THE MOST SPIRITUAL EVENT OF MY LIFE - LOSING MY SON TO SIDS

Most posts to this blog are of a second coming nature - not personal - but this one was so huge and so impacting to me, I have to add something about it. This is a work in progress as I have more time. I literally could write a book on what my wife and I went through and still not get through it all.

On April 4th, 2002 at approx. 1:45am, our lives were changed forever when our little Dallin Jacob Wood was called home to prepare for what most of us will probably go through in our lifetimes. The massive influx of people into the Spirit World as the world goes through the massive upheavals that are soon to be upon us. While we are organized here and have much work to do for our temporal salvation, there is much that is going on "over there" that requires manpower, organization, and direction. This "seed blog entry" will get rather enormous as time goes on. I had an old friend from Facebook mention that her mother had died - a truly wonderful woman whose time it simply was to go home for a purpose few of us here might understand. Here is a note that I sent her:

Vicki,
I was sorry to hear about your mother. Without regular contact, I just assumed Victor and your mother were living out their lives. I saw your dad was on FB. I am sure it simply was her time to go - there is so much more going on over there than we can imagine. The work to redeem the human family is massive and accelerating beyond our comprehension as the millennium approaches.
I will not force it on you - and would be more than happy to pop a copy of that book (Life Everlasting) I mentioned in the mail - but it is a most amazing work. Death is really just a change of state to a greater and more exciting part of the adventure of our eternal life. Just let me know if you are interested in the book. Like I said, it is so good that I keep loaners around for interested people.
Yes, our little guy was called home around 9 months old and it really was supposed to happen. I was actually supposed to go home that year that he was taken home - and had known that since a few months before I came home from my mission. My wife just brushed me off as crazy when I turned 33 and would not follow my advice to seek out a life insurance policy big enough to take care of her and the kids if I were taken (her own father was taken in the Vietnam war and Shawna and her mother were left with few options). Notwithstanding the fact she didn't take me seriously, my wife had a premonition of impending death two weeks before Dallin's death and was literally allowed to choose that it not be me who was sent home on errand. Maybe a little hard to comprehend, but a true statement. My Grandpa Matheson, the old Cedar City Stake Patriarch was calling the shots from the other side and needed help. Off the charts wild - but we had three independent people in our family that had simultaneous manifestations within a day or two that confirmed it. I had an incredible 2 yr. mission by any stretch - similar to John H. Groberg's - but losing our little guy was THE most spiritually affirming thing that has ever happened to me/us. It was pretty hard on the oldest two kids, though. They were too young to fully comprehend what was going on.
I run a blog that has some pretty wild stuff like this in it and I just have not had the time to get the whole scenario down - but at some point, I will blog all of the incredible things that happened to us. I can honestly say that I know that God lives and there is an entire "situation" around us that most people simply do not comprehend or have an awareness of. The veil was very thin for months after he crossed over.
Anyway, sorry to get so deep but I just have to pass on the hope and insight I have gained.
Thanks for sharing about your mother - I wasn't sure if it would be polite to ask in a public forum.

Eric.

Here is a wonderful quote by Joseph Smith on the death of a loved one:

I think this quote sums this little guy's life up,
"The Lord takes many away, even in infancy, that they may escape the envy of man, and the sorrows and evils of this present world; they were too pure, too lovely, to live on earth; therefore, if rightly considered, instead of mourning, we have reason to rejoice, as they are delivered from evil and we shall soon have them again. The only difference between the old and young dying is, one lives longer in heaven in eternal light and glory than the other, and is freed a little sooner from this miserable, wicked world. Notwithstanding all this glory, we for a moment, lose sight of it, and mourn the loss, but we do not mourn as those without hope (through Christ).
Joseph Smith.

Here is a poem my wife composed about our little Dallin Jacob:

I like to look for songbirds and hear their melody,
For my heart turns to a sweet boy, who God once gave to me.
He filled our life with miracles, the very day he came.
He blessed our lives with sunshine; we'll never be the same.

I like to look for songbirds. He loved their melody.
He'd often look up heavenward--their flight path just to see.
And gazing deep into our eyes, he seemed to be so wise,
Yet he was so cute and playful, and tender were his cries...

And then our little songbird, he needed to take flight--
His flightpath leading heavenbound--it happened in the night.
Our soul was filled with rainclouds, our tears fell to the earth,
Only eight months and twenty days, since his day of birth.

We looked to God to understand, for we do not know why.
We place our trust in God who knows, why Dallin had to die.
But there is restoration, thanks be to God's own son.
And earth life is preparation, for the eternal one.

A time to learn all the things that God wants me to know.
A time to prove my faith in Christ as I progress and grow.
And without earth life's own sorrow, I could not know the joy,
This truth I must remember, whene'er I miss my boy.

I'm thankful to my Father in heaven up above,
Who for me, one of his children, has such mercy and love.
How difficult and,oh, so hard, to offer up His Son,
That death and sin be trampled, in the battle that was won.

I'm thankful to my Savior, who won that war for me,
That I may return to Father, and live eternally.
I know my Savior rose again, and death He overcame,
Showing by his example, that I, too, will rise the same.

And spirit joined with body, I too will conquer death,
And witness this great miracle, inhaling once more breath.
To this end was my Savior born, So I could follow Him,
Back home as pure as snow again, to reunite with them.

Their gift to me, eternal life, as I accept their will.
My gift to them a change of heart, Christ's power is so real.
I want to follow him and be the best that I can be,
Because my Savior loves me, and paid the price for me.

by Shawna

Over time, this piece will grow. Please check back in six months for more updates.

MY TESTIMONY OF THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD

I have not really used this as a forum for my personal testimony of God and His Son, Jesus Christ - and I probably should be a little more overt in my feelings. Sometimes it is what is in the implied where the message is sent - so I am sometimes not direct concerning the things I hold most sacred and dear.

I have a great love for my Savior - not a great enough of a love to say that I have overcome all personal shortcomings, but enough to try and please Him and our Father by doing my best and letting His atoning blood cover my shortcomings where I cannot meet the measure.

I KNOW God lives! I LOVE His plan for his children. Its perfect! I cannot think of a better way to let people sift themselves and allow themselves to establish what they want out of their eternal life. This life is the perfect laboratory. I love the miracle of eternal marriage where two people can work out their salvation together (from eternity to eternity) while bringing children into this world that help refine the couple and the family. I love the uniqueness of woman and my dear companion and thank my God for putting her into my life. We have had a most remarkable journey together so far - and in retrospect, would not change a thing of it. Parts of it, I would not wish on my worst enemy (many of our struggles have been over the top - losing Dallin would be near the top of the list), but we are better for having passed through them together.

I love the knowledge and security the Atonement gives me. One who was so perfect that He could descend below it all, to take upon Him all the pain and suffering of mankind in order that we might overcome the world and rejoice with Him again, clean and pure in the Kingdom of Heaven. Christ is truly the manifestation of God's love for His children. That love will be manifest when Christ returns to rescue those, who choose to attempt to live His laws fully, from the depravity that surrounds them. May we all rejoice this special day in His love for us and resolve to be more Christ-centered in our living.

In Jesus' holy name, Amen.

ANTI-MORMON SENTIMENT - GETTING A GOOD LAUGH

I work with some of the best people ever. Some of them just flat make me laugh my head off. One of my favorite episodes was a few days ago. A friend of mine is over-weight - probably from the stress of her job and a whole host of other issues including irritating Mormons....

We were talking about her impending gastric surgery and I asked her if there were any calculated odds of not surviving with the various kinds of surgery she had contemplated. And then, knowing how, in the past, she railed on how stupid people are that believe in God, I asked her if she was in good with her Maker in case something went horribly wrong during surgery. WRONG THING TO SAY!

Man, did I catch a tirade. She started laying into people in general who believe in God being the equivalent to believing in the tooth fairy and a whole diatribe that just had me rolling. Because - I really do - and I quite enjoy the taste of purple kool-aid - and thanks for pointing that out.... The more I laughed, the more she got red in the face and the more she got spun up. She talked about how she lives in Mormon hell and how she can't stand them of all people - all the while I was just howling. She apparently bought a 2 acre parcel in the middle of a Mormon enclave - papa Mormon bought 20 acres years ago, 'spawned' 9 children and then subdivided giving each kid around 2 acres. She apparently walked into the hornet's nest when she signed for the two acres smack in the middle and has paid for it ever since. She apparently gets invites to go to church and cookies and such from her well-meaning neighbors - which just enrages her even more. To make matters worse, one of her daughters apparently converted. Which then sent her into another tirade which got me to join in with her tirades about such stupid, backward people. When she realized that I was having way to much fun ripping apart the Mormon faith with all their quirks, she suddenly stops, jaw drops and she goes, "What? Are you one of them?". I was just howling by now as she was back-pedaling. She really does like me - so she had really stepped in it. It is one of those things that made me glad I woke up that day; I had so much fun playing along.

When she was done back pedaling I told her that I have proof that God lives - the night our kid died I received an incontrovertible witness; and she actually seemed to listen (and I fantasize about her receiving a life changing witness much as Paul did and seeing her bloom in her eternal potential). The harder they are, the sweeter the conversion and the testimony to those around them who saw the before and after pics.

What a blessing the knowledge of God's plan is to me. It helps me look on my fellow beings (who are bitter at God for whatever reason) with love and to succor their needs just a little more than had I not had that witness where I might struggle somewhat in the face of their arguments that there is no God. I KNOW HE LIVES - and loves ALL of his creations with a boundless love. What a wonderful plan he has for us - even for His most bitter of detractors and opponents who have gained a body and the possibility to live in His presence again if they so choose it. May we all live for that privilege is my prayer in Jesus name.

ORIGINAL WITNESSES TO THE BOOK OF MORMON

ORIGINAL INTERVIEW BY DAVID WHITMER - TRANSLATION OF THE SEALED PORTION OF THE BOOK OF MORMON.

Chicago Tribune

THE ANGEL IN THE PASTURE

After the translation was completed [Joseph] Smith, [Jr.], informed [Oliver] Cowdery, [David] Whitmer, and [Martin] Harris that the Lord had instructed him that the time was at hand when they should testify to all nations, tongues, and people concerning this work. These four Apostles of the Lord as they were designated, accordingly assembled in the public pasture, cleared of underbrush, at a point equally distant between two highways.

About the noonday hour they were seated on a log waiting for the promised manifestations, having previously knelt in prayer.

All at once the heavens appeared to open and there appeared a dazzling shaft of light beside which the light of the sun appeared dim.

Through this cleft in the sky, which seemed to lead away up to the pearly gates beyond, appeared an angel, disguised as a man, bearing the semblance of a table. The angel descended to the earth, landing nearly at their feet. On this table were the plates of gold from which they had just translated the Book of Mormon, and the plates of brass on which were inscribed the commandments written by Moses, and which had been taken from Jerusalem by Nephi 600 years before Christ and afterward transported to America.

The four Apostles were then commanded to go forth among men and preach religion as set down in the Book of Mormon. (Chicago Tribune, 15 Dec 1885)

Interview by Dr. P. Wilhelm Poulson

After a self introduction to David Whitmer and some general conversation, I remarked to him:

I - You are one of the Three Witnesses?
He - I am one of them.

I - And you saw the angel, and he showed you the plates?
He - The Book of Mormon is true, as true as any record can be, I saw the angel, and I saw the sword of Laban, and the breastplate, and the Urim and Thummim, and the plates and the director, and the angel stood before us, and he turned the leaves one by one.

I - Did the angel turn all the leaves before you as you looked on it?
He - No, not all, only that part of the book which was not sealed, and what there was sealed appeared as solid to my view as wood.

I - How many of the plates were sealed?
He - About half of the book was sealed. Those leaves which were not sealed, about the half of the first part of the book, were numerous, and the angel turned them over before our eyes. There is yet to be given a translation about Jared's people's doings and of Nephi, and many other records and books, which all has to be done, when the time comes.

I - How large were the plates?
He - About eight inches wide and six or seven inches long, as they appeared a little wider than long, and three rings kept the plates together; one above, one in the middle, and one below, so the angel could turn every leaf entirely over. The thickness was about of a common sheet of tin used by tinsmiths.

I - How did the engravings look?
He - There were characters. We copied some, and if you visit my brother John, one of the Eight Witnesses, who wrote for Joseph, John can show you some of the old manuscript which he borrowed from me. I must have it returned to me again, as it belongs to the Church, in connection with other records. As we were praying, the angel stood before us in his glory, and all things were before us on a table, and we heard the testimony about the plates, and we were commanded to bear that testimony to the world, and our testimony is true. And when the angel had finished his words, and shown us the plates one by one, which were to be translated, then the vision was closed at once, and exactly as it came even so did the sight disappear.

I - But these things which you saw were material things, how could they come and vanish away again?
He - It is the power of God. He does those things and his angels know how to do it. It was wonderful to us, but it was by the power of God. He had appointed his angels to be the guardians of the plates and other things, and the angel knew how it was done.

I - Did the Eight Witnesses not handle the plates as a material substance?
He - We did not, but they did, because of the faith of Joseph became so great that the angel, the guardian of the plates, gave the plates up to Joseph for a time, that those Eight Witnesses could see and handle them.

I - Did not Joseph, at an earlier period, have the full possession of those plates?
He - Yes, he did do in the commencement, but the persecution grew so hot that the angel took possession of the records, and showed those things, as he did, to Cowdery, Harris and me, and in the presence of Joseph, and afterwards he was allowed to show the plates to the Eight Witnesses.

I - Where are the plates now?
He - In a cave, where the angel has hidden them up till the time arrives when the plates, which are sealed,
shall be translated. God will yet raise up a mighty one, who shall do his work till it is finished and Jesus comes again.

I - Where is that cave?
He - In the state of New York.

I - In the Hill Cumorah?
He - No, but not far from that place. I saw the place where the plates were found, and a great many did so, and it awakened an excitement at the time, because the worst enemies of "Mormonism" stirred up the confusion by telling about the plates which Joseph found, and the "gold bible" which he was in possession of, so he was in constant danger of being robbed and killed.

I - How did the place look?
He - It was a stone box, and the stones looked to me as if they were cemented together. That was on the side of the hill, and a little down from the top.

I - How did you know Joseph to be at that time?
He - He was a very humble and meek man, and very simple, indeed. He did the will of the Lord, and an arduous task it was to translate the Book of Mormon.

I - Did Joseph use the Urim and Thummim when he translated?
He - The Urim and Thummim were two white stones, each of them cased in as spectacles are, in a kind of silver casing, but the bow between the stones was more heavy, and longer apart between the stones, than we usually find in spectacles. Martin Harris, Oliver Cowdery, Emma, and my brother John each at different times wrote for Joseph as he translated.

I - When will the temple be built at Independence?
He - Right after the great tribulation is over.

I - What do you mean by that?
He - A civil war more bloody and cruel than the rebellion. It will be a smashing up of this nation, about which time the second great work has to be done, a work like Joseph did, and the translation of the sealed plates, and peace all over.

I - Will you live and see those things?
He - It was said to us, that the second great work should commence when nearly all the witnesses to the first plates had passed away, so I may live and see those things take place. ("Dr. P. Wilhelm Poulson to editors of the Deseret News," 13 Aug 1878, Deseret News, 16 Aug 1878, p. 2. )

Interview by Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith

The fact is, it was just as though Joseph, Oliver and I were sitting just here on a log, when we were overshadowed by a light. It was not like the light of the sun nor like that of a fire, but more glorious and beautiful. It extended away round us, I cannot tell how far, but in the midst of this light about as far off as he sits (pointing to John C. Whitmer, sitting a few feet from him), there appeared as it were, a table with many records or plates upon it, besides the plates of the Book of Mormon, also the Sword of Laban, the Directors--i.e., the ball which Lehi had--and the Interpreters. I saw them just as plain as I see this bed (striking the bed beside him with his hand), and I heard the voice of the Lord, as distinctly as I ever heard anything in my life, declaring that the records of the plates of the Book of Mormon were translated by the gift and power of God. ("Report of Elders Orson Pratt and Joseph F. Smith," Millennial Star 40 (9 Dec 1878):771-7)

Interview by John Hart

Having some business in Richmond, Ray County, [Missouri] I took occasion to call upon Mr. David Whitmer, who was suffering considerably from the intense heat, but had, notwithstanding, a long and pleasant conversation with him and his son David Whitmer, Jr. After mutual introductions, I remarked that although I had no doubt of the truth of his published statement and testimony in the Book of Mormon, I should be pleased to hear the testimony from his own lips. He said, "Persons may attempt to describe the presentation of the plates as shown to himself and other witnesses, but there was a glory attending it that no one could describe, no human tongue could tell the glorious scenes that were presented to them. (Interview with John Hart, 23 Aug 1883)

Retelling by Orson Pratt

They, in no connection with Mr. Smith, who made the fourth individual, went out into the open field, near a grove of timber, a little distance from the house of Whitmer, in Fayette, Seneca county, New York. They bowed down before the Lord in broad daylight - not in the night; so there could be no deception: they humbled themselves before him, called upon his holy name with all their hearts, and while they were thus engaged in calling upon the name of the Lord, they saw in the heavens above a glorious light, and a personage descending. This personage came down and stood before them: he laid his hands upon the head of David Whitmer as one of the three witnesses, and said, "Blessed be the Lord and they that keep his commandments;" and then he took the plates and turned them over, leaf after leaf, excepting a certain portion of the leaves that were sealed up, which Mr. Smith was not permitted to translate; but that portion he had translated was turned over, leaf after leaf, and presented before their eyes, and they saw the engravings upon the plates. (Orson Pratt, "Evidences of the Bible and Book of Mormon Compared," Journal of Discourses, vol. 7-8, 1860, pp. 29-30)



Testimony of the Three Witnesses


TESTIMONY OF THE THREE WITNESSES

Be it known unto all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, unto whom this work shall come, that we, through the grace of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, HAVE SEEN THE PLATES which contain this record, which is a record of the people of Nephi, and also of the Lamanites, their brethren, and also of the people of Jared, who came from the tower of which hath been spoken, and we also know that they have been translated by the gift and power of God, FOR HIS VOICE HATH DECLARED IT unto us; wherefore we know of a surety, that the work is true. And we also testify that we have SEEN THE ENGRAVINGS which are upon the plates; and they have been shown unto us by the power of God, and not of man. And we declare with words of soberness, that an ANGEL OF GOD CAME DOWN FROM HEAVEN, and he brought and laid before our eyes, that we beheld and saw the plates, and the engravings thereon; and we know that this is by the grace of God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ that we beheld and bear record that these things are true; and it is marvelous in our eyes, nevertheless, the VOICE OF THE LORD COMMANDED US THAT WE SHOULD BEAR RECORD OF IT; wherefore, to be obedient unto the commandments of God, we bear testimony of these things. And we know that if we are faithful in Christ, we shall rid our garments of the blood of all men, and be found spotless before the judgment seat of Christ, and shall dwell with him eternally in the heavens. And the honor be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, which is one God. Amen.
OLIVER COWDERY
DAVID WHITMER
MARTIN HARRIS

YOUR TESTIMONY - BY YOUR WORKS YE SHALL KNOW IT

Alot of people wonder how you go about developing a testimony of the truth. I have a favorite scripture that I quoted liberally while a missionary and trying to get people to catch the vision of God's work and the need to keep the commandments; "If any man will do His will, he shall know of the doctrine; whether it be of God or whether I speak of myself." So in order to obtain the knowledge of the truth of a doctrine (a testimony), you simply have to start by keeping the commandments - and then see what buds over time. But it takes prolonged diligence.....

I have my story and here it is - and it follows some very basic principles:

I have always had a simple faith. I have always just had a resonation within me when something was right. It felt comfortable - error and bad principle grates me which is why I will often blow some steam by way of my writings. There is MUCH error and bad principle out there.

That simple faith led to a belief when I read the works of our Savior and the greats like Moses and Joseph Smith. I just knew they were true and that these were good, just and holy men. I also came to the realization that the things they did (their works and miracles) were not out of reach of the average man/woman - otherwise, why publish them? It would be torturous - not much unlike sharing intimate details of married life to someone who is single - it would only do harm for them to know of that which they could not enjoy or achieve. The experiences were recorded because we could achieve them!! We do not have the sealed portion of the Book of Mormon and it is held back until after the purge as there NO WAY we could achieve those great principles of harmonious and Zion living in this telestial world. Not without the people conceiving of living like that - and then doing all in their power to bring it about.

So, as I examined myself, I knew that I could do the same things, so long as I maintained a humble attitude and as long as I would repent of my shortcomings - which are legion - and began to have the desire to exercise my priesthood in righteousness (women - this is your heritage, as well; I have stories from my mission). At one point around the age of twelve after listening to Conference and a talk by Neal A. Maxwell, I was wrought upon by the Holy Ghost to the point that I had no strength in my frame - just as Lehi did which propelled me further along this path. So the belief in Priesthood power was bolstered by some statements in my Patriarchal Blessing that I would be given opportunities to grow with experiences in the Priesthood - so I moved from a faith, to an assurance, to a burning desire to have the same assurances that all the greats had. This led to an attitude in a state of humility (God owes me nothing) that I could request and then expect miracles and blessings in my life. I could "argue the case" so to speak - and God would have to grant my desires in righteousness - much as the Brother of Jared was given them as his faith increased beyond a certain threshold. I began to have those experiences, line upon line, here a little, there a little until I would arrive at a fullness - or a sure knowledge of all things. This is how you obtain the great gift of the Second Comforter. I am not there yet - but I do desire that sweet communion - and I know I am far off from that pinnacle from what I understand of others' experiences.

Backing up a step, though - and to the point of this piece. I have not read a piece of scripture and said to myself "This could never happen to me.", except for one thing; which is commanding a mountain to "Be thou moved" - and having it done. Maybe that is a function of not seeing a need for it. I can conceive of everything else including having the power of resurrection - which all righteous Patriarchs from their respective lines on down from Adam will exercise on the Morning of the First Resurrection. I can conceive of (me doing it at some point in the future in a terrestrial state) moving from place to place at the speed of thought. I can conceive of raising a loved one from the dead (such as Lazarus was) and if you read a previous blog entry will know why that was a difficult reality for me. I can and have been an instrument in the Lord's hand to command a friend of mine through the instrumentality and power of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood to be made whole and free from cancer as the Spirit dictated. I have prophesied in the name of Jesus Christ. I can and have cast out devils in the name of Jesus Christ - which brings me to my point on the principle of a testimony. After a while, the reality of what is read about in scripture begins to become a reality in the life of those who have exercised faith from point to point until they begin to do the works that Jesus did. It then moves from faith to a working knowledge - and now my story which started this whole topic and ties it all together.

I was reading earlier tonight how Martin Harris could not witness the plates until he had repented of something that the Lord was not pleased with. After having secured forgiveness, he was able to then move forward with his righteous desire.

How do I know that is a true experience - and why do I ferociously rebuff my colleagues who attempt to paint that kind of stuff as the vain imaginations of a deluded mind? Because I have experienced it - or an identical experience that drove the exact principle home - which causes that experience by Martin Harris to resonate with me. I have never (to my knowledge) seen an angel - yet I know that Martin Harris did - because I experienced the same principle/event in my own life. I have the same kind of assurance that Martin Harris did as I do that the sun exists as I walk down the sidewalk on a glorious spring day and feel the sun radiating on my face and know its there.

While on my mission, I had the privilege of casting an evil spirit out of a woman of about 30 years of age. While engaged in that endeavor (there were six Elders there who each were given a shot at doing it as we could not clear the house of the influence due to pornography, alcohol and some other stuff). One Elder (a "Utah Mormon" who the previous week had confessed to me had binged alcohol and who knows what else at a party before embarking to Brazil in an unrepentant state), could not cast the evil spirit out of the woman due to that hanging over him. I had the privilege of commanding that evil entity to depart a second time. And it responded to the righteous and authorized command just as a car lurches forward as you press the accelerator. Simple faith - simple cause and effect. Moving from desire and hope to belief to plain and simple action then to sure knowledge.
The point being, you begin to have these experiences and you then read scripture or other non-canonical stories and begin to realize that your life begins to imitate art so to speak. Your life begins to become what you are reading. That is when you can begin to do great things and the Lord can no longer hold back the veil. This is not said in boasting - this is said pragmatically and factually and it follows a distinct pattern set forth in scripture.

So that is my testimony. Live your life with the desire to have those experiences and do not give ear to the faithless (in and out of the Church) who pervade your existence who say that those things were from a different time and for a different people, or who say, "it is different now". Those are the lies of the adversary who hates all that is good and right and virtuous.

Press forward until you have a sure knowledge from whatever point it is that you reside at right now and you will have fantastic experiences. One day you will meet your Savior - possibly while in the flesh if you live for it. I promise you that in the holy name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

STATISTICAL PROOF THAT GOD EXISTS

This blog topic has been a long time in coming. I have said that I have this "proof" over and over (to my 'intellectual' friends, mostly) and now I will give my highly personal take on how I have this proof.

This will take a long time to get all down so you will have to check back over time....

"THEY WILL THIRST FOR THE BLOOD OF EVERY MAN...."

I had to work all weekend. Saturday night was spent on a lonely engineering watch with a Jewish friend and we engaged in some great conversation where we shared doctrines of our respective faiths. All of his doctrines are 100% compatible with mine - and shared some mind enlarging feelings on the nature of our spirits and the nature of God and the heavens. We have a fantastic relationship where we just share things as God intended - no contention.
I then had to work on the Sabbath (today) where another co-worker came up (a nice guy - but who has the very appearance/demeanor of what I always have thought the devil himself would look like; dashing good looks with dark hair and the required goatee, a great orator, conceited, self-assured to a fault, with little or no humility, and dark and cold penetrating eyes) and proceeded to hack away at organized religion and proceeded to erroneously tell me what my beliefs are. His name is Daemon and during the course of the conversation, I have to admit, I got things wrong with the pronunciation of his name and 'accidentally' dropped the a (my wife censured me for having done it). Things got a little tense when he began an assault on the Prophet and on the nature of the Holy Ghost. I clearly warned him to watch his words as they were being recorded and he would be "weighed in the balance" over them. Mostly, I have great forebearance with these types of folks and know that mostly, they operate out of ignorance and the wicked traditions of their fathers. It was the same genre of spirit that put our Lord and the Prophet to death because of the inability of the recipients to handle the truth. It is my burden to attract these types and, hopefully with the Spirit, set them on a course to doctrinal correctness. I fear they will have to suffer many things before they are humble enough to even begin to have ears to hear sound principle.

The last one I dealt with (several years ago at work) was literally gnashing his teeth in my face and I warned him against what he was doing - that after a bruising railing against my "stupidity" and "naivety" for believing in God, I was compelled to tell him that 'he would rue the day' (he had been so crass against his maker) and that "in his extremity, he would feel after his Maker". I had no idea, and in such a short order, how prophetic those words would be. He, at that time, was making plans to retire a few short months later. After our very heated conversation (where I thought one of us might get escorted to the door due to the tenor and intensity of the exchange), a few days later, he developed a throat condition where for three or four weeks all he could do was croak. I no longer had to endure his withering anti-God rhetoric that had been building in intensity. He seemed to get a little better but never quite shook that condition until he went to the doctor the day before his retirement. When he got the results back, it was systemic cancer. In his extremity over the next few months, he came to know his Maker. It was sad to hear the progress over the months as he tried in vain to fight it and finally succombed. I e-mailed him at times (near the end) admonishing him to invite the Elders into his house to bless him to live (and maybe to have the teachings of heaven distill on his earthly mind to better prepare him for crossing over) but I think that work will have to continue on the other side when he is ready.

So, I dedicate this post to Gene who might have better spent his time asking thoughtful questions (to someone who has no fear of letting it all hang out) in preparation to meeting his Maker, the Father of us all. Time is short - I can feel it. Now is the time to prepare to meet God. May we all have grace and divine direction to that end is my prayer in Jesus' name, Amen.

Something from one of my favorite authors on seeking after truth and taking some damage over it, by those who cannot endure sound doctrine due to their wicked and adulterous natures:

Persecution and hatred by those who love not the truth are a legacy bequeathed by the Saviour to all His followers; for He said they should be hated of all men for His name's sake. (JD 7:42)



At the time of the restoration of the Gospel, the Prophet Joseph Smith said:



It seems as though the adversary was aware, at a very early period of my life, that I was destined to prove a disturber and an annoyer of his kingdom; else why should the power of darkness combine against me? Why the opposition and persecution that arose against me, almost in my infancy?

Some few days after I had this vision, I happened to be in company with one of the Methodist preachers, who was very active in the before mentioned religious excitement; and, conversing with him on the subject of religion, I took occasion to give him an account of the vision which I had had. I was greatly surprised at his behavior; he treated my communication not only lightly, but with great contempt, saying it was all of the devil, that there were no such things as visions or revelations in these days; that all such things had ceased with the apostles, and that there would never be any more of them.

I soon found, however, that my telling the story had excited a great deal of prejudice against me among professors of religions, and was the cause of great persecution, which continued to increase; and though I was an obscure boy, only between fourteen and fifteen years of age, and my circumstances in life such as to make a boy of no consequence in the world, yet men of high standing would take notice sufficient to excite the public mind against me, and create a bitter persecution; and this was common among all the sects@all united to persecute me. (P. of G. P., Joseph Smith 2:20-22)



True Gospel principles have always brought trouble to prophets, patriarchs and apostles. People didn't have room for [28] new truth. They were content with a few pebbles of information, rather than accept new outcroppings and boulders of greater knowledge.



But even more than just opposing new knowledge, many people are led by an evil influence to actually fight against new knowledge from God. Brigham Young noted this battle between good and evil:



Wicked men, Satan, and all the powers of hell and hate are at war with every holy principle that God wishes to place in the possession of his children. (JD 8:13)



It is clear that the devil is opposed to the principles and doctrines of the Gospel more than the Church itself. The Prophet Joseph exclaimed:



This generation is as corrupt as the generation of the Jews that crucified Christ; and if He were here today, and should preach the same doctrine He did then, they would put Him to death. (TPJS, p. 328)



And on another occasion he said:



"It is thought by some that our enemies would be satisfied with my destruction; but I tell you that as soon as they have shed my blood, they will thirst for the blood of every man in whose heart dwells a single spark of the spirit of the fullness of the Gospel. The opposition of these men is moved by the spirit of the adversary of all righteousness. It is not only to destroy men, but every man and woman who dares believe the doctrines that God hath inspired me to teach in this generation." Such were the words of the Prophet Joseph Smith to the Nauvoo Legion on the 18th of June 1844. ("Rise and Fall of Nauvoo," B. H. Roberts, Contributor VIII:12, Oct. 1887, p. 441)



[29] A true Christian, or a true Mormon, will often arouse some enmity because his strong beliefs in doctrine and principles are not in conformity with the rest of society. Jesus knew this and made the following promise:



If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; . . . (John 15:18-20)



King Solomon seemed to understand the nature of the opposition by saying, "The wicked watcheth the righteous and seeketh to slay him." (Ps 37:32)



Since the devil is opposed to truth, he causes trouble, false rumors, suspicion and eventually persecution to come upon the true followers of Christ. The Prophet Joseph observed this:



The enemies of this people will never get weary of their persecution against the Church, until they are overcome. I expect they will array everything against me that is in their power to control, and that we shall have a long and tremendous warfare. He that will war the true Christian warfare against the corruptions of these last days will have wicked men and angels of devils, and all the infernal powers of darkness continually arrayed against him. When wicked and corrupt men oppose, it is a criterion to judge if a man is warring the Christian warfare. (DHC 5:140)



Brigham Young noted:



As the kingdom of God increased upon the earth, so would the power of the enemy increase in like manner, to keep pace with it. (JD 2:249)



[30] It may be observed today that most of those who are rejected by society, cast out of their honorable positions, and considered evil, probably have some truth with them. Either they are very evil or they are defending true principles.



Consider the following comparison: If Billy Graham were really teaching the Gospel as Jesus taught it, he would be mobbed and driven-just as the disciples of Jesus were. If Joseph Smith taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as the scriptures declare, then he would be persecuted and mobbed-and he was. They both claimed to be followers of Christ, yet only one received much persecution. This opposition from the world is not for belief and reading the Bible, but because of the difference in the doctrines they taught. It is important, then, to be well informed on the doctrines of the Church, more so than the history of the Church.