Terrestrial vs. Telestial

I’ve had several concerned comments over the past few weeks wondering why it’s been so long since posting a new blog post. I’m not quite sure why it has been so long. I have started several over the past few months but just haven’t felt right about any of them. I’m hoping today will be different.

I’ve learned so much about the gospel over the past few months. My belief system seems to change a little bit every day. Things I used to think were “gospel truths” I have come to believe are simply part of the LDS culture and tradition. Things I never would have believed even a few months ago I see may indeed be true. I’m trying to separate the truth from many of these traditions in my mind.

On the other hand, many other things have been solidified in my heart and mind. That Jesus Christ is the Son of God and the Redeemer of the world is one of these. That Joseph Smith restored the truth back to the earth is another, and that the Book of Mormon is an authentic record, and contains the fullness of the gospel is another. I’ve come to know that the Savior Himself is interested in each of us individually to come to us and help us on our journey back to the Father.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about three different scriptures. Mosiah 3:19 “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father.”

What does it mean to put off the natural man?

Or perhaps Moroni 10:32 “Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

What does it mean to deny yourselves of all ungodliness?

And finally, Doctrine and Covenants 121:45 “Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

How do we let virtue garnish our thoughts?

I’ve recently began to realize that as Latter-Day-Saints we have been “duped” into believing that all we need to be are good “telestial” people. We just simply need to stay away from the “bad parts” of worldliness. We have come to believe that as long as we are among the “best” of the telestialites that we will be assured a place in the Celestial Kingdom. I believe this is utterly false.

We talk of and look forward to the Millennium; the thousand year period of peace on the earth when Christ will reign personally. The wicked will be destroyed and we will enjoy a paradisiacal state… much like the Garden of Eden. The Millennium will be a terrestrial world, filled with terrestrial people… not simply good telestial people. If we are not worthy to endure Christ’s presence now, what makes us think we will be able to then? Is it possible to enjoy Christ’s presence now… in this life??? Isn’t this what we are “supposed” to be learning from living the gospel? Isn’t this what the temple endowment teaches us… to cast Satan out of our lives and to enter the presence of the Savior?

How do we do this? The scriptures are clear… Let virtue garnish your thoughts… deny yourselves of all ungodliness… put off the natural man… and many others like it. We need to repent and be very different than we currently are. We need to call upon the Savior and trust him. As we call upon him, and submit ourselves to him, He will purify our hearts.

The scriptures are very plain at what will happen at the second coming. There will be three types of people; those that are righteous and called up to meet him (these are they who submitted themselves to the Savior willingly and repented prior to his coming), those who are good people that remain upon the earth (these are they who will be called to repentance by hardship… earthquakes, calamities, famines, whirlwinds, wars, etc.), and finally the wicked that will be destroyed. I want to be among the first group!

I am cutting and pasting the following from the blog of Brother John Pontius, one of my favorite authors and speakers. His blog is a treasure and can be found at http://unblogmysoul.wordpress.com Please enjoy we he has to say on this topic.

One truth I consistently forget is that the latter-day tribulations are much, much more than a descent into chaos and war. I have a tendency to look at those approaching times and think about food storage, economic chaos, foreign invasion, no utilities and bands of hungry people. What I should be thinking about is that the earth is being changed into a Millennial state, and we are being changed with it.

The earth is presently in a Telestial state. We are all familiar with the trials and heartache of the Telestial state. During the millennium, Zion and eventually everyone and everything upon the earth will be Terrestrial. In that glorious state, our bodies will not be subject to pain, hunger, disease or aging. All of nature will produce without coercion to bless the sons and daughters of Adam. There will be no government but Jesus Christ, and peace will rule for 1000 years. This is the Millennial-Terrestial state.

All change is painful. There is a birthing process of change that cannot be avoided. The greatest change will be ruled by the fact that nothing Telestial can remain on the earth by the time the Millennial-Terrestrial day has begun. This includes people, buildings, literature, traditions, infrastructure, religion, landscape and everything else. If it is not Terrestrial, or if it is not capable of making the change into Terrestrial – it must be destroyed. Or, perhaps better stated, it will not survive the change, and will no longer exist. Even a Telestial philosophy, mindset or idea must perish. This means that wherever the idea persists, it must be altered or the holder of the idea cannot enter the Terrestrial day.

We know that the earth will “abide the day” of this transition and will become the new home of Zion, and the Terrestrial state will cover her face. We are also informed that the earth will become the new Celestial Kingdom after the millennium. (D&C 88:17-19, 25-26)

This means that everything Telestial must be wiped off of her face. No trace or evidence of it can remain. Even the hills that were thrown up in the Telestial day must be leveled, and the valleys that fell must be raised. Everything man has built that does not exactly conform to the Terrestrial inspiration must be wiped away. Every philosophy, every religion, every principle, government, or thinking that is not equal to the Terrestrial standard must be consumed by fire.

Our only hope of “abiding the day” is not in our food storage and other physical hedges against the tide of change. It is only in our ability to use the Gospel and priesthood ordinances to change by Christ’s Grace into the Terrestrial state prior to the earth doing it. We will discuss how to do this fully in subsequent UnBlogs.

If you can lay hold upon this concept, it will literally save your life and ease your transition into the Millennial day. (D&C 88:82-85) If someone is already Terrestrial, having laid aside everything Telestial of your own free will, by your inspired discipleship, allowing Christ to make the changes in your heart, mind, and home, then when the birthing process of the Millennium begins, we will not be subject to the necessary cleansing of the earth as “she” changes. We will still feel the ground shake, and watch the trauma of so much cleansing around us, but we will not fear, and we will not be moved, but will stand in holy places. Those places will be made holy by our presence – because we, ourselves are holy. The Holy Spirit will guide us (D&C 45:56-59), and we will be a source of strength and peace to those around us as the changes occur.

If we are capable of making this change, but just choose not to, then in my opinion, the tribulations will be a great shaking and awakening of our souls. Those who awaken after the shaking begins will experience the fear and horror of those times, but in the end they will join the Terrestrial evolution and come to Zion. This is not to say that all of them will physically survive. Some will be in the clouds of heaven coming with Christ, not physically upon the earth in Zion. There will be a large mortality rate among this group who decides to change after the testimony of earthquakes, floods and fires begin. (D&C 88:89-91) But, happy day, happy day, all is well.

Those who cannot change, whose hearts are set so much upon the things of the world that they cannot evolve into the purity of the Terrestrial world, these will ultimately not evolve, and must be wiped off before the Earth can achieve its Millennial glory.

This is the reason for the tribulations – not to punish us, not to wreak vengeance – it is to cleanse the earth so that Christ can come and make His abode in Zion. If we are to remain on the earth, then we must change in synch with the earth, so that when “she” is glorified, we will be glorified with her and be welcome in the Millennial day.

May the Lord bless each of us every day! With much love,

Scott

Joseph's Prayer

For those of you who are regular readers of my blog, you know that I have an 18 year old son named Joe. He works two jobs and attends the community college. Due to choices he makes in his life, he lives on his own rather than living here at home. Although difficult for a parent, the things he is learning by being responsible for himself are invaluable. I hope that one day he makes good choices and is able to move home.

About a week ago today I had an incredible experience with him that I would like to share. This story shows how the Lord will help us teach our children if we are willing to listen. I thank God for experiences like this.

Over a several day period, Joe was having trouble with his car starting. It started sometimes, and other times it wouldn’t. At first it seemed to be a problem with the battery, since it would start if we jumped it, but as time went on it became evident that the starter motor was going bad. I encouraged Joe to take it and get it fixed before he got stranded somewhere, but ultimately that is what happened. Last Friday he had to leave it in a parking lot until I had the time to help him.

On Saturday morning we went out early to attempt to get it started. It had snowed several inches overnight to complicate issues a little. At this point we were not quite sure if the problem was with the battery or the starter so we bought a new battery before going. When we arrived at the car we tried multiple things to get it started. We tried jumping it first, then we tried the new battery but nothing seemed to work. It simply wouldn’t start.

After about 30 minutes I asked Joe to come in the car with me so we could say a prayer. We weren’t asking for the car to be miraculously repaired, we were simply asking for it to start one last time so we could take it to be repaired. I offered a simple but heartfelt prayer. Afterward, I felt 100% confident that it would start. I thought to myself what a wonderful experience this would be for Joe if it started. I was full of faith. After the prayer I tried it again and it simply wouldn’t start.

Joe got out of his car (where we had prayed) since it was cold and went and sat in mine. I was shocked that the car hadn’t started. I was certain it was going to and yet it didn’t. I silently offered another prayer and reasoned a bit with the Lord. “Heavenly Father, why isn’t it starting? What am I missing?” After asking these questions I sat quietly for a few moments and listened for an answer. The answer came in a very loving manner. “Scott, you already know that I will answer your prayers. Does Joe know that I will answer his?”

I stepped out of Joe’s car and went in mine where Joe was warming up. “Joe, I think you need to pray about this one.” He replied “I don’t want to pray, I don’t even know what to ask.” This response still shocks me; he grew up in a family that prayed nearly every day together. He had heard, and offered thousands of prayers in his lifetime. At this point, however, he didn’t know what to ask for. I asked him “what is it that we want?” He replied “we want the car to start.” “Then that is what you should ask for” I replied.

Joe offered a simple but to the point prayer “Heavenly Father, Please bless my dad and I that the car will start so we can go get it fixed, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.” I then said “Joe, now go start your car.” Joe went to his car, and in a couple of attempts it started.

I got out and unhooked the jumper cables, put the tools away, and closed the hoods of the cars. Joe sat silently in his car. I went and sat next to him. “Joe, you can’t deny this one” I said. “I know” he replied. I then explained to him how I had been prompted to ask him to pray. He sat silently. I said “We owe Heavenly Father a prayer of thanks for this one.” I offered it and went back to my car.

The next couple of minutes I sat in my car and wept. I was so grateful that Heavenly Father would love me so much as to give me such an amazing teaching opportunity for my drifting son. I was overwhelmed with love and appreciation for him. Over and over in my mind went the thoughts “my God is a good God, my God is a powerful God, my God is a great God.” Oh how I love Him.

This important lesson teaches me that Heavenly Father really is in charge. He loves us and will help us in all we do if we will simply turn to him… and listen.

I have a painting hanging in my living room of the Savior calming the sea. It is a painting by Walter Rane titled “Master the Tempest is Raging.” I bought it after a very powerful experience I had in the Salt Lake temple while viewing it there one day.

In the midst of the trouble I was having with my two sons, ad when Matt was in the middle of his treatment at Turnabout, I was in the Salt Lake Temple. In the entrance to the Men’s locker room hangs this wonderful painting. It depicts the small ship being tossed by the sea. Each of the disciples is in various forms of panic. One disciple is clenching tightly to a rope that is tied to the sail. He has his teeth gritted and is pulling with all his might. At the same time, the Savior is standing in the front of the boat very calmly with His hand outstretched.

As I stood in the temple that morning, the eyes of my understanding were opened and I suddenly saw myself in this painting. I was grasping on to the rope (my sons) as tightly as I could. I somehow felt that if I was strong enough, or good enough, or held on tight enough, I could save my two sons, just as this disciple thought he could save the boat. The Savior on the other hand didn’t need to use any physical strength at all; without holding tightly to anything, spoke the words “peace be still” and the elements obeyed. As I stood in the temple that morning, the Spirit whispered to me “Scott, let go of the rope and trust me.” I soon realized that my sons have a Savior… and it isn’t me!

I bought a copy of this painting and display it prominently in my home to remind me to let go and to trust the Savior.

I end this post with the scripture found in Mark 4:

37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Each of us encounter “great storms” in our lives. How many of us turn to the arm of the flesh to calm the storm? The words found here “Why are ye so fearful? How is it ye have no faith?” give me great comfort at times when I feel afraid. May we all learn to let go of the rope and trust the Lord!

Our Savior's Love

On December 21, 2011 my dear mother passed away. She was truly the most Christ like person I ever knew. She was kind and loving and never said an unkind thing about anyone. She always saw the good in every person and in every situation. She will be missed by all. Thank you to all who expressed their condolences and sympathies. I truly felt the influence of your prayers.

I would like to write today on a really wonderful experience that happened the day of her passing. It shows how much our Savior and our Heavenly Father really loves us, and it shows how we can receive some of the greatest blessings of our lives if we give ourselves the time and space to listen to the whisperings of the Spirit.

The night before my mother’s passing, the entire family, siblings and spouses, met at her bedside. The kind people at hospice had told us that the time was very near. The hospice nurse explained to us everything that was happening in her body, and what we could expect during the next few hours until her death. She hadn’t had anything to eat or drink for several days and her face was very frail and thin. Her heart was racing at about 130 beats a minute and she was very warm. Her body was simply shutting down. She was not conscious.

As we gathered together, there was a strong unity between all of us. There were no hard feelings. We were able to whisper things to our mother and tell her good bye. We had a family prayer. Then most of us left. I never expected to see my mother alive again.

The following morning was Wednesday, the day I go to the temple, and I awoke at my normal 4:15 in order to read my scriptures and say my prayers before going to the temple. I thought in my heart that there wasn’t a better place for me to be at my mother’s passing than at the temple. My prayers that morning were particularly earnest and my emotions were near the surface. I had expected a call or text overnight telling me of her passing but had received neither.

As I finished my prayers, and passed through the kitchen to go take a shower, I glanced at a picture of the Savior that hangs in that room. Without much thought I paused on the picture for a moment and said under my breath “please hold her hand today.” As I turned to walk away I felt the sweet promptings of the Spirit say to me “no Scott, you should hold it yourself.” I was a little taken back by the prompting. As I hopped in the shower I continued to ask the Lord if going to be with my mother, or going to the temple where I could pray in peace for my mother was more important. I had the distinct feeling I needed to go to my mother’s side. I dressed quickly and arrived at her side about 5:45 am.

When I arrived at my mother’s home (assisted living), my sister Carolyn was standing at my mother’s door. When I asked her what was wrong, she said that a couple of nurses ad just run by and entered another room. We soon learned that our sweet friend Arva had just passed away.

Arva was another angel. She was only 81 years old and in relatively good health. She had been in a car accident and had a serious brain injury that left her nearly unable to speak. She had, however, a huge heart and treated us, and especially our mother, with great love and respect. In her very labored speech, she always asked about our mother and expressed her concern. Everyone was shocked that she had passed and we were all saddened. I honestly feel however that she passed to help my mother make this important transition.

When entering my mother’s room, I found her nearly in the same state as the previous night. Julie, Carolyn and Lance had spent the night. Lance left just prior to my arrival. I sat next to my sweet mother and held her hand. I kissed her and whispered in her ear how much I loved her and how it was okay to go. There was no response but I know she could hear me.

At about 7 am, Carolyn expressed that she didn’t think that mom would leave while she (Carolyn) was there. She knew how upset Carolyn would be. Carolyn decided to leave.

Within a few minutes my brother Steve arrived. He too had had an impression to come. Over the past few months he had been very sweet and tender with my mother and had really taken care of her.

Soon after Steve came Susan. She was very kind and wonderful. Now it was just the four of us. We each took time holding mom’s hand and talking to her. We talked about the passing of our dad and our various experiences with that occasion. I was living in Maryland when my dad passed and despite my best efforts, was not able to make it before he passed. I was always disappointed I wasn’t there.

About 7:35 my mother threw up. All that came out was the mucus in her throat. As Steve turned to wipe it up she seemed to roll on her back a little and relax. Her breathing changed; she was taking a breath only every 10 or 15 seconds. We all jumped to her side. Susan indicated that this was probably it. We pulled the bed away from the wall so we could stand on both sides and we each held her hand or arm and wept. She took only 10 to 15 of these deep breaths- exhaled a final time- and slipped into eternity.

I will never really be able to express the peace that was in that room. There was a deep love and bond between those of us that were there that morning. It was among the most spiritual events of my life. I was so happy I was there.

I am certain that I could have gone to the temple that morning and had a wonderful experience. Instead, I had a once in a lifetime sacred experience. I am so grateful for a Savior that cares enough about me to whisper a small prompting to choose between two good things. I love Him and honor His Holy Name.

My Road to Emmaus

A few weeks ago I had an experience that has taught me a profound lesson, but in a manner I am not proud of. I wish I had the opportunity of living the whole thing over. I hope we can each learn from my mistake.

Early one morning in December, I was in South Jordan and stopped by a Maverik store for a drink. When I came out, I noticed a young man sitting on the picnic table, drinking a coffee. He had a backpack at his feet. It was cold outside and he was bundled up. He had the type of wool gloves that covered his hands but left the fingers bare. I got in my car and prepared to leave, but the Spirit prompted me to approach him. I put my car back in Park and went to talk to him.

Many months ago while reading a variety of books, I kept coming upon the theme of King Benjamin’s address; particularly the part in Chapter 4 where he states:

“16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.
17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—
18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.
19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?
20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy, and has caused that your mouths should be stopped that ye could not find utterance, so exceedingly great was your joy.
21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.
22 And if ye judge the man who putteth up his petition to you for your substance that he perish not, and condemn him, how much more just will be your condemnation for withholding your substance, which doth not belong to you but to God, to whom also your life belongeth; and yet ye put up no petition, nor repent of the thing which thou hast done.
23 I say unto you, wo be unto that man, for his substance shall perish with him; and now, I say these things unto those who are rich as pertaining to the things of this world.”

I couldn’t get these verses out of my mind. I knew that I needed to be somebody different. At that point I began to give money to beggars in almost every instance. Not only would I give money, but I try to take the time to talk to each one and get to know them a little. I tried to learn of their real needs and what I could do to help them. My life has been greatly blessed by this decision and I feel I have developed at least one real friendship out of this, or at least I have made a real difference in the life of one of God’s children.

When I approached the young man at the Maverik store, I simply asked him “how can I help you?” He was skeptical of course and wanted to know if I was a cop. I responded that I was simply someone who wanted to help him. He told me a story of how he was kicked out of his house where his wife (or girlfriend) lived with his young son because he didn’t have a job. He had tried to reach them by telephone in the Maverik but was unable to. I asked him what I could do to help him. He responded “what I really need is to go to a motel where I can have a shower and get cleaned up.” He continued “I won’t trash it or anything.”

At this point many things ran through my mind: How much is this going to cost? Is this guy just lazy and deserves to be kicked out? Will he stay in the hotel longer than one night and keep charging it to my card? Will he steal things that I will be liable for? I shamefully responded “I can’t do that but I can give you five dollars.” I gave him a five and left. As I drove away I justified my actions in many ways: Does this guy know what he is asking? He really needs to just make up with his wife. Does he seriously think I could spend that much on him? Besides, a hotel would be in the middle of check-out, check-in won’t be for a few hours.

My actions have haunted me. Almost immediately the story of The Good Samaritan came to mind where the man helped the wounded, took him to an inn, and told the innkeeper he would pay anything owed on his next visit. Why was I so blind? Why couldn’t I have helped? My personal failure to act has haunted me more as I have pondered the following scriptures and stories:

Paul, when communicating with the Hebrew in chapter 13 wrote:

1 Let brotherly love continue.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

Here we learn that angels “minister to us without disclosing their identity!” How chilling is that yet how wonderful?

Most importantly I was moved by the story of the Savior walking with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The story as found in Luke reads as follows:

16 But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?
18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
19 And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:
20 And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.
21 But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.
22 Yea, and certain women also of our company made us astonished, which were early at the sepulchre;
23 And when they found not his body, they came, saying, that they had also seen a vision of angels, which said that he was alive.
24 And certain of them which were with us went to the sepulchre, and found it even so as the women had said: but him they saw not.
25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
28 And they drew nigh unto the village, whither they went: and he made as though he would have gone further.
29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.
30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them.
31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.
32 And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?

Here, the Savior Himself appeared to two disciples and remained unrevealed. What if my experience was indeed a test? What if it was indeed the Lord and I denied Him? How can I ever make this up to Him? Will I have another chance? My heart tells me YES, but my heart breaks that I made the choice I did.

May we remember the words of Paul as written to the Corinthians:

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

May I make better choices!