A LACK OF EXPERIENCES COME FROM A LACK OF FAITH FIRST

Folks, if we read Isaiah correctly, then the fix is in.  We lack spiritual experiences (as individuals, and as a group of people), because we lack the faith (which I define as the expectation that, if someone else can do something and the playing field is equal [flat - and the ball does not roll more in one direction than in another], then I have just as much chance as someone else at scoring in that game).

Well, I happen to believe that I have the same Priesthood power and the same right to gifts that all the ancients had.  They just believed - and did not fall into the trap of complacency and gross unrepented sin and error.  So, in short; if they can and DID do it, then I can and WILL do it, as well.

It is simple as that.  And this is most of the reason we have family history and we have scriptures.  In them, we have examples of how to "git r dun" on a spiritual level.  All we have to do is believe that we have the same heritage (access to the same blessings of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph) - and take it from there.

I had dinner with a fellow and his family who are from Cardston.  He left his native homeland in Africa after finding the truth there and serving a mission in England - which finally led him to Cardston; and leaving him a little perplexed as to why he is in that place.  I encouraged him to catch the vision of his journey half way around the world.  He is the first one in his family to embrace the Gospel - a pioneer of sorts.  In that role, entire generations forwards and backwards (roots and branches) will rise up and call him blessed and he will be known in the eternities as "the one" whose mission it was to bring the truth to tens of thousands - and more.

He has also read Visions of Glory (after moving to Cardston), and has faith in that experience.  He is also a man of dreams.  He has experiences because he first believed.

I have run into others who claim there is no God - and they have NO experiences to back up their lack belief in God.  And so it goes - that proverbial cart before the horse (all backwards, once again):

12 For if there be no faith among the children of men God can do no miracle among them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.

13 Behold, it was the faith of Alma and Amulek that caused the prison to tumble to the earth.

14 Behold, it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi that wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost.

15 Behold, it was the faith of Ammon and his brethren which wrought so great a miracle among the Lamanites.

16 Yea, and even all they who wrought miracles wrought them by faith, even those who were before Christ and also those who were after.

17 And it was by faith that the three disciples obtained a promise that they should not taste of death; and they obtained not the promise until after their faith.

18 And neither at any time hath any wrought miracles until after their faith; wherefore they first believed in the Son of God.

19 And there were many whose faith was so exceedingly strong, even before Christ came, who could not be kept from within the veil, but truly saw with their eyes the things which they had beheld with an eye of faith, and they were glad.

20 And behold, we have seen in this record that one of these was the brother of Jared; for so great was his faith in God, that when God put forth his finger he could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of his word which he had spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith.

21 And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith, the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore he showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept without the veil.

22 And it is by faith that my fathers have obtained the promise that these things should come unto their brethren through the Gentiles; therefore the Lord hath commanded me, yea, even Jesus Christ.

23 And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;

24 And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.

25 Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words.

26 And when I had said this, the Lord spake unto me, saying: Fools mock, but they shall mourn; and my grace is sufficient for the meek, that they shall take no advantage of your weakness;

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

28 Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.

29 And I, Moroni, having heard these words, was comforted, and said: O Lord, thy righteous will be done, for I know that thou workest unto the children of men according to their faith;

 

So, you have to put yourself out there - and then the good stuff happens.  It will not come to the spiritually blind, nor the lazy, nor the complacent (all is well in Zion crowd).

 

I shared my "Dallin story" with the taxi driver coming to work from the airport this morning.  He was surprised that I was an engineer and also a man of faith.  But we both agreed that, the more a person understands of science (how delicate the balance of nature is - we were talking about the proximity of the moon to the earth, the Van Allen belts, etc all which protect this earth and afford life a chance to prosper), the more we realize that there is a God at the helm.  I then bore my testimony of knowledge beyond a question of God's existence.

 

God lives and is intimately involved in our lives - if we have the eyes to see, and the ears to hear:

10 And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?

11 He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

12 For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

13 Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand.

14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:

15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.

17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.