Ether 4

7-8 And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them ALL MY REVELATIONS, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are. And he that will contend against the word of the Lord, let him be accursed; and he that shall deny these things, let him be accursed; for unto them will I show no greater things, saith Jesus Christ; for I am he who speaketh...

6 For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.

Heleman 8

1 And now it came to pass that when Nephi had said these words, behold, there were men who were judges, who also belonged to the secret band of Gadianton, and they were angry, and they cried out against him, saying unto the people: Why do ye not seize upon this man and bring him forth, that he may be condemned according to the crime which he has done?

2 Why seest thou this man, and hearest him revile against this people and against our law?

3 For behold, Nephi had spoken unto them concerning the corruptness of their law; yea, many things did Nephi speak which cannot be written; and nothing did he speak which was contrary to the commandments of God.

4 And those judges were angry with him because he spake plainly unto them concerning their secret works of darkness; nevertheless, they durst not lay their own hands upon him, for they feared the people lest they should cry out against them.

5 Therefore they did cry unto the people, saying: Why do you suffer this man to revile against us? For behold he doth condemn all this people, even unto destruction; yea, and also that these our great cities shall be taken from us, that we shall have no place in them.

6 And now we know that this is impossible, for behold, we are powerful, and our cities great, therefore our enemies can have no power over us.

7 And it came to pass that thus they did stir up the people to anger against Nephi, and raised contentions among them; for there were some who did cry out: Let this man alone, for he is a good man, and those things which he saith will surely come to pass except we repent;

8 Yea, behold, all the judgments will come upon us which he has testified unto us; for we know that he has testified aright unto us concerning our iniquities. And behold they are many, and he knoweth as well all things which shall befall us as he knoweth of our iniquities;

9 Yea, and behold, if he had not been a prophet he could not have testified concerning those things.

Helaman 8:1-9

Blog: To the remnant

Real good stuff  here:

http://www.totheremnant.com/2014/07/dwindling-in-unbelief.html?m=1

Speaking of Dreams...

The scriptures talk about dreams.  I honestly haven't paid that close attention to my dreams throughout my life, but about a year ago I had a friend who talked a lot about dreams and their significance.  And I remembered a talk by Elder Scott where he also mentions dreams.  Those two things made me pay closer attention to my dreams, and in the past couple of years, I've had a handful or two of what I consider to be really significant dreams, that were given to me-I believe, as personal revelation.

"Revelation can also be given in a dream when there is an almost imperceptible transition from sleep to wakefulness. If you strive to capture the content immediately, you can record great detail, but otherwise it fades rapidly."
-Elder Scott

I have found that to be true--that revelation can come through dreams, and recording right away is very helpful if not paramount.

I keep debating whether or not I should share one or any of these dreams of mine.
I think I'll pray about that and see.  But I do believe that dreams can be significant, and the interpretation of those dreams can be given to us by God.

I also know that false spirits are out there, and are waiting to deceive.  That will always be the case.

"You will encounter false spirits, as well as true ones if you will persist. You need to be familiar with both in order to choose. These opposing forces are part of the process of becoming competent and adept. No one lacking knowledge of these things can be saved. "A man is saved no faster than he gets knowledge, for if he does not get knowledge, he will be brought into captivity by some evil power in the other world, as evil spirits will have more knowledge, and consequently more power." (TPJS, p. 217.)"

That's Denver quoting Joseph Smith.  It's from yesterday's blog post, and it's fantastic! I recommend reading it.

Happy Dreaming :)

Our God IS an awesome God!

I'm loving this song right now. Best with headphones, 

and where you can do this if given the urge: 

http://youtu.be/smZwG-auxC8

5 Myths Debunked

I felt inspired to read 1 Nephi chapter 1, so I did. It was amazing to me the things that stood out and contradict foolishness. All in the very first chapter of the beautiful, Book of Mormon.

Myth #1. Don't seek the mysteries.

"yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God,"
(1 Nephi 1:1)

Myth #2. There's only one prophet on the earth at a time.

"and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent,"
(1 Nephi 1:4)

Myth #3. God doesn't use dreams to tell us things that are important.

"And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams;"
(1 Nephi 1:16)

"For behold, it came to pass that the Lord spake unto my father, yea, even in a dream," (1 Nephi 2:1)

"2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness."
(1 Nephi 2:2)

[Wow. He considered it the "word of The Lord" even though it came to him in a DREAM.... And he was even obedient to it!  Probably the hardest and most important thing that's ever been asked of him by The Lord, was asked in a dream. ]

Myth #4. Only the leaders of the church can prophesy. 

"and he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children" (1 Nephi 1:16)

"behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard. (1 Nephi 1:18)

Myth #5. The true church would not cast out and reject a messenger from The Lord.

"And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations"
(1 Nephi 1:19)

"And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. (1 Nephi 1:20)

And a little bit of Matthew, for good measure:
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!...

30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

31 Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.
Matthew 23:30-31

Dream--Joseph Smith

The Prophet's Dream of his Kirtland Farm

"I was back in Kirtland, Ohio, and thought I would take a walk out by myself, and view my old farm, which I found grown up with weeds and brambles, and altogether bearing evidence of neglect and want of culture. I went into the barn, which I found without floor or doors, with the weather-boarding off, and was altogether in keeping with the farm.

"While I viewed the desolation around me, and was contemplating how it might be recovered from the curse upon it, there came rushing into the barn a company of furious men, who commenced to pick a quarrel with me.
"The leader of the party ordered me to leave the barn and farm, stating it was none of mine, and that I must give up all hope of ever possessing it.
"I told him the farm was given me by the Church, and although I had not had any use of it for some time back, still I had not sold it, and according to righteous principles it belonged to me or the Church.

"He then grew furious and began to rail upon me, and threaten me, and said it never did belong to me nor to the Church.

"I then told him that I did not think it worth contending about, that I had no desire to live upon it in its present state, and if he thought he had a better right I would not quarrel with him about it but leave; but my assurance that I would not trouble him at present did not seem to satisfy him, as he seemed determined to quarrel with me, and threatened me with the destruction of my body.

"While he was thus engaged, pouring out his bitter words upon me, a rabble rushed in and nearly filled the barn, drew out their knives, and began to quarrel among themselves for the premises, and for a moment forgot me, at which time I took the opportunity to walk out of the barn about up to my ankles in mud.

"When I was a little distance from the barn, I heard them screeching and screaming in a very distressed manner, as it appeared they had engaged in a general fight with their knives. While they were thus engaged, the dream or vision ended."

Joseph was killed shortly after. 

The Wedding Feast

"Now, having said all that, let me read to you some things which the Lord said concerning this moment, because He is talking about an event that will happen.This is from Matthew chapter 22, beginning at verse 2. "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, [This marriage is how the Lord describes His Second Coming. Therefore this parable is about the very end times. They are now approaching.]

And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. [This invitation is directed to a group the “King” first asked to come. But the first invited decline.] Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they

made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: [The cares of this world overcome the first invited guests. They are busy with commerce and cannot be troubled to obey the Doctrine of Christ. They turn to their great commercial endeavors and decline the King’s invitation.]  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. [All that remain in any dispensation is a “remnant.” The remnant was among the first invited, or in other words among the latter-day Gentiles, who were first invited; these will kill the servants. Both Joseph and Hyrum were killed by the conspiracy of the first invited Gentiles.]

But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. [Navuoo fell, the temple was destroyed, and the Gentiles driven into the wilderness to suffer, and many were destroyed.]. Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. [Another group will come from the highways, which are “both good and bad.” They are not the same as the first, but they will be the guests. Provided, however, they choose to accept the invitation and respond.]

And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment?  And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen."

Several things about this: This is one of those places in scripture where "remnant" is used in a negative way. The Gentile “remnant” from the first invitation are portrayed by Christ as capable of killing God’s servants. God invites all to come to the wedding feast of his Son. This is when the kingdom is going to be established in the last days. He invites all to come. From among all those people who had been invited here is a remnant of those who still hold onto the Restoration, and they are the worst of all. They have the hardest hearts. They are the ones who will not come.

After the Lord deals with them, He sends servants to invite everyone found on the highways to come. Everyone! Come in to the wedding feast! No matter your faith tradition, your religious identity, all are invited to come receive the Doctrine of Christ. Christ has now begun that. If you will carry the message to the highways, let all know that everyone is now invited. Included among those who are invited in, are "as many as they found, both bad and good." They are all to be invited to come in. There is no excluding the bad, speaking after the judgment of this world. Bad people get invited in to the wedding feast! But when they come it is not whether they are a bad person or a good person that determines if they get to stay. According to Christ, it is the presence or absence of a wedding garment that determines if they are allowed to stay. What is a “wedding garment?”

Well, turn to Luke chapter 18. This is Luke chapter 18, beginning at verse 10. " Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."

In this parable did not matter the publican was a “bad man.” It did not matter the Pharisee was a “good man.” I tell you at the wedding feast, it will be the publican who wears a “wedding garment.” The first wedding garment, if I can call it that, is the original garment given to Adam and Eve in the Garden to cover their nakedness, and to cover their shame before God. All of which is an allegory.  The covering of skins given our first parents required the sacrifice of an animal to teach them the

principle of sacrifice. It was also to foreshadow the death of our Lord that would be required in order to restore us back to God’s presence. Therefore, the covering given to Adam and Eve in the Garden represented the sacrifice of our Lord. It was our Lord's atoning sacrifice that makes it possible for us to be covered, so that our shame is no longer there. Instead of seeing our shame, God looks upon the righteousness of His Son represented by the covering of skins we have been clothed with, and not upon our own guilt, weakness, and shortcomings. He beholds the image of His Son in the garment that we have put on.

It is that garment, the atonement of Christ. Those who will remain in the wedding feast must obey the Doctrine of Christ. Exactly as Christ commanded. Exactly as outlined today. Remember, the first who were invited would not come. But even the bad ones who are out in the highways, if they will put on the wedding garment you can offer, they can come to the feast. There are about 13 million inactive Latter-day Saints. There are a lot of “bad ones” out there, who are only kept from the truth because they have not heard it yet.

76

If I had the financial means, I would buy an ad space in the Los Angeles Times and I would publish a full page add saying: “This is the Doctrine of Christ.” Then I would quote Christ’s language from 3 Nephi where He declares His doctrine. I would say below that, “If you believe this doctrine and you want to be baptized and get the Holy Ghost, meet me at...” and I would put a location and time. I would hope that included among those who came would be gang members, inner-city people who live lives of desperation and violence, who want a way out. Can you imagine what would happen if you sent someone back into an abusive neighborhood, clothed with the power of repentance and the Holy Ghost? I would hope ministers of other faiths would come to be baptized. I would invite everyone, from the high to the low, and hope as many as possible would come.

We can't fix this world by legislating, but we can fix anything by changing hearts. Those Gentiles that were first invited ultimately will not come. They will even abuse those who try to take them in. But there are plenty of folks in the highways and byways who are only kept from the truth because they don't know where to find it. This is your responsibility. This is your work to do. This is the day in which these things need to be done.  Oddly enough, in our own day, the Lord tells a slightly different version of exactly the same story, prophesying how it is going to happen among us in our day.

Go to Doctrine and Covenants section 58, beginning in verse 7. " And also that you might be honored in laying the foundation, and in bearing record of the land upon which the Zion of God shall stand."

I am going to put this into the footnotes when I finally get around to publishing in book form the talk given in Grand Junction. I will add it here because we have now encountered the words, "the land upon which the Zion of God shall stand." I pointed out in Grand Junction all the historical reasons why Zion could exist somewhere other than on property owned in Jackson County, Missouri, and could in fact, be constructed elsewhere.

Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon, in their first trip to Jackson County, Missouri, came to confirm and ratify that was the place where Zion would be built. There, a revelation said this was “the land of Zion.” And so everyone since then until now, relies on that language to say, ‘it is going to be Jackson County, Missouri.’ That same month, Sidney Rigdon gave an explanation of the meaning of “the land of Zion.” He said it began Kirtland, Ohio and it ran to the Pacific Ocean. So the land of Zion is rather flexible in where the Lord might choose ultimately to locate it.

So there's going to be some land where Zion will stand. "And also that a feast of fat things might be prepared for the poor."[so the feast to be prepared has a highly specific audience in mind in the revelation, it is “the poor.”]  "Yea, a feast of fat things, of wine on the lees well refined, that the earth may know that the mouths of the prophets shall not fail; Yea, a supper of the house of the Lord, well prepared, unto which all nations shall be invited. First, the rich and the learned, the wise and the noble; And after that cometh the day of my power; then shall the poor, the lame, and the blind, and the deaf, come in unto the marriage of the Lamb, and partake of the supper of the Lord, prepared for the great day to come. Behold, I, the Lord, have spoken it."

Did you get that? First they invite “the rich” and then “the learned,” and the “wise” and the “noble” and then the nations shall all be invited. It does not say, however, that any of them will enter in for the feast. It does not say any of them will partake. It was prepared after all for “the poor,” and the people who will enter in, who do finally make it into Zion will get to partake.  "Then shall the poor [that is who it was prepared for after all] the lame, and the blind, and the deaf, come in unto the marriage of the Lamb, and partake of the supper of the Lord, prepared for the great day to come."

Every time you partake of the Sacrament it is a reminder of the promise there will at last be some great wedding feast. It is not just in remembrance of the blood and of the body, but it is also a preliminary to the final feast the Lord intends to offer in which His blood and His body achieve success in redeeming some few! His atonement was to redeem. The wedding feast is a celebration of the Lord’s triumph. But His triumph produces saved souls. The redeemed are His great trophy!

Well, ask yourselves, who are “the rich?” Who are “the learned?” Who are those that are presently considered “wise?” And who are those who make the claim that they are “the noble,” the elect, the royal priesthood? Whoever they are, they do not enter into the wedding feast in Zion.  And who are “the poor?” Who are derided, even in today's vocabulary, and accused of being "lame"? Who are considered “blind” and misled? Who are "deaf" because they cannot hear and respect all the

great wisdom that pours forth from these empty cisterns, having nothing but drivel to offer? Quoting one another endlessly, as if one misled man on a false path can offer light to a fool following after him.

I hope we are “the poor.” I hope I am speaking to “the lame.” I hope you are counted among those that are considered “blind,” and I hope that you have ears not for what any man has to say, but for what the Spirit alone has to confirm to you. I hope that you are “deaf” to everything in this world, but have ears for what

our Lord has to say.

Mormonism is so compelling a religion that the original great light given by God through Joseph Smith has supplied the energy to keep it going. All the many sects that sprang from the original ministry of Joseph have been able to survive because of it. The great work needed before God’s return requires more light to be given. God will not give it until we are grateful enough to remember what He gave before. We have been foolish stewards for three and four generations. God is speaking again.

This is the day in which, at long last, what God promised would happen before His return is now actually beginning. The Gospel does not consist merely of a record of how God dealt with another people at another time. Joseph Smith talked about how we must have our own covenant: “Search the Scriptures, search the Prophets and learn what portion of them belongs to you and the people of the nineteenth century. You, no doubt, will agree with us, and say, that you have no right to claim the promises of the inhabitants before the flood; that you cannot found your hopes of salvation upon the obedience of the children of Israel when journeying in the wilderness, nor can you expect that the blessings which the apostles pronounced upon the churches of Christ eighteen hundred years ago, were intended for you. Again, if others’ blessings are not your blessings, others’ curses are not your curses; you stand then in these last days, as all have stood before you, agents unto yourselves, to be judged according to your works.”77

The Gospel must live with us, or we have no hope. Joseph also said:  “[W]e cannot claim these promises which were made to the ancients for they are not our property, merely because they were made to the ancient Saints, yet if we are the children of the Most High, and are called with the same calling with which they were called, and embrace the same covenant that they embraced, and are faithful to the testimony of our Lord as they were, we can approach the Father in the name of Christ as they approached Him, and for ourselves obtain the same promises. These promises, when obtained, if ever by us, will not be because Peter, John and the other Apostles, with the churches as Sardis, Pergamos, Philadelphia, and elsewhere walked in the fear of God, and had power and faith to reveal and obtain them; but it will be because we, ourselves, have faith and approach God in the name of His Son Jesus Christ; even as they did; and when these promises are obtained, they will be promises directly to us, or they will do us no good.”78

This is as true of words and promises given through Joseph as the words and promises made in the New Testament. We cannot rely on the sacrifices of Joseph and Hyrum to save us, nor claim a covenant long since changed and broken by all of the sects arising from Joseph’s covenant as ours. We must, like them, have the faith to renew and then keep a covenant given to us by God.

This is really apparent when you read the revelations given to Joseph in their original transcripts. In our scriptures there are headings, footnotes, cross references and additional insertions advocating we read those revelations as ours. But when you read them as they were written in the Joseph Smith Papers, it really becomes clear that when God was talking about how the church was "living" and "alive" and "approved," it was because He was talking to Joseph Smith. At the time the church was listening to what Joseph Smith revealed. The declaration that the work was "rolling forth" was voice of God in that day to those people. Joseph Smith was called to lead those people to go and take it to the world. They took it and they went out and preached it, and when they preached it, others were converted. People who were converted by them actually had experiences and came to know God. That was because God empowered it and set it in motion through His servant Joseph Smith. Joseph had a covenant given to him by God. Therefore, Joseph could testify to these words, and they were true, and God owned them. People who follow them received the wages of those who follow God. It worked! We cannot mimic that and have the same effect. We must do the work, seek God’s voice to us, and when we have His word to proceed.

God has to say to us, "This is what I want you to do." If no one else will say it to you, I am saying it to you. Everything that has been said in this talk, which began in Boise and concludes here today, everything that has been said is, in fact, exactly what happened when God offered something to an earlier generation through Joseph. He, God, is offering something again, right now, in our day, to you, to any that will hear, to any that will listen. The work is beginning again.

I suppose it was necessary that what began in Joseph’s time had to run down to the condition it is in at present. It had to become a leaky ruin of a farm, that Joseph himself no longer even wanted, before it was possible for the Lord to say, "At this moment we turn a new leaf." Can't you see the signs of the times? Can't you look about and see the whole world is waxing old like a garment? Can't you see there is now a balance of things kept at bay only to preserve the possibility of a remnant being claimed by God? God promised He would do this. If this can bear fruit, the Lord may give more time and keep the angels from beginning the harvest. That will depend on what we do."

Excerpt From: "10 Phoenix Transcript - Preserving the Restoration" by (null). Scribd.

This material may be protected by copyright.

Read this book on Scribd: http://www.scribd.com/doc/239760895

Is it possible?

Is it possible for a person outside of the hierarchy of the modern LDS church to be a prophet? (point to Christ, cry repentance?)

Many would answer No.

But I believe there's so many examples of that happening in the scriptures. 

There's no use even considering the content of a possible wilderness prophet's message, if a person has already made up their mind that such a man could never exist. Nothing he says could matter, even if true. The decision was made prior to investigating content, and further inquiry about that content cannot then be sincere. 

Prophets crying repentance are never received well. True religions despise hearing they're in need of repentance.  The messengers get stoned, cast out, and killed. Even though its an act of love to deliver such a message.

The truthfulness of a message should not be measured upon the palatability of it. Historically speaking, prophetic warnings seem to cause ulcers.. not warm fuzzies. 

Isaiah Explained

"And now I, Nephi, write more of the words of Isaiah, for my soul delighteth in his words. For I will liken his words unto my people, and I will send them forth unto all my children, for he verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him." ~2 Nephi 11:2

"Wherefore, hearken, O my people, which are of the house of Israel, and give ear unto my words; for because the words of Isaiah are not plain unto you, nevertheless they are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy." ~2 Nephi 25:4

http://www.isaiahexplained.com

You won't be sorry.

“Dr. Gileadi is the only LDS scholar I know of who is thoroughly competent to teach the words of Isaiah”—Professor Hugh Nibley, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah.

Joseph & Moses

D&C 84 

23 Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;

Exodus 20 

19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

D&C 84 

24 But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.

D&C 84

25 Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;

Was Joseph "like unto Moses"? Taken out of their midst?

Ouch. 

What is going on here!

Joseph Smith is trying to tell us something very important within Ezekiel 14.
There are modern teachings I'd like to highlight as contrast.  Please family and friends, consider this carefully.

"President Joseph Smith read the 14th chapter of Ezekiel--said the Lord had declared by the Prophet, that the people should each one stand for himself, and depend on no man or men in that state of corruption of the Jewish church--that righteous persons could only deliver their own souls--applied it to the present state of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints--said if the people departed from the Lord, they must fall--that they were depending on the Prophet, hence were darkened in their minds, in consequence of neglecting the duties devolving upon themselves, envious towards the innocent, while they afflict the virtuous with their shafts of envy."
TPJS p.237

"The Israelites prayed that God would speak to Moses and not to them; in consequence of which he cursed them with a carnal law."
TPJS p.322

Ezeikel 14 was a real eye opener to me.  I'll make a post of just that for your convenience.

Contrast it with the following:

"Now we ask you to come and follow us, as we follow the Savior."
Last 30 seconds of this clip in the 2013 WORLDWIDE leadership training.

"As we follow President Monson and try to be more like him, we will inevitably succeed in being more faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ".
Last months Ensign.  (This entire talk is a TRIP! imho)

"If your faith is a little tested in this or any season, I invite you to lean on mine."
Elder Holland April 2013

"Before I left, I spoke with our beloved prophet, President Thomas S. Monson, who relishes such errands for the Lord. With respect borne not only of his office but also of his goodness, I asked, “What do you want me to do? What do you want me to say?”
He tenderly took my hand, as he would have done with each one of the victims and each of those helping with the devastation had he been there, and said:
“First, tell them I love them.
Second, tell them I am praying for them.
Third, please thank all those who are helping.”
-Elder Rasband.

"Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God."
-Jesus Christ

Ezekiel 33
31 And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

If Joseph Smith, Ezeikel, and Christ can't persuade, perhaps Brigham Young and Pres. Packer can.

"Brethren, this Church will be led onto the very brink of hell by the leaders of this people. Then God will raise one mighty and strong spoken of in the 85th section of Doctrine and Covenants, to save and redeem this Church." ( The Complete Discourses of Brigham Young, Volume 4, pp 2478-2479)

President Packer-24 years ago!:
"In recent years I have felt, and I think I am not alone, that we are losing the ability to correct the course of the church. You cannot appreciate how deeply I feel about the importance of this present opportunity unless you know the regard, the reverence, I have for the Book of Mormon and how seriously I have taken the warnings of the prophets, particularly Alma and Helaman.

Both Alma and Helaman told the church in their day. They warned about fast growth, the desire to be accepted by the world, to be popular, and particularly they warned about prosperity. Each time those conditions existed in combination, the church has drifted off course. All of those conditions are present in the church today.

Helaman repeatedly warned, I think four times he used these words, that the fatal drift of the church could occur in the space of not many years. In one instance it took only six years."
Let Them Govern Themselves, Reg. Rep. Seminar, March 30, 1990

Then I hear statements like this:

"I do know that the Prophet is the only position we know and have been promised that if we follow him and he does something wrong or misguides us we are not held accountable, so I'm good with that. If that makes me a blind follower then I'm ok with that to."
-Facebook commentator who shall remain anonymous. But I've heard many similar statements.

"We have heard men who hold the priesthood remark that they would do anything they were told to do by those who preside over them [even] if they knew it was wrong; but such obedience as this is worse than folly to us; it is slavery in the extreme; and the man who would thus willingly degrade himself, should not claim a rank among intelligent beings, until he turns from his folly. A man of God would despise the idea. Others, in the extreme exercise of their almighty authority have taught that such obedience was necessary, and that no matter what the saints were told do by their presidents they should do it without any questions. When Elders of Israel will so far indulge in these extreme notions of obedience as to teach them to the people, it is generally because they have it in their hearts to do wrong themselves." Joseph Smith

Isaiah 64
6 But we have sinned; we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee; for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.

"I told the people that if they would not believe the revelations that God had given, He would suffer the devil to give revelations that they -- priest and people -- would follow after. Have I seen this fulfilled? I have.

I told the people that as true as God lived, if they would not have truth, they would have error sent unto them and they would believe it."
-Brigham Young

WE GET WHAT WE ASK FOR!
If you want a preacher, you'll get a preacher.
If you want true messengers (angels from the Lord's presence) you'll get true messengers.
If you want a temple, you'll get a temple.
If you desire The Lord's presence, you'll get The Lord's presence.

(Hugh Nibley had a lot to say about brick and mortar temples vs. the real thing, in "Temples and Cosmos")

So what do you want? Or perhaps I should re-phrase it... What is it, you want?

Ezekiel 14

This chapter is sobering.

1 Then came certain of the elders of Israel unto me, and sat before me.

 2 And the word of the Lord came unto me, saying,

 3 Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their heart, and put the stumblingblock of their iniquity before their face: should I be inquired of at all by them?

4 Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the Lord will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

 5 That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols.

 6 ¶Therefore say unto the house of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God; Repent, and turn yourselves from your idols; and turn away your faces from all your abominations.

 7 For every one of the house of Israel, or of the stranger that sojourneth in Israel, which separateth himself from me, and setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to a prophet to inquire of him concerning me; I the Lord will answer him by myself.

 8 And I will set my face against that man, and will make him a sign and a proverb, and I will cut him off from the midst of my people; and ye shall know that I am the Lord.

 9 And if the prophet be deceived when he hath spoken a thing, I the Lord have deceived that prophet, and I will stretch out my hand upon him, and will destroy him from the midst of my people Israel.

 10 And they shall bear the punishment of their iniquity: the punishment of the prophet shall be even as the punishment of him that seeketh unto him;

 11 That the house of Israel may go no more astray from me, neither be polluted any more with all their transgressions; but that they may be my people, and I may be their God, saith the Lord God.

 12 ¶The word of the Lord came again to me, saying,

 13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:

 14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God.

 15 ¶If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts:

 16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate.

 17 ¶Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:

 18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves.

 19 ¶Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:

 20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.

 21 For thus saith the Lord God; How much more when I send my four sore judgments upon Jerusalem, the sword, and the famine, and the noisome beast, and the pestilence, to cut off from it man and beast?

 22 ¶Yet, behold, therein shall be left a remnant that shall be brought forth, both sons and daughters: behold, they shall come forth unto you, and ye shall see their way and their doings: and ye shall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon Jerusalem, even concerning all that I have brought upon it.

 23 And they shall comfort you, when ye see their ways and their doings: and ye shall know that I have not done without cause all that I have done in it, saith the Lord God.

Symbolism: 40

40

Sufferings or travail-- a sanctification and purification process.  

Last week during Sunday school, they were talking about Moses and the children of Israel. A man raised his hand and asked the teacher and the class:  Is there any kind of significance with the number 40? The teacher didn't know, and nobody in the class said anything.  So I said yes.  It's a symbol of a purification and sanctification process.   Then I gave a few examples...

Children of Israel wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.
Christ fasted for 40 days and nights.
Noah--it rained for 40 days/nights.
Salt lake temple took 40 years to build.

So this has been on my mind.  Then today, I was searching for something else and came across this post written a couple of years ago on Denver's blog.  He makes some interesting points about 40.  I especially like the last two paragraphs.

October 12, 2012
Forty is a symbol
"The number 40 appears in a several different places in the scriptures, almost always in the context of purging or purification. When the Lord destroyed the wicked at the time of Noah, He caused it "to rain upon the earth for forty days and forty nights." (Genesis 7:4.) When Moses met with the Lord on the Mount, he was in the presence of the Lord "forty days and forty nights" (Exodus 24:18.) When Israel proved unprepared to inherit the promised land, the Lord left them in the wilderness for forty years. (Deuteronomy 8:2.)

Elijah was fed by an angel before being sent into the wilderness. After the meal, Elijah "went in the strength of that meat forty days and forty nights unto Horeb the mount of God." (1 Kings 19:8.) In preparation for His ministry, the Lord likewise "fasted forty days and forty nights." (Matthew 4:2.) That preparation culminated in angels ministering to the Him. (Matthew 4:11.)

In these examples, it is not a man volunteering or choosing to afflict his soul for forty days. The period of purification is imposed by the Lord. We do not get the choose to be purified through suffering for a period of forty days, or forty years, or any other amount of time. However, if the Lord chooses to purify a soul, and that suffering does last for forty days, you can take it as a sign that the purification was given of God.

I know people have tried to voluntarily afflict themselves for forty days. I think an effort like that shows a poor understanding of how God deals with man. We wait on Him. We submit to Him. Then He alone chooses."

Harken, O Latter-day Saints

"Hearken, O ye people of my church, to whom the kingdom has been given.... hearken unto my voice, lest death shall overtake you; in an hour when ye think not the summer shall be past, and the harvest ended, and your souls not saved.

28 And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel;

 29 But they receive it not; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.

 30 And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.

D&C 45

The fullness of the gospel is the accent to God, for every individual who desires it.  It matters not what position they hold in the church, the wealth they posess or don't posess, or whether they be male or female.  (See Lectures on Faith)  Rejecting that doctrine--that anyone can seek the face of The Lord now, is rejecting the fullness of his gospel.  Even worse, are those who not only don't seek it for themselves, but hinder others who would otherwise enter in.  What happens after rejection of the fullness?

"When they do, Christ will "bring the fullness of my Gospel from among them." (3 Nephi 16: 10.) Upon removing the fullness, and the gentiles being filled with their pride, priestcrafts, deceits and hypocrisy, the Lord will use the remnant who remain to return judgment upon the gentiles in the same manner the gentiles had earlier returned judgment upon the remnant. (3 Nephi 16: 15.)

As Christ states above, using the words of Isaiah, "a remnant of the house of Jacob" will "go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."

We've discussed the "beasts of the forest" and the "flocks of sheep" before. Both categories of gentiles will be swept away. None can deliver them from this coming judgment. The remnant will be the Lord's instrument of judgment upon the gentiles, and the gentile pride, priestcrafts, lyings, deceits will all come crashing down upon them in judgment. Their idols will be trodden down and torn in pieces, for they are their own idols imagining in their own hearts themselves to be greater than any other people. Their image of themselves as high and lifted up will be brought down low, into the dust. (Compare Isaiah 14: 12-17.) How like their master Mahon these gentiles have become. But then rejecting the fullness of the Gospel when it has been offered to a people always carries a heavy price.

The remnant will be doing the work of the Father in that day. For the judgment is the Lord's and not the remnant's. The remnant are only the means by which the judgment is delivered.

Cleansing precedes the blessing. And this blessed land will be Zion. But not while occupied by filthy people who idolize themselves, reject the fullness, support priestcrafts, lyings, deceit and hypocrisy calling it righteousness, truth and beauty. They cannot see their own condition, and will not trust the Lord to reveal it to them. They will say the Lord does not speak any more, and we have enough of the revelations of God. (2 Nephi 28: 27-29.) They will say God has finished His work of restoring truth, given His power to men, and now we must follow men to be saved. (2 Nephi 28: 5.)

But the Lord will prove that He had more to say when the gentiles learn, too late, they trusted in the arm of flesh rather than in the Spirit which saves. (2 Nephi 28: 31.) At that day, despite all the gentile petitions for relief from that God whose fullness they rejected, none will deliver.

The interplay between the gentiles and the remnant is a fascinating subject, with prophetic details given so as to allow us to appreciate the peril we find ourselves as gentiles in these last days. It is good we Latter-day Saints know we are safe and are part of a great, saved and favored community to be preserved against the coming judgments, isn't it? It is good we do not need to repent much if at all to be saved, because as we hear so very often: All is well. All is well.

"And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.  Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed." (Isa. 6: 9-10.)"

-DS

Lectures on Faith

"Joseph Smith understood the correct doctrine. And he's trying to give you the character, the nature, the attributes of God, because until you get that correct, you're not going to have the power to exercise faith in Him. This is why you're going to encounter some amount of resistance between what it is you need to believe, and what it is everybody in your generation believes. It doesn't matter. The responsibility is placed upon you to understand what is true, and what is false. You have to choose. You have to sort it out. You have to come to the correct conclusion. It is only by exercising faith in the correct conclusion that you manage to align yourself with that narrow window through which the heavens are opened, where Jacob’s ladder is found"
Denver Snuffer -Lectures on Faith

I read the Lectures on Faith for the first time this past year.  If you've never read them, or your copy is dusty,  I HIGHLY recommend them.  Game changer.

Are Mormons in trouble?

There are a lot of things that the early lds church members weren't perfect at. And likewise, there are a lot of things that modern day church members struggle with.   But there is ONE specific thing that caused The Lord to put "the whole church" under condemnation.  He said "this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, EVEN ALL." D&C84
 
And interestingly enough, President Benson said we're under condemnation for the same thing. What is that one thing and why is it that? And not something else seemingly more grievous?

It is for taking The Book of Mormon lightly.
Well, what's the big deal with the BOM? Lots of things, but one of them is, it tells the story of our cozy little Mormon church slipping away into apostasy, and eventual downfall. (Unless repentant) If a person is reading the BOM without an understanding of who the Gentiles are, and who The Remnant is, then they are missing a very loud message that's taught all throughout. It's explained quite clearly who's who in the title page. 

When it's understood that we are grouped in with, and considered Gentiles-as far as the context of the BOM is concerned.. The book then becomes very sobering indeed! In fact, it becomes our greatest condemner. When ironically enough, we continue to pass it out to all the world. 

I'm afraid that the wheat and the tares are not going to be as easily discernible as people think. There is corruption in our church, and many people will falter when that corruption starts to be revealed. They will throw the baby out with the bath water, because their testimony is based on the righteousness of the top 15 etc.  Whereas, if it's rooted in Jesus Christ and the BOM, then when the walls start to crumble, they will still be left standing. It won't matter one whit who's doing what! Things like tattoos, double earrings, mild barley drinks, coffee, long hair, beards, white shirts, ties, etc. etc. have become our measuring sticks against one another.  When those things are incredibly unimportant.

I would love to see someone get up in General Conference on Saturday wearing jeans and a button up shirt. It'd be amazing! That's the equivalent of what Christ did in his day. We are becoming Pharisees, and can't even see it. The warnings are there in the BOM as plain as day. "And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon."

Our friend, and wilderness prophet Hugh Nibley, also had a lot to say about it...

Satan is very tricky

"There is a precedent for the bit of faking--a most distinguished one. Satan, being neither stupid nor inexperienced, knows the value of a pleasing appearance--there are times when it pays to appear even as an angel of light. He goes farther than that, however, to assure that success of his masquerade (given out since the days of Adam) as a picturesquely repulsive figure--a four-star horror with claws, horns, or other obvious trimmings. With that idea firmly established, he can operate with devastating effectiveness as a very proper gentleman, a handsome and persuasive salesman. He "decoys" our minds (a favorite word with Brigham Young) with false words and appearances. A favorite trick is to put the whole blame on sex. Sex can be a pernicious appetite, but it runs a poor second to the other. For example: We are wont to think of Sodom as the original sexpot, but according to all accounts "this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom": that great wealth made her people cruel and self-righteous.  The worst sinners, according to Jesus, are not the harlots and publicans, but the religious leaders with their insistence on proper dress and grooming, their careful observance of all the rules, their precious concern for status symbols, their strict legality, their pious patriotism. Long hair, beards, necklaces, LSD and rock, Big Sur and Woodstock come and go, but Babylon is always there: rich, respectable, immovable.."

Hugh Nibley

Judge not according to the appearance

"It is not difficult to discover the plot of the drama of the restored gospel. But the prince of this world does not like certain aspects of the play, and so his people have undertaken to rewrite the script. What has today happened is an old story and is crassly obvious--they have switched villains on us. They have cast an obnoxious young lightweight (a very minor devil) to the role of the Evil One while the one most qualified to play it prefers to take the part of a dignified, upright, mature, and often charming gentleman. It was clever to put a pathetic, long-haired, dirty, neurotic, mixed-up, idealistic, sex-hungry fool in the role of the heavy while an actor of infinitely greater skill and experience takes the highly respectable part of the arch pillar of society. But no one whose knowledge of life and letters has taken him as far as a season of TV westerns or soap operas would be fooled for a minute by the shift. The well-groomed, well-dressed, well-fed, successful, respectable man of the world (in the western, it's the banker, mine owner, or local land baron) points a finger trembling with righteous wrath and scorn at the miserable, half-baked tramp or cowboy who gives himself away all over the place. The sorriest thing about Babylon's masquerade and the switched villains is that there is nothing the least bit clever or subtle about it. It is all as crude, obvious, and heavy handed as it can be, and it only gets by because everybody wants it to. We rather like the Godfather and the lively and competitive world he moves in: what would TV do without it? What other world have our children ever known? We want to be vindicated in our position and to know that the world is on our side as we all join in a chorus of righteous denunciation; the haircut becomes the test of virtue in a world where Satan deceives and rules by appearance." 

The Lord has said, "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment

(John 7:24).

Hugh Nibley

Matthew 23 -JS

Matt 23 

Bold are JS additions

1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude,
and to his disciples, saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat:

2 All, therefore, whatsoever they bid you observe, they will make you observe and do; for they are ministers of the law, and they make themselves your judges. But do not ye after their works; for they say, and do not.
3 For they bind heavy burdens and lay on men’s shoulders, and they are grievous to be borne; but they will not move them with one of their fingers.
4 And all their works they do to be seen of men. They make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, and love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi, (which is master.)
5 But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Master, which is Christ; and all ye are brethren.
6 And call no one your creator upon the earth, or your heavenly Father; for one is your creator and heavenly Father, even he who is in heaven.
7 Neither be ye called master; for one is your Master, even he whom your heavenly Father sent, which is Christ; for he hath sent him among you that ye might have life.

Who are the sinners

"Brigham Young has this to say on the Puritan ethic, which shifts the burden of guilt from wealth to sex:

When the books are opened, out of which the human family are to be judged, how disappointed the professedly sanctified, long-faced hypocrites and smooth toned pharisees will be, when the publicans and harlots enter into the kingdom of heaven before them; people that appeared to be full of evil, but the Lord says they never designed to do wrong; the Devil had power over them, and they suffered in their mortal state a thousand times more than you poor, miserable, canting, cheating, sniveling, hypocritical pharisees; you were dressed in purple and fine linen, and bound burdens upon your weaker brethren that you would not so much as help to lift with your little fingers. Did you ever go without food, suffer with tooth-ache, sore eyes, rheumatism, or the chills and fever? You have fared sumptuously all your days and you condemned to an everlasting hell these poor harlots and publicans who never designed an evil. Are you not guilty of committing an evil with that poor harlot? Yes, and you will be damned while she will be saved." 

 Hugh Nibley

$$ IN GOD WE TRUST $$

Temple and Cosmos -Nibley

"In our day, as in various other times in history, the sanctity and the authority of the temple have been preempted in the religion of mammon, for example. Our banks are designed after the manner of ancient temples, with imposing fronts, ceremonial gates and courts, the onyx, the marble, the bronze—all are the substances of ancient temples. The sacred hush that prevails, the air of propriety, decorum, and dedication; the pious inscriptions on Zions Bank's walls are quotations from Brigham Young (the one man who really had it in for business). The massive vault door, through which only the initiated may pass, gleams chastely in immaculate metal. The symbol makes the reality of all that is safe and secure—that is, the Holy of Holies. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. This is the Lord speaking. We declare that our trust is in God, and we give ourselves away by stamping that declaration where it belongs—on our coins and bills."

Know Your Enemy

Darkness is real.

“The things of God are of great import; and time, and experience,and careful, and ponderous, and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, oh man, if thou wilt lead a man unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanses of eternity; thou must commune with God!”

– Joseph Smith

*this post has been erased, and replaced by this quote that sums it up.  :)

Removing The Condemnation

One of my hardest reality checks, has been recognizing that I truly am under condemnation.

"Which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation.
And this condemnation resteth upon the children of Zion, even all.
And they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say, but to do according to that which I have written—
That they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom; otherwise there remaineth a scourge and judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion."
D&C 84:54-58 (see also Ezra Taft Benson) 

I've been such a judgmental Pharisee in my life.   :(  And I still have such a long way to go.
Double :((

But one of the reasons I've appreciated Denver Snuffer so much is, he's been willing to show me that! How could I ever fix something I don't see as broken? I appreciate the rebuke SO much! Others see his bluntness as uncharitable, but I see it only as charity.  I now have a glimmer of hope in Removing The Condemnation.  (His free blog made into 2 books for ease.)

This post of his today is an example of it.  It may hurt, but it's the kind of pain I personally need desperately.  It's all too true I'm afraid.  I'm learning that The Lord wants my heart.  That's all really.  This short parable says it better than I ever could:

9 And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

10 Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.

11 The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.

12 I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Luke 18:9-14

The Book of Mormon is full of warnings to the Latter Day Saints.  I can no longer read it without seeing them on almost every page.  I just pray that The Lord will be merciful unto me, and give me enough time, as I try to blast away my judgmental mind, false traditions, and come unto Him.

Music @ 432hz

I know I've written about 432hz music before, but I've had new findings.   I was playing my guitar the other day and decided to tune it to 432hz instead of the standard 440 tuning.   Wow! I honestly could not believe the difference.  The best word to describe how it sounds to me is full.   The music feels full.  When played in comparison, 440 now feels more empty to me.  

I downloaded a free app on my phone that transposes my music to 432hz.  It has a feature that let's you switch back and forth mid song to hear the difference.  If you're still skeptical, There's a TON of websites and YouTube videos that explain it througally. I recommend checking them out. I was skeptical of this too at first, or just thought it wasn't that big of a deal. But now, I'm totally convinced that a. It's real, and b. It's actually a really big deal.  

I AM: 365 Names of God

I'm loving this: 

(Might not be to everyone's taste) 

http://youtu.be/8UQf9zZBzv4

Receive me IN THE WORLD

"For strait is the gate, and narrow the way that leadeth unto the exaltation and continuation of the lives, and few there be that find it, because ye receive me not in the world neither do ye know me.

But if ye receive me in the world, then shall ye know me, and shall receive your exaltation; that where I am ye shall be also.

This is eternal lives—to know the only wise and true God, and Jesus Christ, whom he hath sent. I am he. Receive ye, therefore, my law.

Broad is the gate, and wide the way that leadeth to the deaths; and many there are that go in thereat, because they receive me not, neither do they abide in my law."

D&C 132:22-25

Do you have an Ark?

The scriptures give accounts of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.  Moses, Noah, Nephi..

As far as we know, Moses was the first man to part a sea, all while being pursued by enemies.  He wasn't following anybody else, he was relying solely on personal revelation, and faith.  I believe that God sees us as individuals, and that there are certain things that only you or I can accomplish. How are we to know what those things are, unless we have a personal and intimate relationship with Him? Especially if it's going to be totally unprecedented and out-of-the-box?

What good would an ark have been to Lehi in Jerusalem?

How do you know that you don't have an "ark" to build!

Zeal

Are we ever guilty of "following after our own righteousness"?

"But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;

...Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.  For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.  For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."
Romans 9:31-32, 10:1-3

Can it really be called righteous if it's not God's will? If it's only us giving ourselves tasks so that we feel good? All the while, betraying God's will for us?
Looks to me like righteous works are the fruit of faith, not the other way around!

One of the BEST quotes (talks) ever:

"In Israel today, they have great contests in which young people and old from all parts of the world display their knowledge of scripture and skill at music, science, or mathematics, etc., in grueling competitions. This sort of thing tends to breed a race of insufferably arrogant, conceited little show-offs -- and magnificent performers. They tend to be like the Jews of old, who "sought for things that they could not understand," ever "looking beyond the mark," and hence falling on their faces: "they needs must fall." (Jacob 4:14.) Yet Joseph Smith commends their intellectual efforts as a corrective to the Latter-day Saints, who lean too far in the other direction, giving their young people and old awards for zeal alone, zeal without knowledge--for sitting in endless meetings, for dedicated conformity, and unlimited capacity for suffering boredom. We think it more commendable to get up at 5:00 a.m. to write a bad book than to get up at nine o'clock to write a good one--that is pure zeal that tends to breed a race of insufferable, self-righteous prigs and barren minds. One has only to consider the present outpouring of "inspirational" books in the Church which bring little new in the way of knowledge: truisms, and platitudes, kitsch, and cliches have become our everyday diet. The Prophet would never settle for that. "I advise you to go on to perfection and search deeper and deeper into the mysteries of Godliness . ."

Hugh Nibley

(See also Lectures on Faith)