Anatomy of Truth

"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth." (Doctrine and Covenants 93:36)

TRUTH is different from REALITY

REALITY is what is, what was and what will be... It is things as they really are, in their state of actual existence.

TRUTH can be conveyed and received.

TRUTH, from the receiver's perspective, is the accurate PERCEPTION of things as they really were, are, and will be; and from the conveyor's perspective truth is the proper conveyance and PORTRAYAL of things as they really are.

Truth is an accurate REPRESENTATION of reality while falsehoods are a MISrepresentation of reality. They are on the same plane on different ends of the spectrum.
Therefore truth cannot be misrepresented, rather it is reality that is misrepresented.  Misrepresentations come in the form of lies and error, and comprise falsehoods. Falsehoods are not the absence of reality, but rather the twisting of perceptions or portrayals of reality. Lies are intentional. Error is not.

Reality exists outside of our perception of it. And truth is an accurate knowledge of things as they really are, were, and will be.

If we correctly perceive and portray reality then we embrace truth, while if we have an incorrect perception of reality or we incorrectly portray reality to others then we embrace falsehoods.

Truth is one of the great standards of growth, progress and power in the eternities. The more we embrace, the more powerful and like our father in heaven we become.

NOT ALL TRUTH IS OF EQUAL VALUE! That's right.  Not all truth is of equal value. There is a spectrum of truth ranging from inconsequential and minimal in reach on one end, to universally significant on the other end. So while some truths fall into the category of eternal and absolute, not all do.

Situational truth - these may be accurate to a specific situation but may not be accurate outside that specific occurrence (I am allergic to latex, I feel like pizza tonight)

Trivial truths - these may be accurate to reality but don't really matter. (My shirt is red and I have brown eyes)

Positional truth - these may be true from a limited perspective but not from another. (Marriage is good. Yes, a loving committed marriage is good, but an abusive, exploitative marriage is not.)

Temporal truths - apply in this phase of life but not necessarily beyond it. (You can typically live for 3 Days without water and up to 7 days without food. Grocery stores are only possible in an honest society.)

Scientific truths - measurable, repeatable facts about life in the universe. (Water is two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen)

Good Principles - trends and patterns that prove true in all cultures and time periods.  (relationships thrive on kindness, trust and open, frequent communication)

True doctrine - accurate teachings that are built on a foundation of noble truths. (Marriage between a man and woman is ordained of God)

Noble truths - universally true in all times and places, to all people. These are eternal absolutes.

- We are eternal beings.
- We are all children of Heavenly Parents.
- Eternity is meant to be shared.
- Embracing Truth and Light increase unity and power in eternity.

Why have I identified a distinction in truths? Some truths lend themselves to INFORMATION (which may prove productive, destructive, or simply distracting) , others to KNOWLEDGE (which expands and generally proves useful), and still others to WISDOM which lifts and enobles us as individuals and as the race of humankind.

My argument is that we should invest our time actively seeking truths that enoble and lift us individually and collectively.  I would put into this category good principles, true doctrines and noble truths. I believe these are the truths that Jesus was speaking of when he said, "ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32)
Outside of these pursuits we should welcome knowledge that expands our understanding of things as they are, if it proves useful. I would place in this category temporal and scientific truth.
Lastly I would simply use good judgement to extract trivial, situational and positional truths from the sea of ideas in this world. but I wouldn't obsess or fret over their insignificance.

Thoughts?

Gathering... our Eternal Nature

A certain trait of social psychology intrigues me and the more I observe peoples and nations and religions and politics the more convinced I am that it is in our very eternal nature to divide into interest groups and then collect with those who are most like us. We gravitate toward those who share important characteristics and ideologies with us.

We see in the human predicament, a model of human behavior, throughout history men and women have rebelled against their oppressive rulers only to find themselves in the bondage of anarchy. Since anarchy is just as intolerable and oppressive as a tyrant individuals quickly found themselves in history after history dividing into interest groups that supported their own views and which provided a certain measure of protection. In some variations these were called tribes. In other variations we call them gangs, parties, clicks, sects, guilds, churches, armies, camps, kingdoms, neighborhoods, communities, trades, classes, companies, teams, and the like.

We divide and then gather for many reasons, based on many factors including language, ethnicity, race, religion, education level, socioeconomics, political views, values, interests, and such. We separate from or gather toward others based on how comfortable we are in their company. 

Now, saying this I realize that here are untold millions in this life who experience no mobility based on preference. They are bound by political boundaries, or economic circumstances, and are unable to go where they wish to be. They may be imprisoned or in bondage of some kind and unable to gather based on laws under which they live. Nevertheless, if they were free to choose, i would fully anticipate that they would gather with those who are like them. They would surround themselves by those that they were like and comfortable with. Some, unable to find their type but being free to move isolate themselves and live a life of solitude.

Scripture suggests as a matter of principle, "intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own..." (D&C 88:40)

Every once in a while I hear someone phrase our quest for heaven in such a way as to suggest that if we're not careful we might end up where we don't want to be. These statements always worry me because I feel what I have learned about the eternities suggests that above all else we will find ourselves in a glory the fits us like a glove. We will be exactly where we fit and feel at home. Joseph Smith described in many places, but particularly a heaven that was multifaceted and suited to the infinite complexity of the human family. C.S. Lewis described something similar when he said, " Your place in heaven will seem to be made for you and you alone, because you were made for it -- made for it stitch by stitch as a glove is made for a hand.” ― C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain

For this reason I have never been one to try and strong arm anyone into accepting my beliefs, or forcing another to do what I do. Instead, I believe fully in the principle of sharing, inviting, welcoming, and allowing all who are genuinely interested in what the gospel of Jesus Christ has to offer a chance to fully embrace it. I am more than happy to share my views and to debate their virtues if someone is inclined toward them, I am even anxious to help someone see what I feel is the error of their ways. But when they are determined and resolved to be who they are, and that person is not comfortable with me and mine, then I am happy to let them be. 

John of old said it best when he declared, "he that hath an ear, let him ear." I believe this to be a call to gather. Similarly, God says "Even as you desire of me, so shall it be done unto you." (DC 11:8). Nephi tells us that "men are free to choose liberty and eternal life... or captivity and death." (2 Nephi 2:27). Alma tells us that if we know the difference between good and evil then we will recieve according to our desires (Alma 29:5 and Alma 41:5). Mormon tells us that the way we are in this life will be the way we are in eternity (Mormon 9:14). But perhaps best of all is DC 88:32 where God says that he would have given way more to those who inherit lesser glories, but "They shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received."

Along a similar string of thought, Mosiah talks about how the guilt of the wicked ultimately will cause them to "Shrink from the presence of the Lord." (Mosiah 2:38; 3:25) Referencing those scriptures, my father put it this way, "Ultimately we remove ourselves away from God to that distance where we are most comfortable, and that it is our choice. Sinful souls will not want to remain in His presence, or anywhere near. The judgment is simplified, in that we are not cast out; we choose to leave of our own accord."

God, in eternity will invite all to come unto him, knowing full well that some will gather toward, and others will gather away. That is the eternal nature of our souls. Those willing to abide a celestial law gather together and to the degree these souls are like God, the father, they will be closer to him in proximity. To the degree they desire distance he will give according to their desires. Same with those who inherit Terrestrial and Telestial glories. No one will be forcing them there. They will go happily and freely. We are who we have been for eons of time, perhaps even for always.

Truly when all is said and done, God will force no man or woman to abide his presence, but he anxiously awaits those who desire him as much as he desires each and every one of his children.

Truth Lost in Layers of Attrition

I have been trying to put into words some of the thoughts that have been coursing my mind for several years regarding the dissemination of God's word and the relative purity with which it reaches us.

I have noticed, for example, that while Moses may have received the word of God in its purity, what we have received in the Old Testament is an adulterated, corrupt, degraded, and contaminated version of the original. Nevertheless it contains precious truths, buried under layers of attrition. We therefore rely on the spirit to extract the precious eternal truths from the source. 

This caused me to reflect upon the Layers of Attrition to stand between the Word of God coming in its purity and our receiving it in its various forms.

I have concluded that Truth in its purest form must be experienced first-hand.  Each time the principles of eternal truth are taught or transmitted from one being to another they experience a measure of attrition (a breakdown from their original state of purity). This is the nature of all communications including spiritual communications. (Its like the telephone game)

When spirit speaks to spirit the communication is pure and unfettered.  Both spirits, the one giving and the one receiving are edified and rejoice together.  But when a spirit speaks to a mortal the transmission is complicated by the body because the body does not inherently understand spiritual communications but must come to learn how to understand them. Furthermore the body is subject to many temporal influences such as language, culture, education, etc. The spirit within a body must interpret spiritual communications for the body and mind, fitting to its age,  comprehension level,  language,  vocabulary,  and a host of other variables. Furthermore, the mortal experience is a veiled and intentionally limited experience that makes it difficult, if not impossible, to comprehend eternal things as they really are. We understand likenesses of eternity,  but they are shadows of reality instead of reality itself. 

Another layer of attrition happens when we hear of someone else's experience without having experienced it ourselves. We walk away only with a sliver of the precious truth they experienced. Our perspective is limited to our retention level, our comprehension level, as well as the degree of experience with which we can relate to that which was shared. If what was shared is completely outside the realm of our experience then it is far more difficult for us to make sense of it. It is better therefore to experience the spirit first-hand than to hear of someone else's experience. 

Another layer of attrition occurs when we are removed from the experience by time, space,  language,  culture,  or all of the above.  

"Better" in the following statements refers to being less prone to attrition in the transmission of truth. These are not necessarily ranked.

1. It is best to receive revelation first-hand. In other words, the word of God is purest when received directly from the source.

2. It is better to receive words of Revelation from a living witness than a dead witness. In other words, the Word of God is purest when we can relate on many levels with the one who received it.

3. It is better to receive words of Revelation from a witness in your own era than an ancient witness for the same reasons and previously mentioned. 

4. It is better to receive words of a witness speaking your native language than one speaking another language that must be translated. Translation from one broken language to another is inherently full of problems that corrupt the purity of God's original word It is better, therefore, to receive a witnesses words of revelation that have only gone through one translation than those who have gone through many translations.

5. It is better to receive an ancient witness that has been translated multiple times,  from a foreign culture,  so that all that is left is a partial perspective of the original witness,  than to receive no witness at all. 

Why have I written this?

I have concluded that without the Spirit's assistance, reading the scriptures from a secular perspective would be a waste of time because too much is lost. However, if the scriptures are used as a catalyst to bring the spirit into our lives then we begin to experience divine communications at their highest level, directly with the source where it is purest. The same can be said of General Conference. If we attend general conference seeking to understand from a secular view what these good men and women have to offer, we will likely be disappointed, not having experienced and gained what they have experienced and gained through a lifetime of discipleship and divine communications. But if we use the talks as a springboard to having our own spiritual experiences, focusing on what the spirit has to teach us instead of what the man has to teach us, then we get the word and will of God in its purity, unfettered by any of the layers of attrition that might occur when we rely upon the arm of the flesh.

This is something of course we take for granted within the Church, not placing credit where credit it due. The reason we flock to conference again and again, year after year, season after season is because it provides the perfect environment to be taught from the source... the receive the word of God in its purity directly from the Spirit rather than the good men and women sharing their experiences and perspectives. 

The words of life given to us from our current watchmen and those given to us from ancient watchmen are meant to be only a stimulus to our personal relationship with God from whom we should be seeking the living water that if we drink we shall never thirst again.

How to work with the homeless

I found this article on helping the homeless encouraging.
http://www.nationofchange.org/utah-ending-homelessness-giving-people-homes-1390056183
Published by Terrance Heath on Saturday 18 January 2014

Utah is Ending Homelessness by Giving People Homes 

Earlier this month, Hawaii State representative Tom Bower (D) began walking the streets of his Waikiki district with a sledgehammer, and smashing shopping carts used by homeless people . “Disgusted” by the city’s chronic homelessness problem, Bower decided to take matters into his own hands — literally. He also took to rousing homeless people if he saw them sleeping at bus stops during the day.

Bower’s tactics were over the top, and so unpopular that he quickly declared “Mission accomplished,” and retired his sledgehammer . But Bower’s frustration with his city’s homelessness problem is just an extreme example of the frustration that has led cities to pass measures that effective deal with the homeless by criminalizing homelessness.

• City council members in Columbia, South Carolina , concerned that the city was becoming a “magnet for homeless people,” passed an ordinance giving the homeless the option to either relocate or get arrested. The council later rescinded the ordinance, after backlash from police officers, city workers, and advocates.
• Last year, Tampa, Florida  — which had the most homeless people for a mid-sized city — passed an  ordinance allowing police officers to arrest anyone they saw sleeping in public, or “storing personal property in public.” The city followed up with a ban on panhandling downtown , and other locations around the city.
• Philadelphia  took a somewhat different approach, with a law banning the feeding of homeless people on city parkland. Religious groups objected to the ban, and announced that they would not obey it.
• Raleigh, North Carolina  took the step of asking religious groups to stop their longstanding practice of feeding the homeless in a downtown park on weekends. Religious leaders announced that they would risk arrest rather than stop.
• This trend makes Utah’s accomplishment even more noteworthy. In eight years, Utah has quietly reduced homelessness by 78 percent, and is on track to end homelessness by 2015.

How did Utah accomplish this? Simple. Utah solved homelessness by giving people homes . In 2005, Utah figured out that the annual cost of E.R. visits and jail stays for homeless people was about $16,670 per person, compared to $11,000 to provide each homeless person with an apartment and a social worker. So, the state began giving away apartments, with no strings attached. Each participant in Utah’s Housing First program also gets a caseworker to help them become self-sufficient, but they keep the apartment even if they fail. The program has been so successful that other states are hoping to achieve similar results with programs modeled on Utah’s.

It sounds like Utah borrowed a page from Homes Not Handcuffs , the 2009 report by The National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty and The National Coalition for the Homeless. Using a 2004 survey and anecdotal evidence from activists, the report concluded that permanent housing for the homeless is cheaper than criminalization. Housing is not only more human, it’s economical.

This happened in a Republican state ! Republicans in Congress would probably have required the homeless to take a drug test before getting an apartment, denied apartments to homeless people with criminal records, and evicted those who failed to become self-sufficient after five years or so. But Utah’s results show that even conservative states can solve problems like homelessness with decidedly progressive solutions.

A Steady Flow of Power

As Elder Bednar discussed the need for Power in the Priesthood this past conference he reiterated principles given earlier by his mentor Elder Packer in a previous conference. My attention was riveted as he discussed once again the difference between authority and power in the priesthood and how we can have one without the other but become a well without water.

My mind was taken to a conversation I had with a good friend, a year earlier on the same topic. He shared an analogy that seemed very fitting to this principle.

A young man moved into a new house with an unfinished yard of weeds and dirt clods. With both willingness and great expectations he immediately set to work digging trenches and laying pipe, installing a sprinkler system intended to water his dry parcel of ground and bring life to a barren plot of soil. Upon completing his well-designed system he tapped into the city’s main water supply and installed a valve to turn the water on and off. He then went to work burying the pipes in the ground including the on/off valve. Content with his efforts he moved on to other projects only to find that his yard remained parched and barren for many seasons. Years later a friend asked him why he had never done anything with his yard. In bitterness he blamed the city for withholding their water and never blessing his yard with the much needed water. He showed his friend how diligent he had been in laying the sprinkler system. His friend asked about his connection to the city’s water system to which he promptly dug up the valve for his friend to inspect. Kindly his friend bent down and turned the valve to ON and life giving water began to course the veins of his long-dormant system.

In similar respects many have been blessed with the authority (piping) to access and use God’s power (living water) to bless their families and others under their stewardship. Sadly, having obtained authority they bury that authority and the valve to access power deep in their hearts through unwillingness to serve or unworthiness. Some grow bitter, others disinterested never seeing the beautiful fruits that come from a consistent stream of priesthood power.

Willingness and Worthiness are the keys to accessing this power. Elder Bednar said, “Ordinary men are given the authority of the priesthood. Worthiness and willingness—not experience, expertise, or education—are the qualifications for priesthood ordination.” And then he shared the lamentations of many sisters who wrote him saying in essence, “Please help my husband understand his responsibility as a priesthood leader in our home. I am happy to take the lead in scripture study, family prayer, and family home evening, and I will continue to do so. But I wish my husband would be an equal partner and provide the strong priesthood leadership only he can give. Please help my husband learn how to become a patriarch and a priesthood leader in our home who presides and protects.” (Bednar, The Powers of Heaven, April 2012 General Conference)

To my brothers in the priesthood. Let us not settle for simply having obtained the authority to act in the name of God, let us be willing and worthy to have the Power of Godliness flow through our lives by actively seeking to do God’s will and becoming a true patriarch in our homes.

Thanks to Clint Nef for the analogy he shared.

The Way, The Truth, and The Life

Several years ago I was introduced to an idea through a statement made by a man named John Thompson. This idea serves as a wonderful correlating testimony between the New Testament, the Book of Mormon and the Old Testament regarding the Tree of Life. Let me mention first several connected pieces of the puzzle:

• Nephi saw two fountains in his vision, each on opposite ends of the path. He learned that one of these fountains brought forth living water¹, while the other brought forth filthy water². One brought life, the other brought death and fed the muddy river which represented the depths of hell. He referred to the fountain of living water and tree of life as being synonymous of one another.
• Nephi also described the strait and narrow path³ that his father saw which led between them and the rod of iron which represented the word of God.⁴
•  The word of God (i.e. truth) is also represented several times in scripture as a sword. ⁵
• In the Garden of Eden account God placed Cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way of the Tree of Life.⁶ Note that there was a sword (truth) and way (path) and a tree which gave life. It is important also to note that there was a tree in this garden opposite to that of the Tree of Life, which brought death.⁷ One brought life, the other brought death and fed our carnal, devilish and sensual appetites.
• The Last gem was the statement made by the Savior to Thomas, “I am the Way, The Truth, and the Life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”⁸

When we step back from all three to draw the correlation, something wonderful happens… we realize that Jesus is the path toward exaltation. We realize that he is also the Word of God as testified by John.⁹ He is also the Love of God sent to mankind that whosoever should believe in him might have LIFE.¹⁰ He is the path, the rod, and the Tree or fountain which gives life. He is the way, the truth and the life.

The repercussions of this comparison are wonderful when we evaluate what took place in the Garden of Eden. While Adam and Eve DID partake of REAL fruit from a REAL tree, there was a spiritual parallel that took place that relates to every member of God’s family. Drawing upon these comparisons I feel I can safely say that the Tree of Life represented the Truths God taught to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, centering on all of the Doctrines of Christ and his role in the eternities. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil then represented the philosophies of Satan intended to blind us to the consequences of our actions, or teach us to believe and accept that there were no consequences. When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of his tree a physical change took place in them making them mortal. But, more importantly, when they gave their allegiance to the philosophies of Satan they found they could no longer stay in God’s presence and were cast out (Just as those who embraced his philosophies in the premortal realm were eventually cast out of his presence). God then placed Cherubim (Angels) and a flaming sword (sanctifying truth) to guard the path that led back to the Doctrines of Christ (Tree of Life). As long as they were unrepentant they had NO ACCESS to it. BUT, they quickly recognized Lucifer for who he was, and repented of their allegiance to his philosophies. It is interesting to note that as soon as they were penitent, God began to send ANGELS bringing TRUTH to minister unto them and teach them line upon line the Doctrines of Christ. ¹¹ That which was previously a GUARD against the Tree of Life, was now serving as a GUIDE to the Source of Life. Repentance and Faith in Christ was the key that changed everything. In the premortal realm, Michael knew the philosophies of Lucifer well and cast him out, but in a veiled state he partook of them. I believe it was at this point that God knew this mortal part of our progression was ready to begin, for if Adam would partake of Satan’s philosophies, then everybody else would as well. Thereafter the test would not be so much who did the best job of avoiding sin, but rather, when recognized who REPENTED of their sin and turned back to God. Repentance and the Healing Power of the Atonement become absolutely CENTRAL to the Garden of Eden experience,¹² and now in a more Cosmic Sense, we are all experiencing our own Garden of Eden. Will we do as our father and mother of old did and turn back toward God, Follow the Way, Hold to the Rod, and Partake of the Love of God? Here is where our agency means everything.

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURES

1.      1 Nephi 11:25 - I beheld that the rod of iron, which my father had seen, was the word of God, which led to the fountain of living waters, or to the tree of life; which waters are a representation of the love of God; and I also beheld that the tree of life was a representation of the love of God.

2.       1 Nephi 12:16 - the fountain of filthy water which thy father saw; yea, even the river of which he spake; and the depths thereof are the depths of hell.

3.       1 Nephi 8:20 - And I also beheld a strait and narrow path, which came along by the rod of iron, even to the tree by which I stood; and it also led by the head of the fountain, unto a large and spacious field, as if it had been a world.

4.       1 Nephi 15:23-24 - And they said unto me: What meaneth the rod of iron which our father saw, that led to the tree? And I said unto them that it was the word of God; and whoso would hearken unto the word of God, and would hold fast unto it, they would never perish; neither could the temptations and the fiery darts of the adversary overpower them unto blindness, to lead them away to destruction.

5.       Ephesians 6:17 - And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God | Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.  | DC 6:2 - Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words.  | Helaman 3:29 - Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—

6.       Genesis 3:24 - So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.

7.       Genesis 2:9, 16 - And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. | 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

8.       John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

9.       John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

10.   John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

11.   Moses 5:58 - And thus the Gospel began to be preached, from the beginning, being declared by holy angels sent forth from the presence of God, and by his own voice, and by the gift of the Holy Ghost.

12.   Moses 5:4-15 -  4 And Adam and Eve, his wife, called upon the name of the Lord, and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden, speaking unto them, and they saw him not; for they were shut out from his presence.  5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.  6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. 7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.  8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. 9 And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will. 10 And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God. 11 And Eve, his wife, heard all these things and was glad, saying: Were it not for our transgression we never should have had seed, and never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient.  12 And Adam and Eve blessed the name of God, and they made all things known unto their sons and their daughters. 13 And Satan came among them, saying: I am also a son of God; and he commanded them, saying: Believe it not; and they believed it not, and they loved Satan more than God. And men began from that time forth to be carnal, sensual, and devilish. 14 And the Lord God called upon men by the Holy Ghost everywhere and commanded them that they should repent; 15 And as many as believed in the Son, and repented of their sins, should be saved; and as many as believed not and repented not, should be damned; and the words went forth out of the mouth of God in a firm decree; wherefore they must be fulfilled.

Grace and Gardening

This past summer my children attended a daily Bible camp with the local Calvary Chapel where they were given a direct opportunity to experience another perspective on Christianity. It was fun and very basic for them and each night we had many good things to discuss as the children recognized for themselves deep similarities and significant differences in the manner in which we worship our Heavenly Father and teach about the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. After the third day, when gathered around the dinner table the children began to explain that they had learned much about grace and that by accepting Jesus we can be saved. This sparked an important discussion around the table that led to an interesting metaphor about gardening that helped me explain to my children that we are saved by grace after all we can do. It is important in this discussion to point out that the Grace of Jesus Christ really is the most important component of our salvation, but it is not the only component. As self-governing agents who are endowed with the capacity to act and not just be acted upon, our own will and actions play a tremendously important role in our salvation.

Grace is the Most Important Component…

We are utterly lost without a Savior. Furthermore, the blessings of the infinite atonement are gifts that enable us in this life bringing blessings of peace, comfort, understanding, and strength to repent and live after the manner of happiness. This is why we give ourselves to the service of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We are nothing without the Lord, period.

The priceless atonement brings profound blessings in this life and will eventually draw us back into the presence of the Father. It provides us with an immortal body in the next life and gives us an opportunity to repent of our sins in this one. Having said this, our progress toward exaltation requires important personal components such as good works and covenants. This is the part WE are responsible for. There will be no grand checklist at the great judgment day that the Master will go down and measure everyone against with blind judgment. We will see how strikingly like or dislike the Lord we have BECOME through the application of the atonement, good works and covenant living and our judgment will be straightforward and prefect (for light cleaveth unto light). The whole point of the gospel of Jesus Christ is that it make something of us. Not simply give us something to do.

Gifts of Grace as Compared to the Sun, Water, Soil , and Breath of Life

Consider the garden I helped plant this past summer. With a good neighbor, Bro. Harper, we cleared land of junk, stones, debris, stones, wood, stones, bricks, more stones, and even more stones. Then we tilled the land and cleared away another fresh batch of stones. We mixed sand and mulch into the rock and clay and fertilized the soil for optimal growth. We cleared rows and planted seeds all with the hopes that our garden would someday become something beautiful. Having done all this we both understand that without the gift of the sun (Son), access to water, soil and the breath of life given the seeds by a God in the heavens our attempts at a garden would be futile. All of these things have been provided by the grace of a beneficent Father. The sun, in particular, is given freely as a gift to all of us, bond or free, male or female, rich or poor, black or white, old or young and serves as a component that all gardeners depend upon for a healthy harvest.  It would not matter how many good works our garden received if there were no sun shining down upon it, enabling it to grow.

Other Gifts Offered

While not offered freely to all, like the sun, the other necessary foundational components of gardening are accessible. We must have soil and water. Wemust nourish the soil and take advantage of that water supply or our poor garden will dry up and wither to nothingness. I compare these to the blessings of the gospel and covenants. Once these are secured, then it falls to our own efforts to maintain, nourish, weed, and protect our garden that it may become fruitful.

With All the Gifts We Have Been Offered...

The Lord asks us to make something of our existence. He commands us to be perfect even as he and our Father in Heaven are perfect. He asks us to work hard and do much good. He offers to us the enabling gift of the atonement (sun). He grants us access to the truth, essential covenants and ordinances required for eternal growth unto godhood (soil and water). He offers us the fertilizing gift of the Holy Ghost. He gives us time and offers us correction and repentance. The rest is up to us. We determine which vegetables are grown by the seeds we sow (influences we willingly let into our life). We determine whether our life is a bounteous garden or a weed patch by how well we nurture godly habits or let the natural man overrun us. When all is said and done we will be judged by what we have BECOME. Becoming great requires habits of holiness. Without the gifts of the atonement wrought by the Son, the empowering assistance of the Holy Ghost, truth, or covenants made available by the Father we would be left to our own devices without sun, soil, water, or fertilizing nutrients and all our work would be for naught. But glory be to the Father above, for he has provided the means whereby we may be saved and exalted in courts on high for we ARE saved by grace... after all we can do.