I know of one of the members of the team who has a loved one who basically rejected this covenant of Consecration and who is in the process of rejecting all other temple covenants and is turning it into a me, me and me kind of thing. Understandable - the concept of Consecration simply falls outside of a telestial order of things. The natural man is a selfish creature unless he becomes humble, submissive, filled with faith and wills his or her will to the Father in all things. We simply have to throw it ALL on the altar and turn it over to the Lord - including our own will. God simply has a way of finding what is important to us - then asking us to put it on the line. After decades of barrenness, then having probably countless prayers answered - Abraham was asked to put it on the line with Isaac.
What do you have on the line? As a kid, I used to marvel that Jesus asked the rich man (that kept the telestial law perfectly to qualify for the terrestrial order) to sell all that he had and give it away to follow Jesus. I thought it kind of extreme. Now, I understand better and get it completely. Terrestrial laws qualify people for the terrestrial order that will exist in the Millennium. People in these blog comments from the previous blog article fully get that too.....:
AnonymousJanuary 6, 2016 at 8:06 AMThis is a true principle (D&C 130:20-21 & 6th Lecture on Faith) and those who go to Zion will already be practicing this principle to qualify them. Most all LDS members have lost the understanding of this truth, seeking after the riches of this world, and only those who repent (3 Nephi 21) will be saved "by their works" to be able to assist the remnant in building the Zion society. This is the pattern God uses to test us to see who is obedient to His word as has been given amply in the scriptures for this people and to which we are held accountable...ReplyDeleteAnonymousJanuary 6, 2016 at 12:14 PMGee, you'd think we'd be in a much better situation with all the "Sitting Bulls" we have in the White House, Congress, and the Senate.
Suzanne Freeman through her NDE books has probably helped so many really understand the Law of Consecration. She put it thus, "We all throw in everything we have and then share. Then when it runs out, we'll all be in the same boat!" But miracle of miracles, she saw that when this is the attitude of the members of the little company they started out in, that wasn't the case. The Lord made it so things didn't run out or spoil. She said when people were stingy is when their food storage spoiled or ran out. Or these people didn't feel or were repelled by the Spirit of the group and moved on.
'Through the Window of Life' is the book that tells of this and what she was shown of the Last Days. I love her book and it gives me hope! 'Visions of Glory' by John Pontius does the same.
We can do this! We can be ZION! We just need to remember that the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. He can give and He can take away. We're simply stewards. So let us be kind and share. Yes, it will be hard when it seems like we've been more obedient than others with preparedness. All of us, no matter what level we're on still come short of the Glory of God and are in need of His mercy to go home to Father. God gave EVERYTHING for us to come home. So "Here Lord, take what I have, it's yours! Let it be for the glory of Zion and let history show that me and my family served faithfully, gave willingly without grudge, and gave all until we had nothing left to give."
I have always considered myself as someone who gives freely. I actually thrive on giving to others - it makes me feel good. Lately though I see myself doing a double take and thinking well if I give that will my family have enough when this all goes down. Really??? - I am astonished by my actions. I don't want to be that kind of person. I want to give freely - so I am working on it and turning my fears and complaints to God.
ReplyDeleteI want to be the one that has enough to share and also to be strong enough to walk away from it all if I have to and rely on God without any food or materials in my possession.