Each day our lives have competing forces for our time. An example of this is the encounter between Martha, sister of Lazarus and the Savior. Martha invited Jesus and those following Him into her home. Martha was hurriedly engaged in serving the group while her sister sat listening to the Savior’s teachings.
“Now it came to pass as they went that they entered into a certain village, and a certain woman namedA Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard his word. But Martha was encumbered with much serving, and came to him and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (RE Luke 8:9, emphasis added).
This account is understandably maddening for those who labor serving others. Those who assume responsibility see tasks at hand and work on what is needed to accomplish the tasks. Still, others, like a moth drawn to a flame, move toward what the Savior said is “needful.”
Weighing the details of this encounter between the Lord and the sisters raises many questions. Was Martha less spiritual than Mary? Was the Savior insensitive to the work required of Martha to attend to everyone? Was Mary lazy and selfish for ignoring the burdens born by Martha? Was Jesus showing preferential treatment of Mary over Martha? All of these questions are legitimate concerns to all parties involved. How are these questions reconciled? I suspect the answer is found on the granular level of the event.
Jesus knew Martha and Mary on a deeper level than they knew themselves. When He said Mary had chosen what was “needful,” it didn’t mean it was not needful for Martha. It meant Martha was on a higher spiritual plain and what Mary chose was “needful” for her to advance in her ascent to God. What evidence is there to support this conclusion? Several come to mind, one general and the other specific to Martha. The first example is when the Savior responded to questions from the mother of two of His disciples as to who would be the greatest among the disciples. The Savior explained:
“Then came to him [Jesus] the mother of Zebedee’s children, with her sons, worshipping Jesus and desiring a certain thing of him. And he said unto her, What do you desire that I should do? And she said unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on your right hand and the other on the left, in your kingdom. But Jesus answered and said, You know not what you ask. Are you able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of? And to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he said unto them, You shall drink indeed of my cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with. But to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is for whom it is prepared of my Father, but not mine to give.
And when the ten heard this, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them and said, You know that the princes of the gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you. But whoever will be great among you, let him be your minister. And whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant, even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life, a ransom for many” (RE Matthew 10:3, emphasis added).
The reason Mary listening to the Savior was more “needful” was she required more of the Savior’s light than did Martha. Evidence supporting this conclusion is Martha’s response to the Savior after her brother, Lazarus died.
“And when Jesus came to Martha’s house in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in the grave four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, less than two miles distant. There were many Jews at the house to mourn with Martha and Mary over their deceased brother. As soon as Martha heard that Jesus was coming and nearby, she hurried to meet him, but Mary remained in the house. Martha cried to Jesus, Lord, if you had been here my brother would not have died. But I know that even now whatever you ask of God, God will give you. Jesus said to her, Your brother will rise again. Martha replied to him, I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believes in me, even though he were dead, yet will he live. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die, worlds without end. Do you believe this? She said to him, Yes, Lord. I believe you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who was foretold to come into the world” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of Saint John 8:3, emphasis added).
Martha ran to the Savior when she heard of Jesus’ arrival while Mary remained at home. Was there ever a more powerful mortal witness of the Savior than what was spoken by Martha? What role did Martha’s faith play in raising Lazarus from the dead?
“And what shall I say more? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets, who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the foreigners, women received their dead raised to life again . . .” (RE Hebrews 1:49, emphasis added).
Is it possible the faith of Martha played a key role in the Savior’s ability to bring Lazarus back from the dead? Martha’s faith had to play a role because the unbelief of Jews in His hometown kept Jesus from doing the works He did elsewhere.
“And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there. And when he had come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished and said, From where does this Jesus have this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And his brethren, Jacob, and Joseph, and Simon, and Judas, and his sisters, are they not all with us? From where then does this man have all these things? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country and in his own house. And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (RE Matthew 7:14, emphasis added).
What was “needful” for Mary, was not “needful” for Martha because of Martha’s spiritual maturity. When the Savior had almost arrived, Martha ran to Jesus while Mary sat. This is not to cast aspersions toward Mary. Few of us professing Christianity run from spiritual Babylon to greet Christ and open the door for Him. Most of us are like Mary, rather than Martha.
Determining What is Needful for Us
There are metaphors for religious principles illuminating our understanding. One at the forefront is the subject of our compromised food supply.
When it comes to food choices, the options are more than plentiful. In my formative years I was unaware of many food options we have today. Honey dew melons and kiwi fruit were rarities if not unavailable.
Cost, convenience, flavor and choice drive food options. Hard to pass on a Costco “dog and a drink” for $1.50. We enjoy many convenience store delicacies from burrito’s and even sushi, though I’ve never witnessed it. It may be apocryphal. The point is, we have many choices from which to choose, the more important challenge is determining what of all these is needful.
Among choices are options with zero nutritional content but significant caloric content. We are free to choose convenience and taste over inconvenience and nutrients that feed and strengthen our bodies. Given the level of obesity among the general population, we tend to do more of the former than latter. It is surprising how often we sacrifice health for physical gratification through fast and easy choices. In the context of health, with some exceptions, our choices are manifest on our bodies. Speaking generally, we choose what is needful and what is not. The same is true of our spirits and intellect.
Social Media-the Convenience Store of Our Minds and Spirits
I am a consumer of social media. Political, social, and economic information relevant to managing our finances and other life decisions. These sources are broadly ranging and algorithms on the internet continuously feed content. Some is intellectually stimulating but lacking in spiritual nutrition. False information may have negative effects.[1] Social media provides choices that are intellectually stimulating. Too often our choices are more of convenience store fare. We choose what we consume and results are manifest in our thoughts and our interactions with others.
Noah’s Flood was First, A Second Flood Commenced
In the days of Noah, God cleansed the earth of wickedness by pouring out a flood of water. Everyone not aboard Noah’s ark were killed. The Lord covenanted He would never immerse the earth in water again,[2] but John the Revelator warned of another flood covering the earth.
“And after these things, I heard another voice, saying, Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, yea, and they who dwell upon the islands of the sea, for the Devil has come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time; for when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman who brought forth the male child. Therefore, to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might flee into the wilderness, into her place where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent. And the serpent casts out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood. And the earth helps the woman, and the earth opens her mouth and swallows up the flood which the dragon casts out of his mouth. Therefore, the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have also the testimony of Jesus Christ” (RE Revelation 4:5, emphasis added).
The dragon is a metaphor for the Devil or “accuser.” The flood pouring from his mouth is metaphorically described as water. In reality, the only thing pouring of his mouth to sweep the woman and her child away are lies.
“ . . .Your refusal to hearken and submit to my teachings makes you deaf indeed. Your father is the accuser, and you share the envy and rebellion of your father. He was a rebellious destroyer from the beginning, and fought against the truth, because he prefers lies. When he spreads a lie, he advances his agenda. He is the source of deceit in this fallen world. And because I am the Source of truth, you are unable to believe me . . .” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of Saint John 6:19, emphasis added).
The accuser is the father of lies and deceit in this world. He invents lies to advance his agenda of destroying the children of God and this earth which God created. Unlike the days of Noah, the accuser’s plan to flood the earth with lies is thwarted by Mother [“her”] earth who swallows the lies perpetuated by the Devil.
The second flood of lies foretold by John will not be successful in advancing the accuser’s agenda. When it appears as if the woman and her son are about to be swept away in a flood of lies,[3] God provides her mobility to flee into the wilderness and receive nourishment for a short time. A metaphor for this prophecy may seem unlikely, but apt when given thoughtful consideration.
The chronology of these events begins with the woman and child appearing on earth. As the flood of lies begins pouring from the dragon’s mouth, the woman is given refuge from the flood, away from the dragon’s view. While the woman and child find refuge and nourishment in the wilderness, the Devil grows angry because he knows his time is growing short to destroy the woman and her child. Unable to overcome the woman with child, he wages war against a specific subset of her children who are faithful to God. They keep God’s commandments and receive the testimony of Jesus.
These events are metaphorically present in the account of Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Israel was gathered to Mount Carmel and Elijah confronted them over their lack of loyalty to the Lord.
“So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto Mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people and said, How long will you halt between two opinions? If the Lord be God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the Lord; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred fifty men. Let them therefore give us two bullocks, and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under. And I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under. And call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the Lord, and the God that answers by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves and dress it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
And it came to pass at noon that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or perhaps he sleeps and must be awoken. And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, until the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the Lord that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the Lord came saying, Israel shall be your name, and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord. And he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water and pour it on the burnt sacrifice and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
And it came to pass, at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near and said, Lord God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel, and that I am your servant, and that I have done all these things at your word. Hear me, O Lord, hear me, that this people may know that you are the Lord God and you may turn their heart back again. Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces and they said, The Lord, he is the God; the Lord, he is the God. And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal, let not one of them escape. And they took them. And Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon and slew them there” (RE 1 Kings 4:13-19, emphasis added).
Israel had turned from the Lord to the idol god’s of Baal. Elijah came to Ahab and Israel to confront them about their disloyalty to the Lord and return their hearts to Him. By virtue of sheer numbers the priests of Baal were substantially more than Elijah, the only prophet of the Lord. In the last days, according to Nephi’s prophecy, the numerical equivalent will be as extreme as with Elijah.
“When the Angel had said this, He asked me: Do you remember the Father’s covenants to the house of Israel? I replied: Yes. Then He told me: Look and observe that utterly wicked church, which is the mother of abominations, whose foundation is the accuser. Then He told me: There are only two churches: one is the congregation of the Lamb of God and the other is the church of the accuser. Therefore anyone who doesn’t belong to the congregation of the Lamb of God belongs to the other wealthy and corrupt church that is the mother of abominations, and she is the whore of the whole earth.
Then I looked and saw the whore of the whole earth. She was spread everywhere across the seas, ruling over the whole earth, among all people of every nation, tribe, and language. And I saw the congregation of the Lamb of God; its numbers were few because of the wickedness and abominations of the whore who was spread everywhere across the seas. Nevertheless, I saw that the congregation of the Lamb, who were God’s holy ones, were also there throughout the earth; but their presence was small because of the wickedness of the great whore whom I saw. And I saw the great mother of abominations assembled in large numbers all over the earth among all Gentile nations to fight against the Lamb of God . . .” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:27-28).
The four hundred fifty priests of Baal represent those who support the “whore of all the earth” while the church of the Lamb of God are small in number and Elijah is the metaphorical prophet leader of the Lamb’s congregation.
The priests of Baal represent the great and abominable church as they exhaust themselves in their ritual practices. All attempts to call down fire from heaven to light their sacrifice are exposed as an exercise in futility. When their attempts fall short of calling fire down from heaven, the stage is set for Elijah and the Lord.
Elijah soaking his altar and sacrifice with water metaphorically represents water pouring from the dragon’s mouth in John’s Revelation. No matter the efforts to thwart Elijah’s sacrifice, [water, lies] used to cover the Lord’s sacrifice, cannot make the sacrifice ineffectual. Elijah offers an intercessory prayer imploring the Lord to send fire from Heaven to light the fire on Elijah’s sacrifice. Elijah’s prayer is answered when the Lord sends down fire to consume the sacrifice, altar and aggregate water used to soak the wood and sacrifice. The overwhelming display of the Lord’s power is a metaphor for a flood of truth that dispels the accuser’s lies. Light always prevails over darkness.
The source of light descending from Heaven includes an abundance of revelation turning our hearts to the Patriarchal Father’s who instruct us in how to ascend to God’s presence.
Nephi witnessed a similar display from the Lord when His wrath pours out on latter-day Gentiles affiliated with the whore.
“ . . . Then I saw the power of the Lamb of God descend upon the holy ones of the Lamb’s congregation and upon the Lord’s covenant people [“Therefore, the dragon was angry with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have also the testimony of Jesus Christ”], who were scattered across the earth. They [those who keep God’s commandments and have the testimony of Jesus] were armed with righteousness and God’s power in great glory.
And I saw that God’s wrath was poured out upon that wealthy and utterly wicked church, so that wars and reports of wars arose among the nations and tribes of the earth. As these wars and reports of wars arose among the nations that followed the mother of abominations, the Angel told me: God’s wrath is upon the mother of harlots. You’re a witness to all these things. When the time comes that God’s anger is poured out upon the mother of harlots — the wealthy and utterly wicked church of the whole earth, whose foundation is the accuser — then as that happens it will be part of the Father’s work to vindicate the covenants He has made with His people who belong to the house of Israel” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:28-29, emphasis added).
This prophetic confrontation triggers the collapse of the great and abominable church. The Lord sends power from Heaven as an endowment and those who keep the commandments are “armed with righteousness and God’s great power in great glory.” When the Lord shares His power with a righteous people it marks the beginning of destruction for the accuser’s church and the foundation of lies upon which it is built.
Nephi alludes to the latter-day destruction by fire awaiting the wicked.
“And the murderous guilt of that utterly wicked church — the whore of the entire earth — will come back upon their own heads, because they’ll fight among themselves. The swords they wield will fall upon their own heads, and they’ll be drunk with their own blood. And every nation that fights against you, O house of Israel, will be turned against each other. They’ll fall into the pit they dug to ensnare the Lord’s people. Those who fight against Zion will be destroyed. And the great whore that’s corrupted and perverted the right ways of the Lord — that utterly wicked church — will tumble to the dust, and its fall will be complete. The prophet has said: The time is quickly coming that Satan will no longer have power over mankind’s hearts. The time is soon coming that the proud and those who do evil will be like straw; and the time is coming that they will certainly be burned. Indeed, the time is soon coming when the full extent of God’s wrath will be poured out on all mankind, since He won’t allow the wicked to destroy the righteous. Therefore He’ll keep the righteous safe by His power, even if it means that the full extent of His wrath must come while the righteous are preserved by God destroying their enemies by fire. Therefore the righteous don’t need to be afraid, because the prophet has said: They will be saved, even if it requires fire. My brothers, these things are coming soon; there will be blood, fire, and smoke here, covering the face of this land. It will happen to mortal people in this life if they reject the Holy One of Israel. However the righteous won’t be destroyed, because those who fight against Zion are who will be cut off” (CofC 1 Nephi 7:4, emphasis added).
There is great significance to the fact Elijah is the one who destroys the priests of Baal, both historically, metaphorically and prophetically. A prophecy of Malachi foretells a future appearance of Elijah to prevent the Lord from cursing the world to destruction.
“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet [from Heaven] before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he [Elijah] shall seal the heart of the Fathers to the children and the heart of the children to their Fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse” (RE Malachi 1:12, emphasis added).
Elijah’s descent from Heaven is preparatory for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. By reopening a conduit between Heaven and Earth, Elijah opens a channel of communication between righteous men and women, the Lord’s children.
“Elias goes before to prepare for a greater work that is coming after, just as the Aaronic ordinances go before. Joseph Smith said the Spirit of Elias was revealed to him, but “the Spirit of Elijah holds something more. It holds the revelations, ordinances, endowments and sealings necessary to accomplish turning the hearts of the fathers to the children by securing an unbroken thread between the living and the fathers in heaven. This can only be done in a temple prepared for that purpose.” I’m reading Joseph. Without sealing of living children to the [Patriarchal] fathers in heaven, who dwell in glory and who sit upon thrones, the return of the Lord with Enoch and the other thousands who will accompany him would result in none escaping the judgments to come” (Things to Keep Us Awake at Night, Denver Snuffer Jr., p.15, emphasis added).
We find ourselves immersed in a tsunami of lies and misstatements by men and women with questionable motives. Members and ex-members of various religious institutions form a cacophony of opposing voices. Ironically, many find they are unwitting allies unitedly declaring Joseph Smith a self-serving, adulterous liar. They are like tittering people around the digital water cooler anxiously sharing their latest discovery supporting their “enlightened” narratives and exposing the hypocrisy of their opponents. In between delicious tidbits the less initiated are too “Pollyannaish” to consider, they count their clicks and heap praise upon their Patreon. They bask in the soft glory of their growing number of “clicks” and “likes.”
Like all open forums, there are good and bad participants. Because of the convoluted nature of the marketplace of ideas, it is difficult to discern between nutritious fare and empty calories; tasting good but destroying faith in God and His servants. It has been so since Eden.
All religious institutions provide a target rich environment because they all begin with some truth but are corrupted and co-opted by the accuser and those who accuse others with him. What was once ordained by God becomes corrupted by the devil tempting mankind. As explained in my previous paper, opposition is essential to the transformation of the natural man to a spiritual, godly man. A rebirth.
The Big Controversy Revealed
The reason Satan has such fertile ground to plow is because of the nature of those whom God calls and they heed His call. They are flawed by design but aspire to become something greater.
“For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are chosen. For God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty. And base things of the world and things which are despised has God chosen, yea, and things which are not mighty to bring to naught things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, that according as it is written: He that glories, let him glory in the Lord” (RE 1 Corinthians 1:4-5, emphasis added).
God doesn’t choose academics, scholars, the prominent and accomplished as His messengers. He chooses the weak and foolish to demonstrate to this world His wisdom and power in the weakest individuals transcends the most accomplished on earth. The weak become powerful only because they align with God’s will and humbly submit to it. They begin weak but in Christ, they are made strong, transformed into His image.
“And I said to Him: Lord, the Gentiles will ridicule these things because of our weakness in writing; You’ve made us powerful in speaking, by faith; however, You haven’t made us powerful in writing. You’ve made this people able to speak great things because of the Holy Ghost, which You’ve given them. Yet You’ve made us able to write only a little because of the difficulty of inscribing and You haven’t made us gifted in composing like Jared’s brother. You endowed the things he wrote with power, just as You are, to such a degree as to overpower the people who read them. You’ve also inspired our sermons to be powerful and great, so that we can’t even write them. Therefore when we write, we see only our weakness and hesitate because of the contrast in our writing. I’m afraid the Gentiles will mock our record.
When I had said this, the Lord told me: Fools mock, but they will mourn. And My grace is sufficient for the meek, so that they won’t find an excuse in your weaknesses. If people come to Me, I’ll show them their weaknesses. I give people weaknesses so they can be humble. And My grace is sufficient for all people who humble themselves before Me. If they humble themselves before Me and have faith in Me, then I’ll make weak things become strong for them. I’ll show the Gentiles their weaknesses. I’ll show them that faith, hope, and charity lead to Me, the Source of all righteousness” (CofC Ether 5:4-5, emphasis added).
What an amazing revelation. GOD GIVES MEN THEIR WEAKNESSES! Don’t know if He intends that to be gender specific but it would be of no surprise if it was. Moroni fears we will mock his record because of his weakness in writing. In the Lord’s response to Moroni’s concern, the Lord provides several keys to discern the types of people we are. The first key to discerning ourselves is if we mock His servants. That refers to true servants, not those who simply ascend to the top of an institution or not the priests of Baal who claim to represent Him while distracting from the Lord’s work.
They expose themselves because they mock God’s servants for their weaknesses. They are water carriers for the accuser, pouring water on the altars of sacrificial lives because the Lord has yet to send fire from Heaven to accept a righteous offering. Their water will never extinguish the fire of faith burning in those devoted to God. The Lord’s promise is they one day will mourn and regret their cavalier attitude and lack of humility.
A second key of discernment given in this passage is one that reveals if we are meek. The meek will not search for excuses to deny the Lord and His servants. Like their Master, they extend grace and support to those who sacrifice to serve their Lord.
The Lord explained to Moroni it is His intent to give us weaknesses and gradually expose them until we are sufficiently humble. When we are humble and meek, the Lord transforms our weaknesses to strengths.
Edifying [Nutritious] or Interesting [Thought Provoking but Not Edifying]
In his dream of the Tree of Life, Lehi saw a rod of iron leading to the fruit of a tree and “living waters.” The only way to navigate through the mists of darkness was by holding to the rod to avoid the risk of impaired vision.
“After He had said these words, He said: Look! And I looked and saw the Son of God mingling as a mortal with mankind. I saw many fall down at His feet and worship Him. Then I realized the iron railing my father saw was God’s word. It led to the source of living waters or to the tree of life, whose waters represent God’s love. I also concluded the tree of life represented God’s love” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:10, emphasis added).
The iron rod is a metaphor to describe how God’s word is an anchor to our souls when we find ourselves immersed in dark mists of lies, temptations, and deceptions.
The dream doesn’t suggest a casual relationship with God’s revelations. Nephi turns to a food metaphor to communicate the relationship required to partake of the “fruit” and the “living waters.”
“Now, my dear people, I believe you’re wondering a little in your hearts about what you should do after you’ve entered through the way. But why do you wonder over these things in your hearts? Don’t you remember I told you that after you had received the Holy Ghost, you could speak the words of angels? Now, how could you speak the message of the angels unless you did it by the Holy Ghost? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; as a result, they speak Christ’s words. Therefore I told you: Feast on Christ’s words — because the words of Christ will tell you everything that you should do. After I’ve said these words, if you can’t understand them, it will be because you don’t ask or knock. Consequently, you aren’t brought into the light but are certain to perish in the dark. I tell you again, if you will enter through the way and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show you everything you should do. This is Christ’s doctrine. No more doctrine will be given until after He visits you here on earth. Once He shows Himself to you here on earth, you must obey what He tells you” (CofC 2 Nephi 14:1, emphasis added).
Entering by the way is repentance and baptism. After those two steps, if followed with sincerity the Holy Ghost is given. The Holy Ghost empowers us to speak the language angels speak which are the words of Christ. Nephi admonishes all to “Feast” on the words of Christ. Feasting doesn’t imply keeping a delicate touch on the rod of iron. It suggests both hands firmly clenched as we pass through the dark mists of lies flowing from the dragons mouth in Revelation.
When we receive the Holy Ghost it is incumbent upon us to ask for greater light and knowledge. Appropriate behavior accompanying these steps is to “ask and knock,” inquire of God seeking greater light and knowledge. Failure to do so is to remain in the dark mists. That was how Lehi dispersed darkness from around him and found a clear path to the Tree of Life and love of God.
“Now if Adam hadn’t transgressed, he wouldn’t have fallen, but he would have stayed in the Garden of Eden. And all things that were created must have remained in exactly the same state as when first created. They would have continued forever and had no end, and they wouldn’t have had children. Therefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, because they knew no misery, doing no good, because they weren’t exposed to sin. But all things have been done in the wisdom of Him who knows all things. Adam fell for people to exist, and we exist to experience joy. And the Messiah comes at the appointed time to rescue mankind from the Fall. Then because they’re rescued from the Fall, they’re free to act, knowing good from evil, to act for themselves and not to be acted on. However, mankind will be punished based on the law on the great and last day, according to the commandments God has given. So people act freely in this life, and this creation lets people choose freely. They’re free to choose liberty and eternal life by obeying mankind’s Mediator, or instead choose captivity and death by letting the accuser lead them. The accuser wants all mankind to become miserable like he is” (CofC 2 Nephi 1:10, emphasis added).
Through Christ’s Atonement we return to a state of innocence with the benefit of some knowledge and experience. With the Holy Ghost we are given the opportunity to take upon ourselves additional light and truth or the glory of God.
“The glory of God is intelligence, or in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one. Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning, and God having redeemed man from the Fall, man became again, in their infant state, innocent before God. And that wicked one comes and takes away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers. But I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth” (RE T&C 93:11, emphasis added).
God’s glory is intelligence or light and truth. Obedience to Christ’s word and asking and knocking is the medium through which we expand in light and truth. Disobedience and false traditions perpetuated by our mortal fathers allow the accuser to deceive us and steal away all light and truth if fail to repent. The primary responsibility of parenting is to assure the traditions they pass to their children teach them to acquire light and truth. Included in those traditions is using the words of Christ to teach their children how to discern good from evil.
Keys of Discernment from the Words of Christ
The scriptures provide keys for discerning between truth, falsehoods and deception. A key from the Covenant of Christ is in Moroni:
“So everything that invites and persuades to do good and to love God and to serve Him is inspired by God. Therefore be careful, my dear people, not to judge what’s evil to come from God, or what’s good and from God to come from the accuser. You are required to determine, so you can distinguish good from evil. The way to determine things is as plain as the daylight is from the dark night, so you can know it clearly. Because the Spirit of Christ is given to everyone so they can tell good from evil. Therefore I’ll show you how to decide. Everything that invites to do good and persuades to believe in Christ is sent out by the power and gift of Christ. Therefore you’re able to know clearly it comes from God. But anything that persuades people to do evil and not to believe in Christ and deny Him and not to serve God, then you’re able to know clearly that it comes from the accuser. This is how the accuser works; he doesn’t persuade anyone to do good — no, not one — and neither do his angels or those who subject themselves to him. Now, since you understand the light by which you can decide things, and this light is the light of Christ, take care you don’t make the wrong decision; because you’ll be judged by the standard you judge with. So I implore you to search diligently using the light of Christ in order to know good from evil. And if you embrace every good thing and don’t condemn it, you’ll certainly be a child of Christ” (CofC Moroni 7:3, emphasis added).
The Spirit of Christ is within everyone. It is both intellectual and intuitive. When we encounter new knowledge, the first litmus test is to ask is if it brings us to Christ and inspires faith in Him. Moroni tells us if it meets that test it is “clearly” from God. If it doesn’t meet that test, it’s from the accuser. The Achilles heel in religion is tied to hypocritical or scandalous conduct by historical figures. Facts may surface that are true and truth may be the “settled science” for some people but the Lord is clear what His criteria for judgment is. In the end, His criteria for judgment is the only one that matters. We are judged by it and it will be just because we choose the standard of our judgment by the judgments we impose.
Truth is an important criteria for judgment, but it is not the sole criteria. Jesus could have used truth as a proverbial club to beat His detractors into submission and destruction. He embodied truth. However, that was not the example He set. He tempered the truth He imparted through parables that spoke to people at the level of their understanding. Jesus sought to build people and nurture them.
How truth is applied matters as much as whether or not something is true. Should a child or parent of a mass murderer who had no part in heinous acts be persecuted and prosecuted if they were not complicit? It is true they are related to the perpetrator, are they guilty as well? How truth is applied is as important as affirming truth. Egocentric behavior elevates the personal need to be right over the faith and welfare of the hearer. For communication to be from God, the Lord provides strict rules of conduct between those who represent Him and those who hear their message. If the criteria is not applied strictly, the communication is not of God and the messenger is a tool of the accuser.
“Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the spirit of truth, does he preach it by the spirit of truth or some other way? And if by some other way, it is not of God. And again, he that receives the word of truth, does he receive it by the spirit of truth or some other way? If it be some other way, it is not of God. Therefore, why is it that you cannot understand and know that he that receives the word by the spirit of truth, receives it as it is preached by the spirit of truth? Wherefore, he that preaches and he that receives, understand one another [light and truth is communicated], and both are edified and rejoice together. And that which does not edify is not of God, and is darkness [even if it is true]. That which is of God is light, and he that receives light and continues in God receives more light, and that light grows brighter and brighter until the perfect day [restored to God’s presence]” (RE T&C 36:4, emphasis added).
Although something may be true, if it is not shared through the “spirit of truth” it is not edifying and both parties may understand, but not be edified and rejoice with one another. Absence of those elements tells you that something may be true, but not of God.
When someone shares truth absent the “spirit of truth” it is as if we partake of food that tastes good but has no nutritional value. If we follow Nephi’s admonition and “feast on the words of Christ” our hearts are softened, minds enlighten, understanding expands until we ascend to the “perfect day.” The way we judge these matters sets the criteria God applies to us in judgment.
[1] “Alma began to elaborate, saying: Many people are given knowledge of God’s mysteries; however, they’re placed under a strict command to only discuss that part of His word He allows to be given to mankind, corresponding to their obedience and diligence given to Him. Those who harden their hearts receive less of His word. Those who don’t harden their hearts are given a greater part of His word, until they understand God’s mysteries. They can be given God’s mysteries until everything is fully known. However those who harden their hearts are given less of His word, until they know nothing about His mysteries. Then the accuser captures them and leads them by his will down to destruction. This is what the chains of hell mean” (CofC Alma 9:3, emphasis added).
[2] “And God spoke unto Noah, and to his sons with him, saying, And I, behold, I will establish my covenant with you which I made unto your father Enoch concerning your seed after you. And it shall come to pass that every living creature that is with you — of the fowl, and of the cattle, and of the beast of the earth that is with you which shall go out of the ark — shall not altogether perish. Neither shall all flesh be cut off anymore by the waters of a flood, neither shall there anymore be a flood to destroy the earth. And I will establish my covenant with you which I made unto Enoch concerning the remnants of your posterity. And God made a covenant with Noah and said, This shall be the token of the covenant I make between me and you, and for every living creature with you, for perpetual generations: I will set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth. And it shall come to pass when I bring a cloud over the earth that the bow shall be seen in the cloud. And I will remember my covenant which I have made between me and you, for every living creature of all flesh. And the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. And the bow shall be in the cloud. And I will look upon it that I may remember the everlasting covenant which I made unto your father Enoch: that when men should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch which I have caught up unto myself. And this is my everlasting covenant that I establish with you: that when your posterity shall embrace the truth and look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness and the earth shall tremble with joy. And the general assembly of the church of the Firstborn shall come down out of Heaven and possess the earth, and shall have place until the end come. And this is my everlasting covenant which I made with your father Enoch. And the bow shall be in the cloud. And I will establish my covenant unto you, which I have made between me and you, for every living creature of all flesh that shall be upon the earth. And God said unto Noah, This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and you, for all flesh that shall be upon the earth” (RE Genesis 5:22, emphasis added).
[3] “And the dark mists are the temptations of the accuser, who blinds people’s eyes, hardens their hearts, and leads them away into wide roads, to perish and be lost. The large and spacious building your father saw represents false and foolish thinking and the pride of mankind. A great and terrible gulf divides them — which is the sword of the justice of the Eternal God and Messiah, who is the Lamb of God, whom the Holy Ghost testifies of, from the beginning of the world until now, and from this time forth and forever” (CofC 1 Nephi 3:17, emphasis added).
The “mists of darkness” and the “large and spacious building are metaphors used by the angel to explain the “flood” of lies poured upon earth in the last days. Other portions of the vision shown Nephi metaphorically apply to John the Revelator’s vision of the latter-day flood. Collectively they provide greater insight into prophetic events in the last days.
Scott Roderick
3/3/2025
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