The Olive Tree Allegory

In reading Jacob 5 the other day I was amazed at how plain this passage of scripture is. I can't help sharing what I've learned...

In verse 3 we learn that the House of Israel (the Lord's chosen people) is likened unto an olive tree. This allegory starts off speaking about the Old Testament church that has waxed old and is beginning to decay about the time of Christ. Thus, the master of the vineyard (Christ) goes to work on it. As he begins to nourish the tree, in verse 6, it puts forth young and tender branches (representing the Apostles and followers of Christ). However regardless of these new converts the main part of the tree perishes (the tribe of Judah). 

To compensate for the losing the majority of the tree, the master instructs his servants to pluck off the main parts of the tree and graft in their place branches from the wild olive trees (gentiles). As a further precaution to save the original roots and natural branches of the tree, the master has the young and tender branches scattered throughout the vineyard (The scattering of the House of Israel) so that they can grow and flourish while the original tree recovers.

After a long period of time has passed the Lord comes to see how the vineyard is doing. In verse 17, the wild branches (the gentiles) have begun to bear fruit on the mother tree. The fruit is good and is like unto the natural fruit of the tree. The master also notices that the wild branches have significantly strengthened the tree itself.

The Lord in his visit to the vineyard travels to each of the natural branches scattered throughout the vineyard to see how they are faring. These scattered tribes are represented by 4 natural branches that the Lord refers to. The first 3 branches are all doing really well, regardless of where they have been planted. The second branch was placed in the poorest part of the entire vineyard, yet it was able to bring forth much fruit. The first was also placed in a poor spot of ground but brought forth much fruit regardless. I believe these statements are significant for several reasons. The most obvious one is that we don't have to be victims of circumstance. We can blossom wherever we are planted, even if it is the most infertile place on the whole planet. (I shared these passages of scripture with the elders in my district when they felt that they had been placed in the worst part of the mission and there was no hope for their area.) The other significant factor of these scriptures is that we learn that the scattered tribes of Israel were doing really well in the gospel, and were actually bringing forth more fruit than Nephites and Lamanites in the Americas. For in attending the 4th scattered branch, the Lord goes to the best part of ground in whole vineyard and finds that only a part of the tree has brought forth tame fruit, while the other part has brought forth wild fruit. At first the Lord wants to pluck off the branches that are bringing forth wild fruit, but the servants persuade him to save the tree a little longer in hopes that the whole tree may bring forth good fruit.

Another long period of time passes, and the Lord again comes to the vineyard to see how it is doing. As he comes to the original tree he finds that it is cumbered with all sorts of fruit. In verse 31-32, he tastes all of the fruit and declares none of it to be good. This is about the time of Joseph Smith, and so it makes sense when the Lord tells Joseph that all of the churches that profess to be Christ's are an abomination in his sight and are all wrong because he has tasted of all of their fruit and knows that none of it is good. The roots are there, but the tree has been overrun. The Lord finds the same sad thing to have happened to all of the scattered branches. Even the 4th branch in the Americas, a land choice above all others (see vs. 43), had been overrun by the wild fruit, the Lamanites. The whole vineyard had become corrupt. 

In verse 48 we learn that it was the loftiness of the vineyard that caused its corruption, (another term could be pride). The wild branches grew faster than the good branches and overcame the whole tree. Thus the saying, wickedness prevails when good men do nothing.

The Lord is distraught upon seeing the condition his vineyard has fallen into and desires to hew down and destroy all of the trees that have become corrupt. Again his servants persuade him to be patient with the vineyard. He agrees to spare it a little longer, and decides that the time has come to graft back in the scattered branches into the mother tree. The Lord then calls for a missionary force to labor in the vineyard with him in bringing in the scattered branches, and bringing forth good fruit again into the vineyard. In verse 70, we learn that the laborers were few, yet they were promised joy with Christ, in the fruit that he should lay up unto himself. (The fruit is Christ's, not the laboring servant. This is important for missionaries to realize as they seek to bring in new converts. Many missionaries feel that baptisms, reactivations and other numerical figures are theirs and they are entitled to them for their labors. The truth is though, the fruit is the Lord's, and so it doesn't matter who is instrumental in bringing in the fruit, whether it's one person or several over the years.). 

The Lord has declares that the first branches should be gathered in last (the Jews) and the last branches should be gathered in first (the gentiles). Eventually as the branches are gathered in, the Lord sees the fruit that it is good, and that it becomes one body and that the fruits are equal. The Lord's chosen people become Zion as are all gathered in, and the vineyard becomes like it was in the beginning.

In referencing the day of Judgment the Lord declares that the good he will cause to be gathered in, while the bad will be cast into its own place according to the fruit.

There is a Prophet on the earth Today

Today I had one of the most beautiful sacrament meetings I have ever experienced. 

As the sacrament was passed to the congregation a sweet spirit filled the room. As the first speaker stood up to speak, she began by saying, in a quivering voice, that to say how nervous she was would be an extreme understatement. But then, as she proceeded to speak about the story of Job, and her mentally handicapped brother, all in the overarching theme of gratitude, she delivered one of the most sublime and eloquent speeches I have ever heard in a sacrament meeting. Her gift for speaking could only be described as hearing the tongue of angels. 

Following a beautiful flute and piano duet, the next speaker stood up to speak.

The bishopric announced the speaker to be our Stake Patriarch, Brother Peter Mourik. Brother Mourik spoke about some of the experiences he had as a Patriarch, a Sealer in the Provo Temple, and a real estate purchaser for the church in Europe. He spoke of the miracles that took place in being able to purchase the land for and build the Frankfurt, Germany Temple. His message was that our god is God. He is aware of us and when He inspires us to do something to further His work, the way will be provided before our very eyes.

Rewind

2 years ago in General Conference, President Thomas S. Monson spoke of one of the experiences he had with the Spirit at the dedication of the Frankfurt, Germany Temple. The story he shared was about Brother Peter Mourik, my current Stake Patriarch. (Begin at min 14:14)

When President Monson shared this story about Brother Peter Mourik I received in that moment a sure and powerful witness that President Monson is a Prophet of God. I had always sustained him, but in that moment, I knew and have known ever sense. My faith in this knowledge has become dormant. 

For in that moment, my mind was immediately called back to the story of Nephi III on his tower, where through a series of prophecies and events showed the people that he was a Prophet of God, in the like manner as President Monson just shared. (see Helaman chapters 7-9). 

To hear Brother Peter Mourik speak, the very man through whom I received my witness of the Lord's chosen Prophet, is one I will never forget. The Lord is ever mindful of us. Nothing ever happens by chance or coincidence under his watchful eye. I know that he lives, and that he has called a prophet to lead his people on the earth again today!!!

The Book of Ruth Unveiled

A Dating Analysis From a Guy's Perspective

So I know your first thought when looking at this picture is "what in the world is going on here?"

Let me explain:

This is a picture of guys and girls on varying levels in life. The levels represent maturity, spirituality, intelligence, chivalry, physical physique, and all other differences in virtues and characteristics. As demonstrated by the drawing, everyone is on a different level in life. Additionally as different aspects or characteristics are considered, this snapshot (ignoring all the arrows) would change and the majority would swap places and move up or down.

            On the rare occasion you could get someone who is the cream-of-the-crop in nearly all aspects and wouldn't move at all. Or on the opposite end you could get someone on the bottom of the totem pole who doesn't have anything going for them in life and doesn't try to improve anything. Although, I don't think either are actually possible, as even the cream-of-the-crop people have things to work on, and the people at the bottom of the totem pole have strengths in some areas even if they don't know it.

Logically thinking, one would look at all the various snapshots of their various potential companions and then choose the person that has the best qualities minus the opportunity cost. (By-the-way, this is a marketing equation. Perceived Value = Benefits - Cost.) So if the qualities that the person views as a higher priority are greater than the sacrifice of the other qualities, they'll take the risk and go for the person on the level they are looking for.

It's important to note here that this diagram and analysis is designed for people looking for a potential spouse or long term relationship and not simply a one-night-stand or a temporal relationship with the intent to use someone for their own personal gratifications. Although the latter reason might explain one possible reason for why the arrows are drawn the way they are.

So now comes the analysis of the arrows, the confusing part. (Note: all of these arrows are drawn representing what we, the guys, see. A girl's perspective on this matter is probably entirely different from a guy's perspective).

Alright we'll start with the "Golden Relationship:" So, in my mind this is the relationship that makes the most sense and what I believe everyone should be striving for. In this relationship the guy and the girl are pretty much on the same level. However if you look at things from the guys perspective he sees the girl on a higher level than himself. The same is true from the girls perspective, the guy is on a higher level. Thus each are equal, yet see each other on a higher plane and capable of lifting each other to a higher plane. I believe such a relationship would help both the guy and the girl achieve their fullest potential.

Next we'll go over to the "Most Common" relationships that I have seen and continue to see. Girls go after guys that don't at all measure up to the girl. It appears that girls lower their standards to attract the guy. Why though? Why sell yourself short? Okay, if the guy who is the cream-of-the crop is a little bit out of your league, why not go for the next best? Why go all the way to the bottom of the ladder? (The red arrow is the shocked viewpoint of the guys when this happens, who all wonder "How did she end up with him?") 3 answers that I can think of are these: 1. The girl doesn't recognize her own potential, and sees the guy at the bottom of the ladder higher up than herself (like the green arrow). 2. She wants a guy who is at a lower level than herself, for her own motives, whatever they may be. (Such as desiring to stay in her comfort zone, and not wanting to rise to a higher level, or live a higher life.) 3. She is going for this guy because she feels there are no better options (because of the lack of "men" in society), and this is the best she can do. Somehow to me all of these options just seem like a red flag, and the beginnings of a relationship that is destined to fail. 

I didn't include a chart with the arrows pointing from the guys, because for the most part any woman we go for is a step above who we are. There are however guys that go for girls on a lower level than themselves, but those who do that are doing it mainly to satisfy natural appetites and personal pleasures. In which case a girl who allowed a guy to treat her like that is probably on the same level as him, at least we'd hope, and isn't a girl who has lowered her standards to indulge also in that temporal pleasure. 

Thus the great question and call to action:

Why do we lower our standards, and our vision on both sides?! 

 If a girl feels that a guy at the bottom of the totem pole is the best they can get, then that is our fault. Too many of us are selling ourselves short of our potential and forcing girls to feel inclined to lower their standards to match ours. This shouldn't ever be the case, but it is. As a society we are all continually lowering our standards and selling ourselves shorter and shorter. The vision of our true potential has almost become lost and not even known to us anymore.

Well, now is the time to change! Now is the time to stand a little taller and be a little better.

Girls, it's time to rise up and be Women!

Guys, it's time to rise up and be Men!

Let us all rise up and be who we are capable of being and becoming!

4th Discourse on the Book of Revelation 13-15

Okay so in this discourse in where I really dive into what became crystal clear on my mission. Compare it with 1 Nephi 13 & 14

13: 1

The Beast: Great and Abominable Church

13:3, 13-14

The deadly wound that is healed: In Satan's abominable churches many great miracles, signs and wonders are performed to get followers and worshipers. They are contrary to God's church where faith precedes the miracle and miracles and signs are only performed to increase the faith already present.

13:7-8

Satan is given power over the over the children of men. Whoever does not belong to the church of God belongs to him and he has power over (see 1 Ne 14: 10).

13: 16

Satan mimics the things of God. Thus as the righteous have the mark of God in their foreheads, and those belonging to the beast have the mark of the beast in their forehead. (The mark of the beast of in the forehead means that it is all people think about, it's on their mind continually, and it's what their thoughts are focused on. Contrary to the mark of God on the forehead which can have the same meaning, but I think has a more symbolic meaning).

13: 17-18

The number of the beast 666: Classic bar-codes have the same line combo at the beginning, the middle and the end of each bar-code. I've been told that this line combo is the number 6, thus in every bar-code is the number 6-6-6. This makes since in light of verse 17: "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast , or the number of his name." And in light of 1 Ne 13: 7-8 these are the desires of the Great and Abominable Church and what is continually upon their mind.

14: 6-7

An Angel flying in the midst of heaven: Moroni with the Book of Mormon. He is on top of every temple trumpeting for all the world to know that the everlasting gospel has been restored.

14: 8-9

Worship the beast and his image: lust and covet after, to add to your possessions

Babylon: the Great and Abominable Church

The Image of the Beast: Commercials, Adverts, Manacans, Shop Windows, Show Rooms, and Displays all displaying the desires of the great and abominable church.

Forehead: again, setting your mind upon it

Hand: Seeing is not enough, you must have it in your hands. You have to be with the crowd in having every new fad or fashion.

14: 10-11

The wrath of God poured out without mixture: Nothing is going to be withheld back

What those who worship the beast are to be given. Spirit Prison

14: 12

What those who worship God will be given: Spirit Paradise

14: 14-18

Christ Harvests the Righteous (The Obedient)

14: 19-20

The wine-press trodden without the city: symbolic of Christ's suffering without the city walls. Those who do not accept Christ's atonement will have to suffer even as he did (see D&C 19: 16-19).

3rd Discourse on the Book of Revelation 8 - 13

Chapters 8 -11 portray the events prior to the second coming.

"Third part": As each of the angels sound their trumpets the Telestial elements of the earth are removed and destroyed from off the earth preparatory for the earth becoming a Terrestial world and Christ coming to reign.

9: 2

The little book given to John is his calling to be an Elias and to gather the tribes of Israel and restore all things.

11:3

The two witnesses are two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation.

Chapter 12 jumps back to the War in Heaven before the foundation of the earth.

12: 1

The Woman = The Church of God

Clothed with the Sun = God's Glory = the Priesthood

12 Stars = 12 Apostles

Man child = Christ

12:10

The Accuser = Lucifer's campaign was to convince us that our weaknesses and imperfections made us unworthy and unholy to live with God and that because of them we should not be allowed to be in his presence or return to his presence. He attempted to convince us that God's plan would not work, and that it was a lie. He accused us of our faith and trust in God. He was bitter that his plan was not accepted and he didn't believe in God's plan. He had no faith in it and his bitterness drove him to gather followers to believe in him and follow him so that his misery could have company. He wanted to reign over us in his dominion. However, we knew that God's plan was would work. We had complete faith and trust in him and in the One  who would be chosen to accomplish his plan. And this is how we overcame Lucifer by our faith in the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of our testimonies in Christ and his redeeming power and Atonement.

12:13

Since Satan did not win the war in heaven, when he was cast down to earth his bitterness, envy and anger caused him to persecute the Church of God as the saints in the Church of God  were the leaders in the armies of heaven who fought against him. They are they which accomplished much good in heaven, kept every commandment, had solid testimonies in Christ and continue to do the same on earth.

2nd Discourse on the Book of Revelation 4:4 - Ch. 8

Rev 4:4
24 Elders = Elders who had been faithful in the work of the ministry and were dead; who belonged to the church of God and were then in the paradise of God

Rev 4:6
"Sea of glass like unto crystal" = Earth in its sanctified, immortal, and eternal state.

Rev 4:7

4 Beasts:

Lion = Heaven

Calf = Paradise of God

Man = Happiness of Man

Eagle = Beasts, Creeping things, and Fowls of the air

Rev 4: 8

Wings = Power to move, and act

Eyes within = knowledge and light within

Holy, holy, holy = greatest in holiness

was, is and is to come = superlative in time as well

Rev Chapter 5

Book with 7 seals = The revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy. God's plan to enable us to become like Him (The earth during the 7000 years of its continuance or temporal existence). 

5:5

The Lion of the tribe of Juda, The Root of David = Christ

Here is the British coat of arms. The Lion with the crown on the left is symbolic of Judah and his kingdom. The Unicorn on the right in chains is symbolic of Ephraim and the Northern tribes in bondage/subjection to Judah. Judah took on the symbol of the Lion, and that symbol has remained even until this day. Christ is of the line of Judah, and heir to the throne of David. Christ is the Lion with the power and authority to open the book with the 7 seals.

JST 5:6

“In the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having 12 horns and 12 eyes, which are the 12 servants of God, sent forth into all the earth.” = 12 Apostles having power and authority, light and knowledge and trumpets to proclaim the gospel to all of the earth.

5:7

Christ takes the book from God sitting upon his throne

5:8-14

All creatures worship and sing praises to God and the Lamb

Rev Chapter 6

Although D&C 77: 7 informs us that each of the 7 seals represent 1000 years in the earths temporal existence I like to look at the 7 seals in this manner:

1^st seal = The Premortal life, Michael and his angels battling Lucifer

2^nd seal = Earth life, Lucifer wreaking havoc upon the earth

3^rd seal = The Day of Judgment. We'll be judged according to our works and deeds. The oil symbolically represents being sealed to God while the wine symbolizes the Atonement. They with the oil and wine have accepted Christ’s atonement and have been sealed to him.

4^th seal = Physical and Spiritual Death

5^th seal = The resurrection of the saints up to the Second Coming

6^th seal = The events just prior to the Second Coming

7^th seal (chapters 8-11) = The signs of the times and the destruction of everything Telestial at the Second Coming

Rev 7:1

The 4 angels = "Angels sent forth from God, to whom is given power over the 4 parts of the earth, to save life and to destroy; these are they who have the everlasting gospel to commit to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people; having power to shut up the heavens, to seal up unto life, or to cast down to the regions of darkness." D&C 77:8

Rev 7:2

Angel ascending from the east = "he to whom is given the seal of the living God over the 12 tribes of Israel... this is Elias which was to come to gather together the tribes of Israel and restore all things." D&C 77:9

Rev 7:4-8

 144,000 = 12,000 High Priests from each tribe who are to administer the everlasting gospel.  They "are ordained out of every nation, kindred, tongue, and people... to bring as many as will come to the church of the Firstborn." D&C 77:11 (A great missionary force sent forth).

Rev 7:9-17

They who have washed their garments and made them white through the blood of Christ. Celestial beings worshiping God in the Celestial kingdom.

1st Discourse on the Book of Revelation (Ch 1 - 4:6)

As I read through the Book of Revelation on my mission it was as if a light bulb had suddenly turned on. Everything that was confusing and abstract became clear and plain as I saw the fulfillment of the various prophecies happening around me on a daily basis. In the words of Joseph Smith, the Book of Revelation is "one of the plainest books God ever caused to be written."

In order to make it plain to others to read I have decided to record my notes and thoughts in a series of discourses on the book.

(Also it helps to read the book how it was written, and not how it has been changed. So I'll be referring to the Inspired Version of the Bible, and not just the King James Version).

First here are some notes on symbolism of numbers:

3~Heaven, The Godhead

4~Earth in its 4 quarters, Fallen man (every nation, kindred, tongue, and people)

7~Perfection, complete, whole

12~Authority, Power, Tribes of Israel (family of God)

40~Period of Preparation or Judgment

100~Emphasis, really important

Word importance:

Base~Fast, Great, Strong, etc. (mentioned once)

Comparative ~Faster, Greater, Stronger, etc. (mentioned twice)

Superlative~Fastest, Greatest, Strongest, etc. (mentioned thrice: was, is and is to come; holy, holy, holy; and others)

Basic Background:

This revelation was given to John by Christ through an angel. This revelation was given while John was on the Isle of Patmos around 90AD, and was written prior to both the book of John and the epistles of John. Throughout the book it is common for a verse to refer to the pre-earth life and then immediately jump to the second coming or the afterlife in the next verse, and vice-versa. A great deal of temple symbolism is also expounded upon in this book, and so it also helps having  gone through the temple to understand this book in greater detail. Additionally some things are meant to be taken more symbolically than literally, while other things are to be taken more literally than symbolically.

One of the first example of how you can take a symbolic or literal interpretation is the 7 churches  mentioned in chapter one. On a symbolic note these churches can simply refer to the church and its members as a whole (going back to the symbolism of 7). On a literal interpretation the cities being spoken about reside or are relatively close to these actual cities, all lying in modern-day turkey:

1. Ephesus = Kusadasi, Turkey

2. Smyrna = Izmir, Turkey

3. Pergamos = Dikili, Turkey

4. Thyatira = Akhisar, Turkey

5. Sardis = Turgutlu, Turkey

6. Philadelphia = Odemis, Turkey

7. Laodicea = Bozdogan, Turkey

Rev 1:6

"And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father" 

             = Our foreordination and potential.

Rev 1:7

The second coming of Christ, and how the unprepared shall feel.

Rev 1:13-16

One of the most beautifully written descriptions of Christ in his glory (compare with Rev 2:18; JST Rev 4:3; Daniel 10:5-6; and D&C 110: 2-3).

Rev 1:18

Superlative description of his life. Christ holds the Keys of Death and Hell, not Satan. (The combination of Death and Hell is the awful monster spoken of by Jacob in 2 Nephi 9:10,19, 26, which Christ had to conquer and overcome from within. He had to descend below all things and into these awful monsters to overcome them and receive the keys of them.)

Promises given to those who overcome the world:

"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God."  ~ Rev 2: 7

=The Atonement, the fountain of living waters, the sustaining substance of Celestial Beings.

"Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." ~Rev 2: 10

= A kingdom to rule and reign over.

"He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." ~Rev 2: 11

"To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it." ~ Rev 2: 17

= The hidden manna could be reference to the Passover Matza that is hidden until the end of the meal and is eaten in remembrance of the sacrificed lamb. See my previous post on this. Our new name will permit us to enter into God's presence. The white stone will be our own Urim and Thummim as is expounded upon in D&C 130: 6-11; Rev 4: 6.

"And to him who overcometh, and keepeth my commandments unto the end, will I give power over many kingdoms;

"And he shall rule them with the word of God; and they shall be in his hands as the vessels of clay in the hands of a potter; and he shall govern them by faith, with equity and justice, even as I received of my Father.

"And I will give him the morning star." ~ JST Rev 2: 26-28

= As it is written. Kingdoms and Dominions to rule and reign over

"He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." ~Rev 3: 5

"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name." ~ Rev 3: 12

= Now that sounds incredible! Not only will we be a part of God and his city but we will even become part of the family of Christ. His new name will be given unto us, and written upon us!

"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne." ~Rev 3: 21

Which Direction Does Your Tent Door Face?

Towards the Temple or towards the World? Hopefully after General Conference this should be an easy answer for you.

From the scriptures we learn of two powerful illustrations about the importance of facing our tent door in the right direction. In the Book of Mormon we read about the General Conference that King Benjamin called:

“And it came to pass that after Mosiah had done as his father had commanded him, and had made a proclamation throughout all the land, that the people gathered themselves together throughout all the land, that they might go up to the temple to hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them.
 “And there were a great number, even so many that they did not number them; for they had multiplied exceedingly and waxed great in the land.

                                                                      …
 “And it came to pass that when they came up to the temple, they pitched their tents round about, every man according to his family, consisting of his wife, and his sons, and his daughters, and their sons, and their daughters, from the eldest down to the youngest, every family being separate one from another.
 “And they pitched their tents round about the temple, every man having his tent with the door thereof towards the temple, that thereby they might remain in their tents and hear the words which king Benjamin should speak unto them;”

~Mosiah 1: 1-2, 5-6

The result led to a deeper conversion to the truth among the listeners. 

The second illustration paints a different picture, yet emphasizes the same point. In the book of Genesis we read about Lot and his poor decision to pitch his tent towards Sodom:

“Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
“But the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.”

~Gen 13:12-13

 At first it seems innocent for Lot to face his tent towards Sodom as he was well without the walls of the city, and wasn’t part of their wickedness. However this choice doesn’t seem so innocent in the following chapters. In the very next chapter we read that Lot dwelt in Sodom. Eventually the wickedness in the city became so great that the Lord had to destroy it. Before destroying the city the Lord sent angels to save Lot before the city was destroyed. Yet, although Lot was saved physically from harm, his spirit was greatly harmed and stained with unrighteousness by staying in the city. Peter recounts what happened to Lot before he was delivered:

“And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
“(For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)”

~2 Peter 2: 7-8

To stay pure and clean we cannot live in the midst of sin. We must flee from Babylon and into the Mountains of Ephraim to dwell. For in the mountains dwells the Lord, his servants and his house. Let us then face our tent towards the temple, and the Prophets that we may be able to withstand the enemy in the war against sin.

Thoughts on the Last Week of the Savior's life

With this week being the last week of the Savior's life on this earth I've decided to share some thoughts and insights on the matter.

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to participate in a Passover Super. It was a wonderful service to learn about the symbolism about Christ. Here are a few of my notes on the on the meal itself:

·        In exodus the meal was eaten standing up, so that they could be ready to go and flee Egypt.

·        During the Roman era, meals were eaten lying down on the left side. Then with John being on the right of Christ it was natural and simple to lean back upon the bosom of Christ and be able to ask who it was that should betray Christ.

·        To give sop to another was the mark of intimate friendship.

·        The entire story of the exodus from Egypt is retold as part of the Passover  which in starting at sunset can last all the way until midnight. Many prayers and praises are said as part of the service. 

·        At the beginning of the meal a portion of the Matza (unleavened bread, much like a giant saltine cracker) is hidden away in a napkin and not brought forth until the end of the meal. This Afikomen (hidden matza) is then broken into olive-size pieces and this blessing pronounced: "In remembrance of the Sacrificed Lamb of Passover!" The 3rd cup of wine is then poured and drunk of after another prayer. 

·        Hymns of praise are then sung. Which consist of selected Psalms such as Psalm 118 and Psalm 136. 

The difference between the last supper and previous Passover meals was that Christ, upon breaking the Afikomen of matza, offers these words instead: "Take, eat; this is in remembrance of my body which I give a ransom for you." Then taking the 3rd cup of wine he offered a prayer over it and said: "Drink ye all of it; For this is in remembrance of my blood of the new testament, which is shed for a s many as shall believe on my name, for the remission of their sins."  (JST Matt 26: 22-24). After which he gave His disciples the charge to do the things that they had seen him do. This aspect of the Passover meal was the only thing that stayed in the new Christian church, and continues with us today. 

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Christ's trial and sufferings were for you and me. He was charged guilty because of what both you and I have done and not what he did.

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Anciently in the Old Testament a High Priest would once a year take the blood from the sacrificed lamb, go into the Holy Place, then pass through the veil and enter into the Holy of Holies to sprinkle the blood of the lamb on the four corners of the Ark of the Covenant for the sins of the people. 

Christ as the great High Priest has performed this same deed. Paul recounts this and explains the symbolism in his book written to the Hebrews:

"But Christ being come an high priest of good thing to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;

"Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

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"And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.

"It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

"For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

"Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth in to the holy place every year with blood of others;

"For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the meridian of time hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

"So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and he shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation unto them that look for him."

 ~Hebrews 9:11-28

If you didn't capture the symbolism here it is again: After entering into the Holy Place Christ passed into the Holy of Holies (Heaven) by his sacrifice. The veil of the temple is symbolic of Christ's sacrifice: His body and blood. The veil of the temple was rent during the Atonement process. Christ entered into Heaven and made it available for all men (the four corners of the earth) to become "at one with God" and enter into heaven by accepting Christ as the payment into heaven. Christ preformed this act once for all, just as we will die once and come into the judgment seat.

The Rock of our Foundation

Have you ever wondered why we have scriptures and why they are so valuable to us? Well, the answer is them:

The scriptures are written by inspiration from God, and are his words as if he was speaking. To the Joseph the Prophet he said:

 "What I the Lord have spoken, I have spoken, and I excuse not myself; and though the heavens and the earth pass away, my word shall not pass away, but shall all be fulfilled, whether by mine own voice or by the voice of my servants, it is the same."      

~D&C 1:38

The scriptures consist of the word of God, and are often referred to by that name. In the vision of the Tree of Life, both Lehi and Nephi learned that the only way to make it though the mists of darkness, the river of filthy water and past the jeering crowds to Christ, the Atonement and Eternal Life was by holding steadfastly to the Word of God. Helaman made the same analogy when speaking with to his sons ironically named Lehi and Nephi as well. We all remember the counsel: 

"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

The sword that we yield in defense of our lives and truth and righteousness is the Spirit, or the Word of God as Paul teaches us in his epistle to the Ephesians. Thus the scriptures are not only guides for us in our lives, but can help us combat and overcome every obstacle and challenge we may face in our lives. Paul additionally teaches that the scriptures help refine us and make us into better people:

"And all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

"That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

~2 Tim 3:16-17 

Becoming Lights in a Darkening World

Today in Priesthood we sang one of my favorite songs: Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy

Brightly beams our Father’s mercy from His lighthouse evermore,

But to us He gives the keeping of the lights along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning; Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save.

Dark the night of sin has settled, loud the angry billows roar;

Eager eyes are watching, longing, for the lights, along the shore.

Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save.

Trim your feeble lamp, my brother, some poor sailor tempest tossed,

Trying now to make the harbor, in the darkness may be lost.

Let the lower lights be burning! Send a gleam across the wave.

Some poor struggling seaman you may rescue, you may save.

            What does it mean to be a light for others to look to? Often when I think about what it means to be a light for others I think about the importance of always setting a good example. However, this morning I had the realization that being a light means more than simply setting an example, it involves letting go of our will. To really become a light unto the world, we have to willingly let go of our will and place it on the altar of the Lord. 

As a missionary I learned this truth and offered my whole soul unto the Lord. In order to serve to my greatest ability I had to let go of everything. I had to let go of my inadequacies, my weaknesses, my fears, my desires, my wants, my hopes, my dreams and ultimately my whole self. I had to give up all of these things so that the Lord could make me a new creature and instrument in His hands. I gave him my will, and he gave me His. By far it wasn't easy, but it was necessary. I couldn't be the person the Lord needed me to be without letting go. I had to live outside of my comfort zone to truly shine as a light. I had to let go of all of my selfish thoughts to become selfless. But as I did this, a change was wrought in my very nature, not just my behavior. Suddenly I was able to truly love and serve others as a true disciple of Christ and charity became a part of my nature.

This is what it means to be a light in the world we live in. The world is greatly in need of lights that are constant, and unwavering. The world needs lights that are completely selfless in nature, not just temporary behavior. Lights that will shine at all times and in all places, however hard the billows may be raging. 

As the Savior said:

"Ye are the light of the world....Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

-Matt 5:14,16

And in the words of Paul:

"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;"

- Philippians 2:15