Sitting on the Fence

 

Analysis paralysis is not righteousness nor will it produce faith.

Below is an excerpt from a recent family email thread about news media sources. I feel it is fitting with some of what Peterson is writing.

"I naturally, and yes, intentionally seek news and news commentary and opinion from those who appear to share common morals, principles, and ideology as I have. I prefer to see the world through the lens that I believe God has given us. After all, society and nations are formed and built upon beliefs and ideology...so I choose to promote and perpetuate those that I feel best reflect the world that I believe God intends and that I want my posterity to inherit. I am frustrated with a society that believes that all sides are valid and worth considering. Trying to teach my children that there is true evil and wrong in this world is very difficult in a world that teaches them that different isn't wrong, it is just...different. God did not come to the world to unite us all in love and harmony. Agency will not allow that. He will come again to separate the wheat from the chaff. God's plan necessarily divides his children. So I would add that while we must think clearly, it is dangerously easy to let intellect and our ability to think rationally force us into analysis paralysis, or to feel false confidence and security as we sit on the fence endlessly rationalizing and debating all sides of an issue instead of choosing a side and taking a stand. Some issues are so repulsive and full of the stench of evil that no debate or consideration is neceasary. Having firm, God-given principles and standards and morals allows us to spot and quickly dismiss so much of the evil and corruption and lies and falsehoods that we would otherwise spend hours ponering and debating and rationalizing - especially when we seek the guidance and renewal of the of the spirit through prayer and sacrament and righteous living, always with compassion and charity and forgiveness. As I see it, there are only two sides. I do not believe that what we are experiencing now as a nation is foreshadowing some distant, future evil and downfall. We are as much in the thick of it as any nation in the Book of Mormon ever was. I believe that the battle lines have been clearly drawn and that it is obvious to those willing and courageous enough to see it. Where do we stand? What do we stand for? Who among our leaders and what among our laws and policies and ideologies support our stand?

Blantant, oppressive, evil censorship in the media is real...and it is happening on ALL media sites and platforms.

All the conservative sites that were reporting the Dominion software issues have been forced to redact and correct clarify their reporting on Dominion..not because it isn't true or worth investigating or reporting, but because they can't afford the impending lawsuits from Dominion and those in the opposition that fund them. That is censorship

Divided Nation

The first chapter in the book of Helaman is a very interesting read.  It begins with the Nephites in the land of Zarahemla holding an election that caused great division among the people and a power struggle between two candidates (Pahoran and Paanchi) for the highest office of the land.  It ends with a foreign attack from the Lamanites- seizing the capital city and possessing many cities and strongholds, resulting in a great slaughter of both men, women, and children. (Helaman 1:27) The Nephites were able to save their nation at the leadership of Moroni, but not without an exceedingly bloody battle. (Helaman 1:30)

How could this have happened to such a great nation?  

And it came to pass that because of so much contention and so much difficulty in the government, that they had not kept sufficient guards in the land of Zarahemla; for they had supposed that the Lamanites durst not come into the heart of their lands to attack that great city Zarahemla.

(Helaman 1:18)

Are there any foreign powers that would benefit from so much contention and so much difficulty in our American government? 

 

Undoing Creation Covenants

I am taking an online Lectures on Faith class right now, many of the things I may publish on my blog are my attempt to write out and better comprehend what I am learning. I have Glen to thank for many of the insights I will share.  I may quickly jot down ideas on this blog to share with my family, but have no intentions of sharing this with a wide group of people.  

The Hebrew word "binding" and "covenant" are directly related.  The Hebrew creation verbs "create/make/form/bring forth" are linked to the words "binding/covenant" in both sound and meaning.  

So, creation itself is a covenant, the law of nature are bounded and upheld by covenants made by God.  Everything we can see in this natural world, the laws of physics, the rotation of the earth, the coming and passing of seasons, etc... are upheld by God through those covenants because God works through covenants.  

How are covenants upheld? 

Through faith.  When two parties make a binding agreement or covenant, they are placing their faith in that covenant.  In other words, a covenant enables us to have faith because it gives us the surety and confidence that what has been promised will be fulfilled according to the terms of the covenant.  

Faith then, is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things; by it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain, agreeable to the will of God. Without it, there is no power, and without power there could be no creation, nor existence! (Lectures on Faith 1:24) 

Can covenants be broken? How do we break those covenants? Can we lose faith in them and likewise lose their protection and benefits God's covenants offer?  Can we break the covenants that brought about creation?  

I speculate that when we act against the principles on which this world was founded upon, (ie life, liberty), we degrade those covenants and may lose the binding protection we enjoy from them. How does that look on a societal scale?  I think Jerimiah foresaw it as revert to a pre-creation state- waste, and void- because people were only skilled in doing evil. Lets read Jeremiah 4:22–27

For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are foolish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

Do people "know God" today?  Is our society "wise" at justifying evil, yet ignorant in common sense and basic morality? Interesting to note that many of the German that supported Hitler were not uneducated.  Many had college degrees.  What institutions perpetuate twisted ideologies today?  

 

I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.

Here things are reverting to a pre-creation state.  A time void of life.  

 

I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.

Observe the voting pattern into today election, how polarized things are between urban and rural america.  Where are the fruit? How has the Lord preserved fruit thoughout the rise and fall of past civilazations? 

 

For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

   What does "desolate" mean?  What behaviors produce desloation instead of life?  To engage and support behaviors that produce desloation is to go against the principles of the covenants which creation was made for.  What happened to cities in the scriptures whose cultures value deslolation over life?  Did the Lord not make a full end  to them?  Do we live in culture that relentless attacks the family, the single social unit ordained by God to produce life in this world? Has our culture made deslate behaior and practices a virtue?  

I hope we can awaken to the covenants of God, have faith in them, and fight for what this world was originally created for!  

Be Salt.

Be salt, preserve the world

In the ancient Jewish marriage celebration they would add salt to their oil lamp to make the flame glow brighter. If you want to #LightTheWorld, start by preserving it.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 5:13–16)

The phrase "lost his savour" translate to mórainó, which means to "to be foolish"

to become insipid; figuratively, to make as a simpleton.

When we lose knowledge about the covenants God has made with his people, when society becomes more and more foolish lacking in wisdom,  we lose our ability to preserve the world, to uphold the covenants that sustain life and keep the power of darkness at bay in the nation and in the world.  No amount of gratitude or "feel-good positivity" can reverse the degenerative effects of a lack of truth.   You can't truly light the world without knowing how it is preserved. 

Reclaiming Child-Like Awe and Wonder in the Face of Suffering

The willingness to return to the child-like awe and wonder of Life in spite of the trials and tragedies that beset us in our lives is one the greatest defenses we have against the snares of resentment and self-pity. It's voluntarily returning to the paradise and innocence of Eden, but this time with the intelligence and wisdom gained through our struggles on earth. It is standing uprightly and boldly before God, in spite of the scars we bear in our nakedness because we are confident in His Love.

The Buddha teaches that life is suffering. That is true. It's when we are open to reconciling that suffering with God we receive a deeper measure of Love and a greater understanding of the pain. Those who surrender themselves to the hands of God see God's hands in all things. They evolve through their trials. They can appreciate life, the good and the bad, much more deeply because they comprehend the meaning of the experiences. They can experience the highs of life in fullness because they've sunk low enough to discover their foundation in Jesus Christ. They can love deeper because they are acquainted with grief and familiar with sorrow.

Life is full of storms but peace is still attainable in the midst of such chaos. Jordan Peterson taught me in his book about chaos that you have to be alert when you're suffering, you have to be alert to the beauty in life, the unexpected beauty of life. You have to look for that little bit of sparkling crystal in the darkness when things are bad. You have to look and see where things are still beautiful.

If we chose to see and appreciate the transcendent beauty of life in the face of suffering and struggle, maybe we would see God. We would see light and be filled with that light. The world would shine brighter through our light instead of darkening though our resentment. We could reclaim our child-like awe for life and bring Heaven on Earth.

More Moab Thoughts

June 5th, 2019

Last years Moab Thoughts

Sometimes in order for God to show us our foundation, He will need to wash away the muck in our life. That process can spiral us towards rock bottom, but that is the rock we need to build upon. That process of washing is usually full of painful disappointments. I've learned we can react in two ways to Life's painful lessons:

1. Shut off the pain by closing off our heart. This will cause us to grow resentful and bitter towards life, darkening our eyes to only see meaningless suffering, making us feel as the ever victim to life's injustices. Hate will consume us.

2. Opening our heart to God. This will cause us to feel even more pain, but that pain lets us know that our heart is still alive. Suffering will have meaning and we will see God's hand in every trial. Our appreciation for what is good, true, and beautiful will deepen and Love will envelop us.

רוּחַ - ruach

May 19th, 2019

Rauch- In Hebrew, it means breath, wind, or spirit

Ruach can be soft, gentle, and reassuring as it caresses you through the cool breeze of day, singing the warm melodies of spring and summer

It can scorch and leave lands barren with the dry heat of a drought, invading cities with the oppressive dark haboobs of the desert sand

Ruach can call you to adventure, inviting you to pursue your personal legend while carrying with it the scent and song of true love

Or as it did on this peak, Willard's Fin, AKA Lighting Rock, it can chill your face sending shivers down your spine while nearly knocking you down to your knees, deafening you as it roars it's magnificent and awesome power

These pictures may seem pretty peaceful and serene, and the majority of the hike up was. But as we approach the top things became suddenly intense. I think between the snowmelt which created many rapid rivers down the mountain face, the fresh ongoing rainstorm, and the shape of Willard's Fin it was a perfect environment for fierce and fridged gusts of air to encircle us up on "Lighting Rock". We could not hear each other over the chaotic roar of the wind. The wind chill was so cold that my phone kept dying despite it being fully charged. Major photo credit to @parker1349 , he was about to collapse because of the crushing force of the wind making it hard to stand and difficult to breathe, yet he still managed to get some awesome shots.

Live from the breath of Life

Fill yourself with the Spirit

Let His winds carry you

Embrace and inhale the ruach of God

Parker and I went up to Willard's Fin to commune with and worship God.  Hiking up mountains has become a normal thing for Sunday Sabbath Day observance.   At the top the wind was so powerful and chilling Parker couldn't spend too much time and had to descend before me.  I spent some time alone in the roaring wind.  I began to pray to God about my particular issues and offerings.  As I did the winds ceased.  When I ended my prayer the wind resumed its mighty roar.   

I met up with Parker little ways down the fin.  We found shelter among the rocks and trees around the spot the last photo above was captured at.  Despite the covering, the wind was still deafening (Well maybe not for Parker ;) ) 

Here we began to break and bless the sacrament.  As we did the winds once again ceased and remain calm.  While we enjoyed the Lord's Supper I asked the question out loud, "I know there are references in scripture to God's voice be likened unto rushing waters, Is there any references in scripture to God's voice being like roaring wind?" 

Parker mutter the word "Ruach". At that precise moment, the wind roared through the trees and rocks, louder than what we experienced at the fin.  It shooks and startled us.  It was so sudden and grand that it left us speechless for many seconds as we processed what just happen.  We then burst into laughter!