STAY IN THE BOAT AND HIT THE SWEET SPOT

 This is relevant advice for our current situation.  My good wife has always held the position that we were given two juxtaposed things (just as Eve was in the Garden) and those who were too lazy or not close enough to the Spirit took the wrong que.  We were told by our leader to not trust in man, but to learn to "Hear Him!"; even bypassing the notions that the world and even trusted servants would pass onto us.  Most did not, instead choosing to pharisaically attack those who heard an entirely different message.  Others did Hear Him, but chose to attack and ridicule those who did get the shit (oops, got my vowels mixed up...), and were not very Christlike.  That included/s me.  I have had quite a bit of fun on Socialist Media...  So, there were two camps and neither (in general) could probably be lauded for the correct response.  This is pretty typical in any major decision including those who chose to crucify Christ and likely thought they were doing everyone else a favor by throwing Him to the curb to protect their way of life.  Just a classic situation; with eternal consequences.

Heck, if I had to come up with a laboratory with some scenarios that would push a person to the limits and test their resolve and character, this earth experience would be it.  It is a war out there where family members are pitted against each other (where the values have diverged), nation against nation, and where the very gGods are at war; a war that has clearly spilled over into this sphere of existence.  The only question we have to ask ourselves each and every day is whether we are on the right side of the issues.  With things like abortion, health freedom, the pursuit of money vs having sufficient for our needs, sexual wants beyond the bounds the Lord has set while still wrestling with our needs as sexual beings, the embibing in the intoxicating liquer of power, when just enough to maintain personal autonomy will suffice; these are all the things we have to grapple with in this fallen world.

In the end, do we hit the sweet spot?  Or do we go too far afield?  Or fall horribly short?  It truly is a game of just simply hitting the sweet spot.  It is simply something we must grapple with our entire lives and the test that makes us material that will be comfortable associating with the Gods through the eternities.  They have mastered this question.  This is why we have scriptures; to provide these examples like Abraham and even Joseph Smith who were those who were able to hit that sweet spot and find themselves in good company with others who did the same and who now wield true power that comes through moderation and control.  Power that those who have it, can truly say that they can wield properly and with care.  This commentary from FB:

A CAUTIONARY TALE – STAY IN THE BOAT!

Recently, I have been speaking to a few friends (who have also told me that there are many more) that take certain scriptures as “proof” that the Church, under the direction of President Nelson, is “out of order” and needs to be set aright. They don’t believe that President Nelson is inspired and is not directing the Church the way the Lord wants. They have even gone so far as to claim that ALL of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve are being deceived and are not doing the Lord’s will.

One such scripture is found in Isaiah 28:7:

“But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink, they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.”

And this one found in Doctrine and Covenants 85:7:

“And it shall come to pass that I, the Lord God, will send one mighty and strong, holding the scepter of power in his hand, clothed with light for a covering, whose mouth shall utter words, eternal words; while his bowels shall be a fountain of truth, to set in order the house of God, and to arrange by lot the inheritances of the saints whose names are found, and the names of their fathers, and of their children, enrolled in the book of the law of God;”

I have been greatly concerned by these conversations and especially by a willingness to take one or two scriptures out of context as “proof” of something they want to believe is true, but is contrary to the foundational truths of the gospel. I don’t know how many in this group may sympathize or even believe as some of what my friends believe, but I there are some, I sincerely hope that a few things that I have felt impressed to share may help you.

First, the Savior prophesied: “For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, IF IT WERE POSSIBLE, even the elect. But TAKE YE HEED: BEHOLD, I HAVE FORTOLD YOU ALL THINGS. (Mark 13:22-23)

Why is it not possible for the elect to be deceived? Because they will have the Spirit and will not be dissuaded, although many will be. Also, I feel that the Savior FORTOLD us these things that we may not be alarmed when we see them happening and know that He is yet at the helm.

BUT HOW DO WE AVOID BEING ONE OF THOSE THAT ARE CAUGHT UP IN THESE THINGS?

First, I think we need to make sure that we are grounded in what I like to call Foundational Truths.  A Foundational Truth is something we can hold onto as the bedrock of the gospel that will never change. One of these truths is that when Joseph Smith restored the gospel in its fullness with all the priesthood keys and authority, it was restored FOR THE LAST TIME – meaning that there will NEVER AGAIN be a complete apostacy. A loss of ALL priesthood keys by the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve is the ONLY way that a complete apostacy could occur.

So how do we know that this won’t happen again?

Daniel prophesied that after all of the kingdoms he saw in his vision rose and fell, there would finally arise a kingdom that would NEVER be destroyed.

“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”

Furthermore, the Lord again confirmed and reiterated this to His prophet Joseph F Smith. Speaking of his vision where he saw so many of the ancient and faithful prophets in D&C 138, he says, speaking of Daniel:

“Daniel, who foresaw and foretold the establishment of the kingdom of God in the latter days, never again to be destroyed nor given to other people;” (D&C 138:44)

It is interesting that of all the things that President Smith could have used to describe Daniel, this is what he chose, as if to cement in the gospel cannon that this restoration IS THE LAST TIME.

Finally, In Gospel Topics under “Apostasy” it states: “But unlike the Church in times past, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will not be overcome by general apostasy. The scriptures teach that the Church will never again be destroyed.

“Although there WILL NOT BE ANOTHER GENERAL APOSTACY from the truth, we must each guard against personal apostasy.”

One of the reasons why these conversations have been disconcerting to me, is that I have had not one but two brushes with apostate groups in my past that have given me a personal and up-close look at not just the final end, but more importantly the BEGINNING STAGES of these groups. Satan doesn’t reinvent the wheel very often, but will use the same patterns over and over – Why? Because in this way “…the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell” (2 Nephi 28:21)

This first experience happened in my 20s when there was a group in Manti that were taking their members into the Manti Temple after hours for perform their own Second Anointings. My dad was the Temple president at the time, and of necessity got involved. Much of what I learned about this group came from the numerous interviews he conducted with their followers.

The second experience happened in my 30s when my first wife got involved with a group that believed that more reformations needed to be made to restore the Relief Society to its true order and purpose as being equal in authority to the priesthood. These women believed that their leader was the true eternal companion to Joseph Smith, and therefore it was her right to make these reformations.

In BOTH of these groups, no one started out thinking right away that they were joining the group to leave the Church. But the VERY FIRST STEP in the road to apostacy began with questioning if the living prophet was truly inspired and doing the Lord’s will. Both groups felt THEY KNEW MORE than the living prophet and it was up to them to set the Church aright.

Each of these groups firmly believed that as they remained faithful to THEIR teachings, as they saw them, the Lord would set things in order and correct the Church to go more to their way of thinking. However, sadly and inevitably that day never came.  By the time they realized this, these followers were far too steeped and too committed to these altered teachings to turn back. Then came Satan’s Bombshell! “President Benson/President Hinkley/President Nelson (whatever the current prophet was at that time) is a FALLEN PROPHET and the Church has fallen into COMPLETE Apostacy! The only way we can save it is to break off and form our own.”

And at last, the total deception is complete and these once innocent and sincere followers of Christ have been led “carefully down to hell.” With them, I saw in both instances, lives destroyed, families destroyed, and most important of all – eternal destinies forever altered!

SO HOW ARE THESE SCRIPTURES TO BE FULFILLED IF NOT THROUGH APOSTACY OF THE CHURCH?

This is the question I was asked in one form or another over and over. And the answer is that yes, they will be fulfilled to the letter, just as all prophecies that come from the Lord, but almost guaranteed that they will NOT be fulfilled in the way that we think. This is why we must be so careful to not try to second guess the Lord in how He will fulfill the prophecies He has made. The Lord is certainly capable of doing His own work.

One thing that we can rely on with iron clad faith is that the Lord’s relationship with this Church is a COVENANT relationship! He is the Bridegroom and the Church is the bride. While the Church absolutely MUST transform to become a bride worthy to be in His presence and this may require putting some things “in order” (D&C 85:7), He will NEVER abandon that effort, break His own covenant, and go searching for a new bride/church.

In the days ahead, we will be SORELY tested. Our faith may be tried and we may even feel as if the Lord has forsaken His Church or forsaken this burgeoning Zion, but here is His glorious promise to us in Isaiah 49:

14 But Zion said, The LORD hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me.

15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee.

16 Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me.

I hope we can all follow the great inspirational words of President Ballard to “stay in the boat.” Great spiritual storms are coming and we will need the protection of the Lord, His counsel to His living prophet, and the great blessings from the temple more than ever before!