A Candidate You Can Place Your Faith In

    

With the Presidential election coming up there is much debate going around as to which candidate is a better fit for office.  All candidates make great promises and ask that you place your trust and faith in them through your vote.  They use persuasion (or finger pointing) to explain why they would make a better leader than their opponent, and why you should be able to place your confidence in them. 

I want to present to you a candidate in whom you can a place your full trust and faith in. A leader who does not make false claims in order to win your confidence in him, but instead possesses the full capacity to accomplish what he says he will accomplish.  A savior who can deliver you from the coming tribulations.   I want to explain WHY you can trust fully in this Leader without any doubt.

This candidate's name is Jesus Christ.  He is God. He is not running for the highest position in politics, He is running for the highest position in your heart.  He seeks to be your Lord, King, Savior, and Redeemer.  He wants to be your best friend, your closest love, and your personal guide to your loving Heavenly Father.   He desires an intimate, loving, two-way relationship with you.  He asks that you believe and have faith in Him.  What he needs from you is a broken heart and a contrite spirit, which will ultimately require the sacrifice of ALL things.  The sacrifice of all things may sound scary at first, but it is not as bad as it seems.  Because in exchange you will gain the greatest gift of all:  an actual knowledge of Jesus Christ, whom to know is eternal life. (John 17:3)  All thing which you formally would have considered valuable you will then consider waste if it did not bring you closer to God.  You be able to proclaim like Paul:

“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.”
(Philippians 3:7–8)

 So why is Jesus Christ the chosen Redeemer of mankind? Why should you be able to have the confidence to be able to place everything you hold dear on the altar of sacrifice to the Lord? Why can you fully give Him your heart, turning your will to Him, and trusting wholly upon His merits?

1.    Because He is the Almighty God over all, from everlasting to everlasting, the creator and upholder of all things. 

There is nothing that can overcome and defeat the power of the Lord Jesus Christ - No military force, foreign nation, or even the USA government.  When you have perfect faith in Him, you can:

“…break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course; To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world.”     (JST, Genesis 14:30–31)

It was the Lord who directed the stone that knocked unconscious the giant Goliath. (1st Sam 27)  It was the Lord who caused the walls of Jericho fall to the earth. (Joshua 6) It was that same Lord who carried the Jadeites in barges across the ocean to the promise land(Ether6), and that same Lord who delivered Laban into the hands Nephi. (1st Ne 4)

There is nothing in the world you need to fear when you are on the Lord’s side.  There is not a single trial, no task, relationship issue, insecurity, demon, or sin too great for Him to overcome if you will but have faith in Him. When He said: "I am more intelligent than them all" (Abr. 3:19); when He said He was "the greatest of all" (D&C 19:18); there wasn't one whit of arrogance in His statements. What He was saying is: "Please have confidence in me. Please trust what I say to be true. Please recognize that I paid a price in order to be able to minister."

2.    Because He is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abundant in goodness. (Psalm 103:6-8,17-18,Alma 9:26) 

 He is quick to forgive sin.  One of the first things He does when man enters His presence is to forgive all sins. He cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance, but He has the capacity to forgive sin. Therefore although your sins may be as scarlet, He can, He will and He does, make you white as snow, no longer accountable for your limitations. Therefore, you need not fear, but you can approach boldly. 

This is important to know because such is the weakness of human nature, and so great the frailties and imperfection of men, that unless they believed that God was merciful, forgiving, patient, and abundant in goodness, they would be in constant doubt because of their weakness and liability to sin, and therefore could not exercise faith in Him.  It is important to understand that Lord does forgive iniquity, sin, and transgression because He yearns for us to be in His presence.  He is not the distant, overbearing, fear-based, and cruel God many religions make him out to be. 

3.    Because He is no respector of persons, but in every nation that fears God and works righteousness is accepted of Him.  (Acts 10:34-35) 

During the mortal ministry of Christ, He spent much of His time among the outcast and lows of society. He dined with sinners and publicans (Luke 5:30).  He sat and conversed with a woman who lived a life of fornication. (John 4:1-26) The first person the resurrected Lord appeared to was Mary, a woman.  (John 20:11-18)  The people He ministered to and who accepted Him were not the high-ranking religious authorities of the time, but quite the opposite.  If He were here today He would be spending time ministering to drug addicts, porn stars, and the social outcast- those who are awkward, broken, and who could never quite fit mold of society. 

You do not need to be the president the church to commune directly with God or to speak with him face to face.  God does not care about your rank in society, degree, what leadership position you hold in a church, what family heritage you come from, how much money you make, or the sexual orientation of your parents.  He gives no respect to those things.  What is important to Him is your broken heart and contrite spirit. (3rd Ne9:20, 2nd Ne 2:4)

 Just because you may be a male with a priesthood calling that does not give you any exclusive rights to the miracles, powers of heaven, and communion with God.   That is controlled only upon principals of righteousness and faith which women have equal access to.  We can see from the scriptures that women had access to heaven and that here were many prophetesses. (Luke 2:36, Exo 15:20, Jdg 4:4, 2Kings 22:14,)  All men and women in every nation have an equal privilege and equal authority to have a relationship with Christ. He invites ALL to come unto Him.

”...and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.”    (2 Nephi 26:33)
“And now, he imparteth his word by angels unto men, yea, not only men but women also. Now this is not all; little children do have words given unto them many times, which confound the wise and the learned.”    (Alma 32:23)

4.    Because He is a God of truth and cannot lie. (Ether 3:12) 

We all know politicians will lie through their teeth, making empty promises, to gain your vote and trust.  Our Lord does not need to lie to gain our confidence in Him.  He 100 percent truthful to His word.  In fact, he says:

“I, the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” (Doctrine and Covenants 82:10)

God is literally bound when He makes a promise to you if you keep His commandments, and when He gives you commandant He prepares a way for you to accomplish the thing which He has commanded you to accomplish. 

“And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.”(1 Nephi 3:6–7)

That is a God I can trust!

5.    Because He changes not, neither is there variableness with him; but that he is the same from everlasting to everlasting, being the same yesterday today and forever; and that his course is one eternal round, without variation.  (Malachi 3:6, D&C 3:2, 35:1)

"For do we not read that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in him there is no variableness neither shadow of changing? And now, if ye have imagined up unto yourselves a god who doth vary, and in whom there is shadow of changing, then have ye imagined up unto yourselves a god who is not a God of miracles."(Mormon 9:9–10)

 The Lord doesn’t just change his mind whenever He feels like.  His character, attributes, and perfections are always the same.  In the experiment or test of whether we will be exalted, He is the unchanging constant while we are the changing variable that will dictate the outcome of our salvation.  It is comforting to know this, because if He could change we would be in constant doubt that the doctrine taught today could become the deadly heresies of tomorrow.   The character of the God in whom I place my trust in is forever unchanging.   He doesn’t contradict himself nor does He change His mind about doctrine to bend to what is popular in society or what might put a tax-exempt church in trouble with the law.  I can have faith in Him because He is constant, making Him a reliable God. 

6.     Because He is love. (1st John 4:16) 

It is difficult to convey in words just how vast and eternal the love of God is, it is something you have to experience to comprehend, but He truly is the God of love.  His love is pure, perfect, and eternal.  Christ was our first love from the beginning (Rev 2:4) We love Him, because He first loved us (1st John 4:19)  God so love the world that he gave He sent His only begotten Son to save it.  (John 3:16) It was charity, or the pure love of Christ, which sustained our suffering Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane while He took upon Himself the sins of all mankind.   He suffered for each of us so that we might not suffer if we would repent.  (D&C 19:15-16) The Lord likens His relationship with us to a marriage (Matt 22: 1-14, 25:1-13). He is the bridegroom and because we take upon ourselves His name, (Moroni 4:3) we are His bride.  Although we may fail in that relationship constantly, He is the good husbandman and remains faithful in His love for us.  All he wants in return is our heart; to love Him.

God is Love, you can trust that He has your best interest in mind.  He is all-knowing and therefore possess the foresight to know what is best for you.  Your eternal life, your happiness and joy, is His work and glory.  (Moses 1:39) He is preparing a place for you in His Father’s house. (John14:2) Any trials and tribulation He has placed in your path will be for your benefit and learning.  Those adversities and afflictions will be but for a small moment, and if you endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high.  (D&C 121:7-8)   Your sacrifice to Him will not be in vain.  Although you will struggle and fail Him at times, the Lord will never condemn you, but rather you will condemn yourself for not accepting His love. (Mormon 9:3-6) Jesus Christ fights for you.  He loves you eternally.  That is a God in whom I can place my faith in.

Once you have an idea of God’s character, that He is all-powerful, merciful and good, no respector of persons, truthful and honest, unchanging and constant, and Love, it becomes much easier to trust in Him.   Placing everything on the altar of sacrifice for Him, or in other words giving your entire life and all you hold dear into His hands, is not as daunting and complicated of a task as it seems.  It actually becomes quite plain and simple.  When you trust wholly upon the merits of Him who is mighty to save, the path to eternal life becomes a very narrow and strait one with Christ as your constant guide.  (2^nd Ne 31:19-20) There is nothing more valuable in this world than having that personal intimate relationship with the Lord, no sacrifice too great for the knowledge and fullness of the glory of God.  Jesus Christ is worth it all! So what do you have against submitting your will to Him, is it really more valuable than the Love of God? Choose ye this day whom ye shall serve.  Elect to have Jesus Christ as your Lord, make him your King, and allow Him to be your Savior and Redeemer.    

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I know that if ye shall follow the Son, with full purpose of heart, acting no hypocrisy and no deception before God, but with real intent, repenting of your sins, witnessing unto the Father that ye are willing to take upon you the name of Christ, by baptism—yea, by following your Lord and your Savior down into the water, according to his word, behold, then shall ye receive the Holy Ghost; yea, then cometh the baptism of fire and of the Holy Ghost; and then can ye speak with the tongue of angels, and shout praises unto the Holy One of Israel.”
(2 Nephi 31:13)

The Most Influential Book in My Life: "The Lectures on Faith" by Joseph Smith Jr.

My birthday was this weekend.  I remember 2 years ago celebrating my 20^th birthday in the Philippines.  At the time I was a serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the Philippines Baguio Mission assigned to the Buwang, LaUnion Branch.  I remember one evening in October while returning to our apartment we were walking on the main road passing the municipality market.  I gazed into the night sky to witness a total lunar eclipse.  The moon appeared to have turned red and spectators were gathered in the street, staring into the night sky.  This was the second “blood” moon in a series of four consecutive lunar eclipses over the course of 18 months.  A talk was given that following Sunday in church from a young man, preparing for a mission, about signs being made manifest in the heavens.  I gave very little thought to the subject and shrugged it off as “dooms-day” hocus-pocus nonsense.  However, whether or not there is scriptural significance to these cosmic events, it was during this season of the Tetrad in which the Lord did begin to pour out His spirit upon me.

Just less than 6 months prior to this event in late April of 2014 I was involved in a bike wreck which knocked me out.  Although my helmet had a couple of scratches, my face took most of the impact.  I had gnarly road rash and an injured wrist which prohibited me from working out and resulted in muscle loss.  This knocked my prior oversized ego down, and over time it allowed me to focus on things more important than my good looks and muscular physique.  This accident was a tender mercy from the Lord. 

It wasn’t until the time of my 20^th birthday when I began to have a desire to know more about my Savior Jesus Christ.  I guess you could say this is when I first began to “awaken” to the truth and reality of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I had grown up in the LDS church and have gone through the motions my whole life of living church standards.  I did all the outward things a good Mormon-boy was expected to do, but I never really knew much about Jesus Christ.  Although God revealed the truth of the Book of Mormon to me at a young age, I had never taken that testimony of the book in a serious pursuit to truly comprehend God’s character, perfection, and attributes.  My teenage years had made me slothful and careless in the things that mattered most.   Religion to me was more traditional and about living a certain lifestyle than actually having a relationship with Christ.  At that point as a missionary I knew a lot about “the Church”, but very little about Jesus Christ.   Although I had heard stories about Jesus, I wanted to know for myself who is this God we claim to worship and whose name is on all our churches.  What did he do?  How did He do the things He did? What is He like?

So I began to study the Gospels in the New Testament to learn more about Him from what was recorded of His mortal ministry in Jerusalem.  The more I learned about Him from my study, the more I wanted to know Him.  Not just know about Him, but to actually know Him for myself.  I wanted a personal intimate relationship with my Lord Jesus Christ.

I began to actually earnestly pray to God in private.  At night after my companion had fallen asleep I would go out to the roof or the lot behind our apartment where I could be alone to pour my heart out to God vocally without worrying about other’s listening.  There was no set from or recitation or guide to my prayers.  I would speak to Him as if He was right in front of me.  It was just God and I, and I cried from the heart. 

Our Lord is not an aloof God, He is very personal and invested in each one of our lives.  He answers our sincere prayers.   In January of 2015 I decided to trust wholly upon the merits of Him who is mighty to save.  I made a conscience decision that I would no longer trust any man, including my family, or the church organization and its leaders.  I came to the conclusion to rely solely upon God and God alone for truth, and that I would not rely on any other person for my relationship with Jesus Christ.  My loyalty would be first and foremost to the Lord before anything else.   I began to fast and pray more diligently for light and truth and direction from the Lord.  Because I was seeking, during this time the Spirit of the Lord began to expound the scriptures unto me.  The Lord taught me through the word of God.  Passages of scriptures which I had read before and thought I understood were opened up unto me with clarity and a completely new perspective.  It was as if there was a conduit from heaven coming down into the scriptures and flowing into me.  It was overwhelming and delicious, but sometimes the things I learned scared me; shaking me to the very marrow of my bones because it revealed my wicked and awful state before God.  However, the things the Lord taught me by the power of the Holy Ghost through the scriptures has always been edifying, logical, pure intelligence, and full of light and truth.

The first scripture the Lord opened up unto me was the account of the Brother of Jared in the Book of Ether. From the Brother of Jared’s personal encounter with the Lord, I learned what it meant to be redeemed from the fall: It is to receive the “Second Comforter”. (John14:15-21, D&C130:3) To be in the literal presence of Jesus Christ and speak with Him face to face. 

“And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.”  (Ether 3:13)

This is what Moses sought diligently for the Children of Israel to receive.  (Exodus 19:7-11,20:18-21, D&C84:23-27)

This is what it means to have the actual Melchezidek priesthood.  (JST Genesis 14:25-32)

This is what it means to come unto Christ.  (3^rd Nephi 18:25, 15:24)

This is the “end” of the “enduring to the end” of the Doctrine of Christ. (2^nd Nephi 32:6)

Coming into the presence of Jesus Christ is a commandment.  In Chapter 4 of the Book of the Ether the Lord commands both the Jew and Gentile to come unto Him. 

“And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are. And he that will contend against the word of the Lord, let him be accursed; and he that shall deny these things, let him be accursed; for unto them will I show no greater things, saith Jesus Christ; for I am he who speaketh.”

(Ether 4:7–8)

“Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief.

Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief.

Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.”

(Ether 4:13–15)

It is unbelief that keeps us from the presence of Jesus Christ, it is unbelief that keeps the heavens close.  (Moroni 7:37) It is by faith that miracles are wrought.  It is our faith which allows us to behold the face of Jesus Christ.  So the question I had after being taught this is: How does one have faith even as the Brother of Jared?

I took this concern to the Lord and He taught me what faith truly is and how I am to have faith even as the Brother of Jared did.  Our Lord is not an aloof God.  He answers prayers and He taught me what faith really is.   By the grace of God I was able to obtain a copy of a book about a week or two later which has forever changed my life: The Lectures on Faith. 

The Lectures on Faith is a series of lectures written and prepared by Joseph Smith which contains the LEADING ITEMS of the religion which He professed to believe.   It teaches us how we are to have faith, even like the Brother of Jared did, to come to know God.   In the preface to Lectures on Faith in the 1835 edition Joseph wrote: 

“We deem it to be unnecessary to entertain you with lengthy preface to the following volume, but merely to say that it contains in short the leading items of the religion which we have professed to believe. The first part of the book will be found to contain a series of lectures as delivered before a theological class in this place. And in consequence of their embracing the important doctrines of salvation, we have arranged them into the following work. We do not present this little volume with any other expectation than that. We are to be called the answer to every principle advanced.”

He defended every principle advanced in Lectures on Faith. Before publishing it as scripture, it was presented to a council of the church to be sustained as scripture.

“On 17 August 1835, a general assembly of the church met for the purpose of examining a book of Commandments and Covenants that had been compiled and written by the publications committee.” [Joseph Smith headed the publications committee.] “This committee having finished the said book according to the instructions given them, it was deemed necessary to call the General Assembly of the Church to see if the book be approved or not by the authorities of the Church. That it may, if approved, become a law of the church, and a rule of faith and practice of the same.” (JS Papers, Revelations and translations, Vol 2, beginning on page 311)

In the JS Papers, Revelations and Translations, Vol. 2, beginning on page 565 and running through page 567 you can read the account of how the Lectures on Faith was canonized on August 17, 1835 as the Doctrine and Covenants was approved by the church as scripture.

After all the quorums of the church had accepted the Doctrine and Covenants, the first 70 some pages of which were Lectures on Faith, the general assembly voted.  Everyone present voted, including women and children. They all sustained this as the “Doctrine” of the church. When that step was taken it became a law of the church, and a rule of faith and practice to be followed thereafter.

The print of the 1835 Doctrine and Covenants physically emphasizes the priority of the Lectures over the revelations. Lectures is identified as “Theology” and is printed in the first 74 pages in larger, apparently 12 pitch type. The revelations begin on page 75 under the title “Part Second” and are in smaller, 9 or 10-pitch type. Visual inspection of the document in the photostatic reproduction available through the Joseph Smith Papers shows the apparent priority of the Lectures over the revelations.

The Lectures on Faith is Joseph Smith’s commentary on the Doctrine of Christ and that religion which was restored to the earth through him.  It is of great importance. Our salvation is dependent upon abiding by the principles laid out in that book.  It is scripture.  Joseph Smith vouched for it and the church sustained it to be part of the standard works.  So why is not in the current LDS edition of the Doctrine and Covenants?

It was removed from the scriptures in 1921 by a committee of 6 church leaders who thought they knew better concerning the character, perfections, and attributes of God than the only president of LDS church to have actually proclaimed to have stood in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ.

Joseph Smith called the Lectures “doctrine”—important doctrine. “Leading items of the religion.” He declared he would answer to every principle advanced in their content.  It was sustained unanimously by the members of the church as a law of the church, and a rule of faith and practice of the same. 

When this committee of 6 men removed the Lectures on Faith from the scriptures they disregarded the rule of faith, the law of the church, and abandoned true doctrine.    They denied Joseph Smith’s testimony of the content and therefore have rejected him as a prophet. 

The Lectures on Faith has been the most influential book in my life because it taught me what faith is and how to obtain it.  When you have a correct knowledge of what faith is and the object upon which it rests, you can then properly exercise faith and enjoy the effect which flow from it.  In February 2015 I came to the conclusion that I needed to do the will of the Lord before anything else.  I did as Joseph Smith counsels in the 6^th Lecture on Faith.  I went to the Lord and submitted myself fully to Him.  I didn’t have much to offer, but I placed everything I had, including the one thing which was most dear and close to my heart at the time, on the altar of sacrifice to the Lord.  I gave it all to the Lord placing it all in His hands and told Him “not my will, but thine, be done”.  The Lord accepted my sacrifice and took what was necessary to align my life with His will.  Over the course of the next few weeks the Lord orchestrated several events that needed to take place before the conclusion of my mission.  After I fulfilled what the Lord needed me to do, He called me home by His voice.  He made it known unto me that my service as an LDS missionary was complete and that I accomplished what He needed me to accomplish in the Philippines, at that time, in the 16 months I served. The Lord had a different work for me and I was needed elsewhere.  Because I had chosen to fully submit myself to the Lord, my service to Him has not been limited to a full-time proselyting church-mission.  Although I am still unworthy do be in His Holy presence and do stumble often, and am at His constant mercy, my entire life belongs to God.

Because I had placed everything I held dear to me on the altar of sacrifice, submitting myself to Jesus Christ giving it all to the Lord, counting all things but filth and dross for the excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Lord was able to alter the course of my life to one which is in a greater accordance with the will of God.  The path that God has place me on has brought me far-far away from the LDS Church Inc., but it has brought me ever closer to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The Lectures on Faith has been long forgotten by the mainstream Mormon community, but it is not completely lost.  I am so grateful to have found that book.  It is the most influential book I have ever read and it has forever changed the course of my life.  It is because of the teachings in the Lectures on Faith I was able to receive the voice of the Lord and have been blessed to witness His miraculous hand in abundance in my life.  I cannot go into detail here about what the Lectures contain, but let be sufficient for me to say it contains in short the leading items of the religion which I profess to believe.  I testify it is scripture.  If you want to understand the actual religion (not the legally recognized church organization that came as a result) that was restored through Joseph Smith, then go read the Lectures on Faith.  If you desire to have that personal intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, then study and apply those Lectures in your own life so that you can have faith, even as the Brother of Jared did, sufficient unto life and salvation to be redeemed from the fall and to know the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Here is a free PDF file of The Lectures on Faith

Charity: The Purpose of Life

Life is short.  In comparison to an infinite universe, our existence here in this world is infinitely minute. (Although infinitely minute, our eternal life is the work and glory of God and therefore our potential is infinite) We have a minuscule finite amount of time to fulfill our purpose here, but what is our purpose here, why were we created, and what for? In the pre-existence, before we came here, two plans were presented.  One guaranteed that not one soul would be lost but in exchange, we would lose our agency.  The other plan presented did not guarantee eternal life but it protected the freedom of our agency. (Moses 4:1-3) The second plan was chosen, but why?  Why did God the Father choose a plan with such a high risk of failure and low probability of His children returning to Him?  If He loved us so much why did He not choose a plan in which all mankind would have an automatic guarantee of eternal life?  Why did he a choose a plan in which we would have to exercise agency to choose the right?  Why is the ability for us to choose so important to Him?

God is love. (1^st John 4:16, Lectures of Faith 3:24)   Not the cheap selfish-needy emotions of infatuation, romance, and attraction we synonymous equated to love, but actual love in its purest form. (see Moroni 7:45) All other attributes of God can be traced back to His love.  Charity, the pure love of Christ, is the greatest of all His character traits.  We come to this earth to progress and become like God; to become Love.  You can compel obedience to a law.  You can make others worship and live the way you do.  You can even force others to act charitable and give to the poor. (1^st Cor 13:3) But no matter how much you infringe upon someone’s agency; you cannot produce charity in them because that comes from their own heart.  That comes when one sacrifices, by their own free will, their heart to others.  Love is non-existent without free-will.  That is why God the Father chose the plan of Jesus Christ over Lucifer’s.  Because if we do not develop Godly love in this life, if we have not charity, we are nothing.

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, if ye have not charity, ye are nothing, for charity never faileth. Wherefore, cleave unto charity, which is the greatest of all, for all things must fail.  But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him.(Moroni 7:46–47)

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”(1 Corinthians 13:1–3)

It really doesn’t matter if you live a devote life to your church organization and go through every ritual and ceremony.  If that set of religious practices has not wrought a mighty change of heart and has caused you to live the pure religion which James describes as visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction (some examples of the fruits of Charity), your religion is vain. (James1:26-27) If you give all you have to the poor for any reason other than love, it profiteth you nothing. (1Cor13:3)    Even if you can prophesy and are well immersed in the scriptures and can by faith perform miracles, even if you die a martyr, it makes no difference if you have failed to keep the two great commandments which center around charity:

“ Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”(Matthew 22:37–40)

God created us to love. All the commandments gravitate around charity.  That is the whole purpose why we are here:  To become love.  Because when we become love, we become even as God is.  And when we are like God, we can actually bear his presence and not burn in His everlasting glory and fire. 

“God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”(1 John 4:16–17)

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.”(Moroni 7:48)

This week my uncle unexpectedly passed away.  It’s been a hard a week, but through these trials, we have had an outpouring of the Spirit and have been able to praise the Lord through this storm.  There can be beauty in death.  I have been blessed to witness powerful love and charity in my family. 

The first example of great love is my Grandma who just lost her oldest son.  I can’t think of any greater love on this earth that comes near to the love of God than the love a mother has for her child.  The word sacrifice in Hebrew is ‘korban’ which means to draw nearer to; to draw closer to.   The moment a woman is pregnant she is sacrificing her body for that child.  For the rest of her life, she sacrifices her time, her ambitions, her efforts for her child.  Something happens when you sacrifice for someone else, you naturally draw nearer to that person.  You cannot claim to truly love someone unless you have made sacrifices for that person.  Because our time here on earth is so limited, we actually have the ability to sacrifice because we have the risk to lose everything, and therefore possess the capability to truly love.  This is why Jesus Christ loves us so desperately.  He is so very near to us because of what he Had to sacrifice for us.  Likewise, a mother is the closest person on earth to her children because of what she has sacrificed for them.  No one except Jesus Christ loves you then that your own mother, because no one except Jesus Christ has sacrificed as much as your mother.  My grandma has sacrificed so much for her children.  No one on earth loves my uncle Grant more than she.  Being able to witness her spiritual strength and her charity through these trials over these last few weeks has been a blessing and an eye-opener to me. 

The second example of Love I was blessed to witness is that of my uncle Grant.  We often don’t recognize all the great things someone has done until they have left this world.  Grant is a good man.  Because of distance, I wasn’t able to spend as much time with him as I would have liked, but I know he is a selfless man full of love and charity.   I spent a lot of time this week at the hospital and was able to see just how many lives Grant has touched.  There were too many visitors that He had to be moved to the largest room.  Although his time here was shortened, he made a change in the world for the better.  He loved those the Lord place in His path.  I was able to see the fruits of love in His life this week, and there were many good fruits.   I believe because of the charity he possessed, he attained to something that many people go their whole life and never find. 

“But charity is the pure love of Christ, and it endureth forever; and whoso is found possessed of it at the last day, it shall be well with him”(Moroni 7:47)

I will miss Tito Grant, but life is short.  In an infinite universe our existence here in this world is infinitely minute.  It won’t be too long until I join him I see him again with the rest of the family.  In fact, I wouldn’t be one bit surprised if he has big banquet party all planned out and decorated for us when we get there.  I love, you Tito Grant, you will always be in my heart, until we meet again…. 

Walking on Water

Recently, some have asked if they could have access to some of the letters that I shared a couple of years ago chronicling and encapsulating my family’s conversion to the Lord and subsequent departure from institutionalized religion.  This, along with a renewed desire to experience and testify of His grace, is why I am re-posting this and a few other letters.  Some of the writing has been edited to remove references to specific people, while still maintaining the integrity of the original message.  It is my hope and prayer that this may be of some help to others who may be struggling to put their own experiences and thoughts into words.  Please feel free to use and share as the Spirit guides...  -Rex Pettingill

11 March, 2017

Other letters in this series:

"The Gospel, According to Yoda" (10.22.2014 letter to family)

"Stumbling Over My Beard" (2014 un-delivered letter to Pres. XXXX regarding a Doctrine of Men)

"Walking on Water" (3.16.2015 first public "Coming-Out" letter to friends and family)
"Enjoying the Promised Feast" (5.11.2015 testimony letter to friends and family)
"Moroni's Weakness" (5.18.2015 letter to the Bishop)

"Names Upon the Altar" (5.19.2015 letter to the Bishop)

"Baptism, More or Less" (11.17.2015 post/email regarding the requirements for baptism)

"Got Wisdom?" (11.18.2015 post/email about the fruits of repentance and need for rebaptism).

16 March, 2015

Dearest Family and Friends,

For the other passengers and crew aboard the Good Ship, the vessel feels safe and secure; its heading seems true, its course undeviating, and she is piloted by a captain and crew in whom it seems all could place their complete confidence.  Certainly no other ship could weather the fierce storms and navigate the tumultuous waters of this world; in fact, many souls now aboard the Ship have been rescued from the flotsam of other ill-fated voyages attempted by less able ships and less competent crews. 

And so, the thought of abandoning this ship seems absolutely absurd. 

And yet there He is, just off the portside bow, standing impossibly on the surface of the dark sea; you can see Him if you are looking, out amid the thrashing of the waves; you can hear His voice if you listen, calling out across the howling of the wind.  He is there, and He beckons me to jump the railing of this unsinkable ship and walk across the swirling depths to join Him.

As I step out onto the water, the response from the other passengers aboard the Ship are varied.  Many respond with scorn and judgement, mocking at my foolish recklessness.  Some shed tears as they look on with sorrow and sympathy, not comprehending how and why someone would choose to leave the safety and security of the Ship.  Others rush to the railing and attempt to rescue me from certain drowning.  The captain and crew shout from the deck, warning others that they should stay clear of the railings, but that all is well aboard the Good Ship.  And yet there are a few who hesitate, because they, too, have seen Him out there on the sea, and have heard His voice calling to them.      

I have heard His call.  My wife and children have heard it, also.  It has grown louder and more urgent over the past few years.  It has pierced our hearts and minds, even as we have labored aboard the Ship – even as our son has toiled on deck as a full-fledged crew member.  Yet we have clung to the railing, resisting the assurances from Him that beckons to us, contemplating the ramifications of letting go. 

But today, we let go.    

No ship can weather the storm and bring us back to the only harbor that can truly offer us salvation.  No man or men can bring us there.  That harbor that saves is the presence of God, and only His Son can take us to it.  And so He beckons…

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

And His prophets have taught…

“I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.” (2 Nephi 4:34)

“Neither is man capable to make them known, for they are only to be seen and understood by the power of the Holy Spirit, which God bestows on those who love him, and purify themselves before him; to whom he grants this privilege of seeing and knowing for themselves; that through the power and manifestation of the Spirit, while in the flesh, they may be able to bear his presence in the world of glory.” (D&C 76:116)

Yet, in His mercy and infinite wisdom, He does not leave us to our own devices.  Even as we are called to walk on water, knowing that we will falter, He gives us each a life vest.  When we doubt or waiver in our faith and begin to sink into the depths, the Holy Ghost, the words of the Book of Mormon, and the teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith buoy us up.  And like a lantern and a compass and map, they light the way, pointing us back to Him that beckons. 

“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” (Helaman 5:12)

….

To those that inevitably will mock and scorn us for following the call of the Lord, we offer this reminder from the Prophet of the Restoration:

“We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may.” (Articles of Faith 11)

To those that feel to sorrow at our actions, we offer our gratitude and appreciation for your concern.  Know that we love Christ and follow Him.  Do not pity, rather be of good cheer.  Christ lives, and He has atoned for all of our sins!

To those that would seek to rescue us, we admire your devotion and diligence, your concern for God’s children.  No man, however pure his intentions, can or should come between the Savior and those who seek His redemption.  Know that we are closer now to the Savior than we have ever been.    

Finally, to those who have also heard His voice calling from the sea, who have felt unsettled despite the apparent infallibility of the Ship upon which you sail, we invite you to consider to ponder the words of Christ in 3 Nephi 11:31-40, and in D&C 93:1, and in Abraham 1:1-2, the words of another who desired also greater blessings of the Lord, and in 1 Nephi 25:25, the words of a prophet who stood in the Savior’s presence and desired the same blessing for us all.  The desire of our hearts is to be greater followers of Christ, to be greater followers of righteousness, to possess greater knowledge, to bear His presence.  We welcome your sincere questions and invite you to seek the Lord with us.    

We are grateful for the foundation of faith that so many of you have helped lay for us and our children.  We admire the many selfless sacrifices that we see so many of you make in the service of our Lord. 

We are so grateful for the honorable mission that our son has served, and for the message of our Savior that he has sought to bring to the people with and for whom he has labored these past fifteen months.  He has been diligent in all that the Lord has asked him, and we admire his courage.  He, too, has hearkened to the Lord’s call, and continues to do so at great personal cost.  We look forward to being reunited with him very soon. 

We testify of the divinity of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He lives, and desires all of His children to come to Him.  He has atoned for our sins, and as we turn to the Lord and repent of our ignorance and do His will, we will be saved as we come to know Him and His greater plan for us (3 Nephi 32:1-6).  We know that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet of God, and that he was chosen by the Lord to begin the restoration of His gospel and turn the hearts and minds of His children to God.  The Book of Mormon contains the word of God, and exhorts us, those who have accepted it as the word of God, to repent and turn again to Him.  That we all may do so is our sincere prayer and the deepest desire of our hearts.

With Love in Christ,

Rex & Melendie Pettingill and Family 

Without Compulsory Means

Although Jesus Christ was very direct and spoke in boldness against the iniquity and hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Scribes, He never once forced anyone to follow Him.  The commandment to follow Him was only ever by, and will forever only be by, invitation.  It is not in the Character of Christ to force people to convert to Him.  He will never force anyone to obey Him. He will never force anyone to love Him.  Jesus Christ is like this because although He loves each one of us eternally, He wants us to love Him in return.  Not only does He want us to have faith and trust in Him, He eventually, like Nephi in Helamen 10:4-5, wants to have faith and trust in each one of us.  His love is Godly and perfect and therefore He wants a loving, two-way, two-sided relationship with each of us.  You cannot have a pure loving relationship with someone if you force yourself upon them or seek to limit their freedom by control, abuse, or manipulation.  True love will only flourish and flow when agency and free-will are present and un-manipulated.  The person you are in love with must choose freely for themselves to love you in return for that relationship to be “real”.  Jesus is in love with you, but he wants a “real” relationship.  So instead of coming down in a cloud of thunder and demanding your respect, He simply waits for you to first choose to love Him. 

That is why the Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, fought against Lucifer in the pre-existence to protect the agency of man. (Moses 4:1-4) Because without agency, there can be no love; And by definition God is love.  (1^st John 4:16, Lectures on Faith 3:24) This is why Jesus Christ will never seek to take away or manipulate our agency.  This is why Christ stands at the door waiting for us to let Him in.  (Rev 3:20) This is why He will sometimes appear to us as a stranger, engaging in casual yet deep conversation. (See Luke 24) This is why He does not demand worship because of his appearance or status- He commands worship by His word, or what He says, or in other words by the context of His message and teachings. (see 3^rd Nephi 11:8-12)

Likewise, true followers and disciples of Jesus Christ will never force anyone to convert or believe the way they believe.  They will never exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men. (D&C121:37) They will only seek to persuade other to follow Christ, or “exercise” the priesthood, the way the Lord does which is only by:

“persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned; By kindness, and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul without hypocrisy, and without guile—Reproving betimes with sharpness, when moved upon by the Holy Ghost; and then showing forth afterwards an increase of love toward him whom thou hast reproved, lest he esteem thee to be his enemy”

(Doctrine and Covenants 121:41–43)

Love, or the power of God, can be likened unto a liquid.  I find it interesting that among the ordinances that Christ has given to mankind they all contain a liquid element.  Baptism uses water which can represent being washed and cleaned from sin.  Concentrated oil is used to anoint and bless; Christ’s oil anoints us to glory.   Wine is used in the sacrament as a representation of Christ’s blood, which blood sanctifies us.  (Moses6:60) These liquids signify holiness and spirituality.  Both are preeminent symbols of God’s love or power. 

Liquids cannot be grasped or held in your hands, for the tighter you squeeze your hand, the more and more liquid escapes from between your fingers.  The moment you try to control the liquid with force, you lose it! The same concept can be applied to the powers of heaven:

“The rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness. That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.”

(Doctrine and Covenants 121:36–37)

The only way to handle a liquid with your hands is with open and gently cupped hands. We cannot control God's love and power, all we can do is allow it to flow through us.   You cannot share the love of God or minster the gospel of Jesus Christ with clenched fist.  

Keeping the commandments as a personal matter does not involve you oppressing anyone else. If you are trying to impose a standard of conduct upon others you are not only going to fail, you are going to be violating the scriptures’ teachings as well. The Gospel is intended to be lived “without compulsory means.”

“The Holy Ghost shall be thy constant companion, and thy scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth; and thy dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto thee forever and ever.”

(Doctrine and Covenants 121:46)

THE VAIN IMAGINATIONS OF THE ZORAMITES

WHAT CHURCH DO YOU BELONG TO? 

Part 4

Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 

Being able to come home Sunday afternoon from church and talk to your kids about what they learned in primary is just the best! This kid had the darnest things about the Zoramites in Alma 31!  

Daughter: “Daddy, what’s a Rameumpton?”

Father: “Well Sweetie, in the Book of Mormon it says it was a place where the Zormamites stood to worship and pray.”

Daughter: “But my Primary teacher said it was a tower that evil people used”

Father: “ Well, I can see how someone would think that.  The Book of Mormon actually just says it was a place for standing which was high above the head and only one person at a time could go up there.”

Daughter: “Was it like a speaker’s stand in church?”

Father: “A speaker’s stand? You mean pulpit?... Yes, I suppose it was.  In fact the word ‘Rameumpton’ means ‘the holy stand’.

Daughter: “….Daddy, what’s so evil about a holy stand?”

Father: “Well Sweetie, it wasn’t the stand that was evil, it was how it was used.  The people gather there in the synagogue and whoev….”

Daughter: “What’s a synagogue?”

Father: “Its just a different word for chapel or church, Honey”

Daughter: “ohh”

Father: “They’d gather in their synagogue one day a week to..”

Daughter: “Which day, Daddy?”

Father: “I don’t know Sweetie.  It just says ‘one day’ and that they called the day ‘the day of the Lord’.”

Daughter: “Sunday!!!”

Father: “Why do you say that?”

Daughter: “Because Sunday is the Lord’s day!”

Father: “Well maybe it was…..Anyways they’d gather there and whoever wanted to worship would go and stand on the top of the Rameumpton.”

Daughter: “Could anyone go up there?”

Father: “Well no, that was part of the problem.  Apparently they had to wear nice clothing.”

Daughter: “You mean like us when we wear our Sunday clothes, Daddy?”

Father: "Well, not exactly but in a way yes, I suppose. Some of us might have a hard time accepting certain kinds of clothes or people in sacrament meeting. But we wear our Sunday clothes to help us be reverent, don't we?" 

Daughter: “Yes, Daddy.”

Father: “So anyways, where was I?”

Daughter: “They went to the top of the Rameumpton….”

Father: “Oh yes! They'd go up and worship God by thanking him for making them so special."

Daughter: “We’re they bearing their testimonies?"

Father: "Well, uh, I guess maybe they were in a way, but they weren't true testimonies."

Daughter: “How come?”

Father: “Because they were too proud”

Daughter: “What do you mean ‘proud’, Daddy?”

Father: "Well, they would talk about how they were 'a chosen and holy people.'”
Daughter: "My Primary teacher said Mormons are the chosen people and we're a special generation."

Father: “Yes, Honey, but that’s different.”

Daughter: “How?”

Father: “Because we are.”

Daughter: “Oh”

Father: "Besides, they were very, very proud about how much better they were than everyone else because they didn't believe the 'foolish traditions' of their neighbors." 

Daughter: “What does that mean, Daddy?”

Father: "It means that they believed everyone else was wrong and they alone were right."

Daughter: “Isn’t that what we believe?”

Father: “Yes, but it’s different.”

Daughter: “How?”

Father: “Because we are right, Honey.”

Daughter: “Oh”

Father: “So then everyone would stand at the Rameumpton and say the same thing…”

Daughter: "That sounds like testimony meeting to me." 

Father: “Don’t be so irreverent!”

Daughter: “Sorry”

Father: "Then after it was all over they would go home and never speak about God until the next day of the Lord when they'd gather at the holy stand again." 

Daughter: “Isn’t that like us, Daddy?”

Father: “No Honey, we have Family Home Evening!”

Daughter: “Oh”

There are only ever two churches that exist on this Earth. 

  

“Behold there are save two churches only; the one is the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil; wherefore, whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of all the earth.”

(1 Nephi 14:10)

It’s safe to conclude that the Zoramites belong to that great and abominable church. Why?

“Behold the gold, and the silver, and the silks, and the scarlets, and the fine-twined linen, and the precious clothing, and the harlots, are the desires of this great and abominable church.”

(1 Nephi 13:8)

The Zoramaites where puffed in their pride because they sought to look good in the eyes of man, what they perceived as righteousness, and not the eyes God, or what God has defined as righteousness. They sought for gold and silver, or in other words money.  They sought for scarlets, fine-twined linen, and precious clothing, or in other words nice fitted suits and flashy Sunday-best dresses.  The abominable church seeks after Harlots, which defined by the Webster 1828 dictionary is:

HARLOT: In Scripture, one who forsakes the true God and worships idols.

The Abominable church seeks to appease to Harlots, (The world), by changing the doctrine and teachings to conform with what is popular and acceptable in the world. 

The abominable church seeks after the praise, admiration, and glory of the world.  They often consider themselves righteous and a light unto a darken world.  The members of the abominable church, because of the amount of superior truth they think they possess, will often elevate or exalt themselves above their fellow Christian believers.  However, that attitude will not allow one to enter into the presence of God; Jesus Christ warned against of such behavior:

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.”

(Luke 18:10–14)

Is your church driven by gold and silver, or money?  Does your church make precious clothing, or “Sunday-best”, a requirement to be “reverent”?  Keep in mind the members of that great and spacious building Lehi saw in his vision were dressed in such attire. (1Ne 8:26-27)
Does your church seek to impress harlots, or in other words do they have public relations committees who dictate the decisions or so called “revelations” of your church? Does your church exalt themselves above other Christian and religious denominations?   

When we read about Lehi’s dream we often, out of the pride in our hearts, consider ourselves the ones holding to the iron rod and partaking of the fruit of the tree.  We rarely would consider ourselves part of that great and spacious building.  However, the members in the great and spacious building consist of the religiously self-righteous, and like the Zoramites who believed they were correct because they thought they had the “truth”, it can be very hard to self-identify ourselves as being wicked members of that building.

“And the large and spacious building, which thy father saw, is vain imaginations and the pride of the children of men. “

(1 Nephi 12:18)

The definition of vain:

Empty; worthless; having no substance, value or importance,

Fruitless; ineffectual

Empty; unreal

Showy; ostentatious.

I can’t think of any other people who are more full of “vain imaginations” than the religiously self-righteous. They imagine they right with God when they are in fact not in good standing with Him.  They are ignorant of God’s righteousness and go about to establish their own righteous, but have not submitted unto the righteousness of God. (Roman 10:2-4) Their works are dead and in vain, without effect, fruitless, and empty, because they are not the works of the living God.  Those are they who shall say “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matthew 7:22)

Then Christ will profess unto them “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:23)

Does your church imagine themselves to be righteous as they define righteousness through their list man made rules and regulations, which polices are completely unscriptural and hold no doctrinal substance?  Are they like the Pharisee mentioned above, thinking themselves to be righteous because of their fasting, tithing and temple/religious worship? Have you ever unknowingly, like the people of the great and spacious building, pointed and mocked, or treated with contempt and scorn, those you don’t see eye to eye with because they do not live the way you live; because they do not abide to your standard of “righteousness” nor do they take residency in your synagogues, or large and spacious buildings? (1^st Ne 8:27)

There are save but two churches only.  Which church will you choose to belong to?

“Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.

Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me, but is against me; therefore he is not of my church.”

(Doctrine and Covenants 10:67–68)