Create part II

I like this painting. it's very sweet, and the details speak to me.  (I wish I knew who the artist was)

I had no intention of doing a part II, but it might be helpful to provide an example of what I'm talking about.

A couple of weeks ago, my two youngest kids were really sick.  Especially my 2 year old.  He had the flu and was suffering with a 105 degree fever for days.  Just when I thought he might be getting better, his fever would spike again.  He had no energy, laid on the couch all day and night and wasn't eating. It was so sad.  He had received blessings, and constant prayers from his parents, sibling, and other family members.  Finally after 7 days, I kissed him goodnight and went up to bed.  I was praying and asking Heavenly Father what I could do to help my poor child feel better.  And the thought came to my mind to be creative.  Ok...

So I thought about it for a little while and decided to try a visualization.  I went with what felt right throughout this process.  I started visualizing this dark, black sickness that had infiltrated his body, and I came up with a tool that I could use to suck it out of him.  It looked similar to a large silver syringe.  I sucked and sucked out the sickness, then I would dispose of it in a container I created for this purpose.  (I try to be as detailed as possible. The more details the better the visualization.)

Now, it's been my experience, that whenever darkness or evil is cast or drawn out of someplace/someone, it needs to be replaced by goodness to fill the void.  Otherwise the darkness may return and possibly with more force. (Matt. 12:43-45)

So I decided to visualize a balm or cream.. Sort of like a thick lotion.  I put it in a lovely jar. Then I mixed my love for him into it, and the love of my husband, our other children, and other family members.  And finally asked for a little bit of the love and healing from our Savior Jesus Christ to be mixed into this balm.  I blessed it, and then applied it lovingly and gently on my sons body.  I asked for it to penetrate his flesh and fill the voids left by the exterminated sickness.  I talked to him as I did this, I told my son how much I love him, and care for him, and what a joy and a blessing he's been to me every day of his life.  I asked that Heavenly Father allow this healing to become a reality, and when I was finished, I went to bed.

Just a reminder, I did all of this in my mind, while kneeling by my bed, and my son was downstairs sleeping on the couch.   The next morning he awoke with no fever.  And continued to get better and better as the day went on.

Now, was it just a coincidence? Would he have gotten better that morning anyway? Possibly. That's all quite possible actually.  But you know what? It felt good.  It felt really good to do it.  It felt good to focus on him, and focus my thoughts and attentions on his healing.  It felt good to think about The Savior and his healing properties.  It felt good to show Heavenly Father that I'm thinking about Him, and know that He has power to heal his children who have faith in him.  And it helped me too, to develop my faith.

Overall it was a very positive expirence.

"When a man works by faith, he works by mental exertion instead of physical force. It is by words, instead of by exerting his physical powers, with which every being works when he works by faith." LOF 7:3

CREATE

"When a man works by faith, he works by mental exertion instead of physical force. It is by words, instead of by exerting his physical powers, with which every being works when he works by faith." LOF 7:3



This is a favorite of mine, from a talk given by Elder Uchtdorf.  I love the music, I love the message.  We are all creators in embryo. 

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlnq5yY7k

It's only recently I'm truly discovering and learning about the powers within all of us to create.   Heavenly Father wants us to be reaching up to our highest potential.  

" Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.  And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come." D&C 130: 18-19

I've been experimenting by using my mind to create and accomplish certain things.  And I'm actually shocked at some of the results that are starting to manifest.   I am still totally and completely an apprentice in training, and I know full well that I am only scratching the surface of what's possible.  But it's still, none the less, quite exciting.  

One thing I know for sure, is spiritual creation takes guidance from the spirit, faith and love.  I try to rely fully upon the spirit. And I'm learning. I'm sure I won't be doing everything perfectly, but at least I'm trying! I'm showing The Lord I'm interested in learning, and I want to be more like Him. 

 A friend of mine recently blew my mind by suggesting that this verse in 1 Nephi is referring to a spiritual creation of Lehi's, that The Lord helped make a reality.  Hence his " great astonishment" when he saw his creation in actual, physical form.  I'd be astonished too! 

"And it came to pass that as my father arose in the morning, and went forth to the tent door, to his great astonishment he beheld upon the ground a round ball of curious workmanship; and it was of fine brass. And within the ball were two spindles; and the one pointed the way whither we should go into the wilderness."            1 Nephi 16:10

I want to start taking the full gospel seriously.  Making the things in the scriptures a reality for me! Not just cool stories that only super human people were privileged enough to do.  Have miracles ceased? Why! The Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever.  We are selling ourselves short if we think we can't participate in the same marvelous works that those before us have showed us are possible.  I think they're crying from the dust for us to rise up and meet our full potentials! 

Elsa gets it.

"God said, "Let there be light: and there was light" (Gen 1:3). Joshua spake and the great lights which God had created stood still (Joshua 10:12-13). Elijah commanded and the heavens were stayed for the space of three years and six months, so that it did not rain; he again commanded and the heavens gave forth rain (1 Kings 17:1; 18:1, 41-45). All this was done by faith. And the Savior says: "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove . . . and it shall remove" (Matt 17:20); or "say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up . . . and . . . planted in the sea; and it should obey you" (Luke 17:6). Faith, then, works by words; and with these its mightiest works have been and will be performed." LOF 7:3

2 Peter 1

Joseph Smith--
"There are three grand secrets lying in this chapter, 2 Pet. 1, which no man can dig out, unless by the light of revelation, and which unlock the whole chapter, as the things that are written are only hints of things which existed in the prophet's mind, which are not written concerning eternal glory." (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 304)

The Second Epistle of Peter

Chapter 1

Peter urges the Saints to make their calling and election sure--Prophecy comes by the power of the Holy Ghost.

1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:

4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;

14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

$6.95

That's how much I paid for The Lectures on Faith, and they are worth every cent. And then some!

“These lectures are of great value and should be studied. . . I consider them to be of extreme value in the study of the gospel of Jesus Christ,” -Joseph Fielding Smith

“Some of the best lesson material ever prepared on the Godhead; on the character, perfections, and attributes of God; on faith, miracles, and sacrifice. They can be studied with great profit by all.” 
-Bruce R McConkie

I've literally been blown away by these 7 small lectures!
From 1835-1921 they were published as the forepart to the Doctrine and Covenants. They were, in fact, considered the "doctrine" while the revelations made up the "covenants".

Here are a few highlights:

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38. From this account it appears that Lamech, the eighth from Adam, and the father of Noah, was 56 years old when Adam died; Methuselah, 243; Enoch, 308; Jared, 470; Mahalaleel, 535; Cainan, 605; Enos, 695; and Seth, 800.
39. So Lamech the father of Noah, Methuselah, Enoch, Jared, Mahalaleel, Cainan, Enos, Seth, and Adam, were all living at the same time, and, beyond all controversy, were all preachers of righteousness.

55. Let us here observe that after any members of the human family are made acquainted with the important fact that there is a God who has created and does uphold all things, the extent of their knowledge respecting his character and glory will depend upon their diligence and faithfulness in seeking after him, until, like Enoch, the brother of Jared, and Moses, they shall obtain faith in God and power with him to behold him face to face....It was the credence they gave to the testimony of their fathers, it having aroused their minds to inquire after the knowledge of God. That inquiry frequently terminated, indeed always terminated when rightly pursued, in the most glorious discoveries and eternal certainty.

23. But it is also necessary that men should have an idea that God is no respecter of persons, for with the idea of all the other excellencies in his character, and this one wanting, men could not exercise faith in him. Because if he were a respecter of persons, they could not tell what their privileges were, nor how far they were authorized to exercise faith in him, or whether they were authorized to do it at all. All must be confusion. But no sooner are the minds of men made acquainted with the truth on this point, that he is no respecter of persons, than they see that they have authority by faith to lay hold on eternal life, the richest boon of heaven, because God is no respecter of persons, and every man in every nation has an equal privilege.

7. Let us here observe that a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation. For from the first existence of man, the faith necessary unto the enjoyment of life and salvation never could be obtained without the sacrifice of all earthly things. It is through this sacrifice, and this only, that God has ordained that men should enjoy eternal life. And it is through the medium of the sacrifice of all earthly things that men do actually know that they are doing the things that are well pleasing in the sight of God. When a man has offered in sacrifice all that he has for the truth's sake, not even withholding his life, and believing before God that he has been called to make this sacrifice because he seeks to do His will, he does know, most assuredly, that God does and will accept his sacrifice and offering and that he has not sought nor will he seek His face in vain. Under these circumstances, then, he can obtain the faith necessary for him to lay hold on eternal life.

9. And in the last days before the Lord comes, he is to gather together his saints who have made a covenant with him by sacrifice...Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice."

10. But those who do not make the sacrifice cannot enjoy this faith, because men are dependent upon this sacrifice in order to obtain this faith.

11. All the Saints of whom we have account in all the revelations of God which are extant obtained the knowledge which they had of their acceptance in his sight through the sacrifice which they
offered unto him. And through the knowledge thus obtained, their faith became sufficiently strong to lay hold upon the promise of eternal life and to endure "as seeing him who is invisible" (Heb 11:27). They were enabled through faith to combat the powers of darkness, contend against the wiles of the adversary, overcome the world, and obtain the end of their faith, even the salvation of their souls.

9. What is the difference between a saved man and one who is not saved?... They must have faith to enable them to act in the presence of the Lord; otherwise, they cannot be saved. And what constitutes the real difference between a saved person and one not saved is the difference in the degree of their faith. One's faith has become perfect enough to lay hold upon eternal life, and the other's has not... Thus says John: "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" (1 John 3:2-3). Why purify themselves as he is pure? Because if they do not, they cannot be like him.

17. And "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" ...And nothing was withheld from him when his faith was sufficient to receive it.

18. These sayings put together show the Apostle's views most clearly, so as to admit of no mistake in the mind of any individual. He says that all things that pertain to life and godliness were given unto them through the knowledge of God and our Savior Jesus Christ. And if the question is asked, how were they to obtain the knowledge of God? (For there is a great difference between believing in God and knowing him.  Knowledge implies more than faith. And notice that all things that pertain to life and godliness were given through the knowledge of God.) The answer is that through faith they were to obtain this knowledge; and, having power by faith to obtain the knowledge of God, they could with it obtain all other things which pertain to life and godliness.

20. And this is the reason that Paul counted all things but filth and dross.  What he formerly called his gain he called his loss. Yea, he counted "all things but loss [except] for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord," because he had to suffer "the loss of all things" to obtain the faith by which he could enjoy the knowledge of Christ Jesus the Lord (Philip 3:7-8). This is the reason that the Former-day Saints knew more and understood more of heaven and of heavenly things than all others beside, because this information is the effect of faith to be obtained by no other means... For where faith is, there will the knowledge of God be also... And he who possesses it will obtain all necessary knowledge and wisdom through it until he shall know God and the Lord Jesus Christ, whom he has sent, whom to know is eternal life. Amen.

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What's it gonna be

Good and evil have always felt so real to me.  I think they have pulled on me fiercely, and with almost equal intensity for as long as I can remember.  I don't anticipate this letting up anytime soon.  

Here's a couple of good reads:

http://denversnuffer.blogspot.com/2010/09/2-nephi-32-4-5.html

http://denversnuffer.blogspot.com/2010/09/2-nephi-32-7.html

Includes this:  

Almost without exception the Book of Mormon uses these words in this way:

"Belief" means you understand and accept true doctrine.

"Unbelief" means you do not understand and have not accepted true doctrine.

"Faith" means you have been visited by an angel.

"Knowledge" means you have been visited by the Lord.

It helps bring a clearer meaning to "...they will not search knowledge, nor understand great knowledge..."

Wow, if true.  Talk about a key! 

Layers.  

Damnable Heresy!

“The Israelites prayed that God would speak to Moses and not to them; in consequence of which he cursed them with a carnal law."
Note that! Can you imagine?! If the children of Israel in that day, were cursed by God because they said Moses must talk to God and not us, how much greater must be the damnation upon those who say, you must not talk to God because we have one who does so for you! Who preach: you're not entitled to receive anything beyond the bonds of your limited position, in this beehive we've constructed! Damnable heresy! Doctrines of devils! Propounded by those who are purveyors of a false priestcraft! Unauthorized by God! Unsanctioned by Him! They suffer not themselves to enter in, and they will hedge up the way if you will heed them. There is no man on his own errand in this world, who can offer to you salvation. But if God sends a message you better heed it, even if you find it difficult to hear."
-Denver Snuffer

http://www.scribd.com/mobile/doc/183144071