; the place where they come together as one. 

"Swedenborg saw creation as a series of pairings, descending from the Divine love and wisdom that define God and are the basis of creation. This duality can be seen in the pairing of good and truth, charity and faith, God and the church, and husband and wife. In each case, the goal for these pairs is to achieve conjunction between the two component parts. " (Wikipedia)  

Swedenborg experienced many visionary dreams and experiences beginning at the age of 55.  

"In Swedenborg's final hours, his friend, Pastor Ferelius, told him some people thought he had written his theology just to make a name for himself and asked Swedenborg if he would like to recant. Raising himself up on his bed, his hand on his heart, Swedenborg earnestly replied,

"As truly as you see me before your eyes, so true is everything that I have written; and I could have said more had it been permitted. When you enter eternity you will see everything, and then you and I shall have much to talk about."

He then died, in the afternoon, on the date he had predicted, March 29."  (Wikipedia) 

Introspection

"Our sins entail upon our children and upon our spouse and cause them difficulties and trials in their own progression and spiritual journey.  Sad!"

I apparently jotted down this thought some time ago on a pace of paper that surfaced this morning.

Further thoughts;

Our own repentance is a blessing not only to ourselves but to our loved ones and anyone we associate with.  We can add happiness their lives by not being "just the way I am" but by humbly striving to change.

In the meantime rough edges serve the purpose of refining each other.  My husband made this great observation a few months back.  He compared the church of saints to a great rock polisher.  We are all thrown in the mix with an abrasive grit and have the opportunity of bumping up against each as we tumble through our associations in our church attendance and service.  Some rocks have been in there a while and are more smooth, others are new to the mix and some just need a lot of polishing!.  The end result however is quite beautiful!

That being said, it is a good idea to make an effort to hone those sharp edges through repentance so we cause as little grief in the mix as possible.  The abrasive grit, a necessary ingredient provided by providence, is ample friction on its own.

Lessons from Jeremiah and the Destruction of Jerusalem

Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet

Thoughts from Fall 2014 

I have been studying Jeremiah the past few weeks for my GD lesson.  The following points have stood out to me.

• Jeremiah was the prophet when Jerusalem, after years and years of warning, finally fell.
•  There were multiple prophets (including Lehi) at this time prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem.
•  There were false prophets among the true prophets.
•  Lehi was called to leave Jerusalem before it was destroyed.  His journey was difficult but not as difficult as those who remained in Jerusalem.   
• Mulek and his people escaped at the time of destruction.  It is interesting that because they left in haste they were less prepared (ie. no scriptures.)
•  Jeremiah (the weeping prophet)  was apparently called to stay behind and experience the destruction and captivity with the people. 

I thought these were significant parallels to our time and worth pondering.

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How Not to Be Deceived - Doctrine and Covenants 46:7

D&C Sec 46:7- The scriptures contain invitations that we often overlook.  Here is one pertinent for our day. 

7 But ye are commanded in all things to ask of God, who giveth liberally; and that which the Spirit testifies unto you even so I would that ye should do in all holiness of heart, walking uprightly before me, considering the end of your salvation, doing all things with prayer and thanksgiving, that ye may not be seduced by evil spirits, or doctrines of devils, or the commandments of men; for some are of men, and others of devils.  (Doctrine and Covenants | Section 46:7)

We are to: 
1- Ask of God!  (He does give liberally and will answer.)

2- Do what the spirit testifies to us to do.

3- Do it in all holiness of heart.

4- Walk uprightly.

5- Keep in mind the eternal end goal.

5- Do it with prayer and thanksgiving (humility and gratitude).

The resultant blessing: 
1- We will not be seduced by evil spirits.

2- We will not be seduced by doctrines of devils.

3- We will not be seduced by commandments of men.