I've been thinking about the story of Adam and Eve for the past few days. I didn't even mean to start thinking about it. It just turned on in my head. It erupted into my consciousness. Usually that's the way the most creative ideas come to me. It's the way many of the most touching, enduring, expanding ideas come to me. As though my mind and consciousness need to get out of the way so these wonderful ideas can present themselves. How should I feel about that?
These thoughts came to me as I drove to Bear Lake over the weekend. I was thinking about sin and redemption after listening to a Christian radio broadcast about that subject. Many thoughts came to me and I had a powerful and beautiful personal experience as well. I thought about our existence, from the pre-mortal life, to our current life, and on into the next. They're really one life. It's one eternal life. Just different stages within that life.
For the first time ever in my life I started looking at the story of Adam and Eve as an allegory. I started seeing them not as real people, but as symbols. It may seem strange that I've never looked at them that way, but I've always been taught they were real people, part of a real story, or history. But when the idea came to my mind to consider them as symbols, part of an allegory, I was able to go deeper into the meaning of that episode. On mormonstories.org I recently listened to a podcast interview with Terryl Givens. He talks about a class he teaches or taught in which he presented the Genesis story of Adam and Eve in a way that presented the devil as the one doing good and God as the one doing wrong. I thought about that and realized that I've felt that way in a sense, in a way I wasn't able to articulate, or wasn't able to really consider fully, many times in my life. He's offering Adam and Eve a choice. One that leads them to become like the Gods, knowing good from evil. We believe that without Adam and Eve partaking of the forbidden fruit none of us would be able to exist in this mortal realm. What would be the point of Adam and Eve living in a state of innocence for eternity?
God is telling Adam and Eve do not partake of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Why would he do that? God doesn't want us to know good from evil? No, I don't think so. God may have warned, "If you partake of the fruit you will suffer. I want you to know that. Be aware of that before you make the decision."
So let's take this to a new level. Let's look at Adam and Eve not as real people but as symbols. And let's say they didn't exist in this world, but that paradisiacal state before coming to this world. Adam and Eve represent all of us as we were in the pre-mortal life. We all had a decision to make. Would we partake of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil and come to this world? A world filled with pain and suffering? A world in which we would surely die? A world in which we would be cut off from the physical presence of God? Sounds like a deeply challenging and trying experience. Or would we choose to live in a state of comparative innocence eternally? In the "garden of Eden." Or pre-mortal existence.
Could it really be that the Genesis story has been so corrupted that we're getting God's role presented to us as Satan's role almost and Satan's as God's? It wouldn't really surprise me that much. I'm not sure I feel like the roles have been reversed, more like the story has been corrupted altogether, with bits and pieces of truth mixed in with myth.
Speaking of reversing roles and corrupting stories. We talk of Adam's transgression, which I don't believe was a transgression at all. I don't believe God would have commanded them not to eat the fruit. Not to mention Adam didn't partake of the fruit first. Eve did. It's almost as though in most accounts she's invisible. And again it wasn't a transgression. Eve had the brilliance of mind and the foresight to know that the human race would not exist in a mortal state, vital to our growth, without her eating the fruit. She sacrificed her own comfort and peace for the greater good of the human race. How many women do this on a daily basis?
For me, all these things happened not at the beginning of our existence in this life, but in our pre-mortal life. God explained to us that we needed to experience mortality to continue our eternal growth. It was vital. But he also warned us that mortality would be filled with extreme sorrow, difficulty, pain, terror, depression, and so on and so on. He warned us. He didn't forbid us, he didn't command us not to do it. He warned us. We all ate the fruit nonetheless. Could it be that in that pre-mortal life it was a woman, or many women, who took the lead in convincing us that this was the course we must follow? That even though it would be filled with difficulty it was the best course for us. Hence Eve's portrayal as the one partaking the fruit first? Then the men followed, understanding that she was right.
What would Lucifer's role be in all this? The story as I've explained it? I don't believe he was the one enticing us to partake the fruit and experience mortal life. He was the one saying it's too hard, don't do it. Many of us won't survive. We'll be lost. Follow me and I'll save everyone through force. As we see in modern scripture. His portrayal in modern scripture as the one wanting to take choice away contrasts drastically with his portrayal in Genesis as the one who wants to give us choice. It was never God's plan to take choice away. Our right to choose is the shining ideal in his plan. He wanted so badly to protect that ideal that he was willing to sacrifice his most obedient, most powerful son, for us, so we could still choose and fail. And he would pick us up.
If we choose to follow God, we've never been lost. The Fall was not a fall. It was a new vital step to our eternal lives. Yes, we left God's personal presence to experience this life. That's a massive challenge. People could even call it a fall from grace, if you consider God's presence grace. But I don't look at it that way. From very early on in our existence, if not from the very beginning, God had a plan. It always included choice and a Savior. The fact that the Savior was part of the plan from so long ago means we were never lost. We have the freedom to choose not to be saved, but we were never lost. Jesus Christ was always part of the plan. Choice was always part of the plan, therefore, mistakes and sin were always part of the plan. We were never lost.
How do we change our minds? How do we rethink this important story? How can we erase the past story and write it anew? I don't believe these old stories are true. They've misled us. God is not the one in Genesis interacting with Adam and Eve and neither is the devil. They're almost the opposite of how they're portrayed. How do I erase my memories of the old story and create new ones? It will take some disentangling, some rearranging, some retelling altogether. It's well worth the effort. Just as this life is.
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
Monday, June 2, 2014
Yet Another Short Thought on Jonah and the Great Fish
The name Jonah, in Hebrew, means "dove". It's not surprising that this fact has been almost completely lost, at least to the great majority of us. Also not surprising is the fact that his name has also come to mean "destroyer", and "he that oppresses". I have a feeling that a man named Jonah would not be allowed on the crew of a ship, since, to sailors, the name has come to mean someone who brings bad luck.
How we tend to confuse things. Usually, just as the book of Revelation has come to be the personification of the apocalyptic, we make something good and beautiful to signify something terrifying and ugly.
I can imagine God holding the book of Jonah lovingly and tenderly in his hands, then giving it a gentle push, so it could fly to us and alight on our lives in the form of a dove. It's a message of peace. Even the dead can be redeemed. Even the wicked may have a second chance. Paul speaks very briefly, but clearly, of baptism for the dead, in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15. The book of Jonah speaks more fully, but in a much more literary way, which can tend to make it more enigmatic, about the redemption of the dead. But if we search it, and seek, and listen, and hear, we will catch the spirit of this beautiful message.
How we tend to confuse things. Usually, just as the book of Revelation has come to be the personification of the apocalyptic, we make something good and beautiful to signify something terrifying and ugly.
I can imagine God holding the book of Jonah lovingly and tenderly in his hands, then giving it a gentle push, so it could fly to us and alight on our lives in the form of a dove. It's a message of peace. Even the dead can be redeemed. Even the wicked may have a second chance. Paul speaks very briefly, but clearly, of baptism for the dead, in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15. The book of Jonah speaks more fully, but in a much more literary way, which can tend to make it more enigmatic, about the redemption of the dead. But if we search it, and seek, and listen, and hear, we will catch the spirit of this beautiful message.
Tuesday, May 27, 2014
Another Thought on Jonah and the Whale
In the final verse of the book of Jonah, we read this:
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
I've thought about this verse a lot. I don't remember where I read this, on a website, but I can't find it now, but someone explains those who cannot discern between their right and left hand as those who are minors according to the law. He states there were 120,000 men, not including women and those who did not know their right hand from their left hand, or, in other words, minors.
It's a great explanation. It's one of the things that have kept me thinking about this verse. But instead of believing it represents minors, I believe it represents anyone who did not know right from wrong, or more particularly, the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who did not have the opportunity to receive and accept the gospel. Possibly even those who did not get a proper opportunity to receive and accept it. They're like children, or minors, they're innocent, because they didn't know the complete truth, so there's no way they could have obeyed it. We give preferential treatment to minors in our law. Because they don't know what we know as adults.
On another note, when Jonah is in the ship, in the first chapter of the book, and the sea rages, he sleeps. The Greek version, the Septuagint, says that he snores. He's so sound asleep. This is one of the parts of the book that I've struggled with. What does it mean. Supposedly he was the cause of the storm. So why could he sleep so soundly and the other men, innocent, could not?
I'm not sure he caused the storm after all. I'd say the storm is life. There are storms a raging all the time. Those who do not have the peace of the gospel of Jesus Christ and its ordinances, (or, those who are innocent, as discussed above) which are eternal and ever binding, do not feel peace when the storms rage. Jonah, one with the gospel, who had received eternal, binding ordinances, could sleep in the storm.
And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein are more than sixscore thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand; and also much cattle?
I've thought about this verse a lot. I don't remember where I read this, on a website, but I can't find it now, but someone explains those who cannot discern between their right and left hand as those who are minors according to the law. He states there were 120,000 men, not including women and those who did not know their right hand from their left hand, or, in other words, minors.
It's a great explanation. It's one of the things that have kept me thinking about this verse. But instead of believing it represents minors, I believe it represents anyone who did not know right from wrong, or more particularly, the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Those who did not have the opportunity to receive and accept the gospel. Possibly even those who did not get a proper opportunity to receive and accept it. They're like children, or minors, they're innocent, because they didn't know the complete truth, so there's no way they could have obeyed it. We give preferential treatment to minors in our law. Because they don't know what we know as adults.
On another note, when Jonah is in the ship, in the first chapter of the book, and the sea rages, he sleeps. The Greek version, the Septuagint, says that he snores. He's so sound asleep. This is one of the parts of the book that I've struggled with. What does it mean. Supposedly he was the cause of the storm. So why could he sleep so soundly and the other men, innocent, could not?
I'm not sure he caused the storm after all. I'd say the storm is life. There are storms a raging all the time. Those who do not have the peace of the gospel of Jesus Christ and its ordinances, (or, those who are innocent, as discussed above) which are eternal and ever binding, do not feel peace when the storms rage. Jonah, one with the gospel, who had received eternal, binding ordinances, could sleep in the storm.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Thoughts on Jonah and the Whale
The allegory of Jonah and the whale never fails to amaze me or to provide something new, a new thought, a new insight, a new way of looking at life and our own shortcomings--and salvation, nonetheless.
Jonah, in the story, like all of us, disobeys God's commandments. He literally runs in the opposite direction from where God asked him to go. As I read a synopsis of the story, I thought about it a little differently.
Jehovah offered this allegory as revelation to some prophet in Old Testament times. Possibly one named Jonah.
The prophet, Jonah, in the story, through his disobedience, represents all of us. No matter what we do we will always fall short of the demands of justice, just as Jonah fell short. When he is thrown into the ocean, it represents his death, and inevitable burial, his spiritual death. He's drowning. He has fallen short.
God, however, sends a great fish, Jesus Christ, to spare his life, his very spiritual life. Remember, Jesus is often depicted as a fish. (I can't help but think of the fish magnets placed on the backs of cars, which represent Jesus.)
While he's in the belly of the fish, Jonah says, Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. I think about those who die without knowing the gospel, or without accepting it. To me, one of the things this allegory is saying is that despite our disobedience, or falling short, we can yet look toward the Holy Temple, in the afterlife. The saving ordinances will be made available to all, even after this life.
Once Jonah is vomited out of the fish's mouth, in other words, after he is saved, or in the afterlife, he has the opportunity to preach to the wicked, or those who were wicked in this life. Jonah's preaching is successful. Maybe our preaching in the next life will be more successful than it is here. The wicked repent, completely, as fully as they can, and they accept Jesus Christ. God gladly accepts their repentance and saves them, through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Nineveh, in Old Testament times, was an enemy to Israel. It was also a very wicked place. As such, it's the perfect place to represent wickedness in general, being the exact opposite of Israel, which represents righteousness, or God's gospel plan.
I can see how this deathbed--even later than that--repentance could displease Jonah, even to the point of wanting to be dead. (Think of the prodigal son. Or, more specifically, his brother.) What was the point of preaching in the first place when Jonah knew that God would be so kind and forgiving, even after life was over? That was Jonah's question. Chapter 4:2:
God reminds Jonah of the grouse, which grew in a night and died in a night, which gave Jonah comfort. Jonah had nothing to do with its growth, yet he's angry when it's gone. God says, aren't these people even more important than that?
Interesting that the number of people in Nineveh is 120,000. Seems like a common theme, divisible by 12, but a relatively large number, to represent all the wicked. Nineveh represents the wicked, or those who did not have the chance to accept the gospel, maybe even a second chance for those who did have the opportunity but didn't take it.
There's more to this allegory than I've ever thought. Though I've realized for some time that I'd continue to learn from it. In other words, I knew there was a lot here. It reaches even beyond the veil, or beyond this life, and, again, it looks to the Temple. It looks to saving ordinances, which, as we know, reach beyond the grave. Something no other religion can actually get from this story, though an intuitive and wise person might anyway, is that it represents God's love for all his children, which reaches beyond the bounds of this life. He loves all of us so much, and he doesn't just say it, he provides a way to show it completely, offering us all the opportunity, the true, legitimate, opportunity to accept his saving plan, with all its ordinances. Can it be that the book of Jonah says all that?
Again, another Old Testament prophet pointing us to the Temple.
Jonah, in the story, like all of us, disobeys God's commandments. He literally runs in the opposite direction from where God asked him to go. As I read a synopsis of the story, I thought about it a little differently.
Jehovah offered this allegory as revelation to some prophet in Old Testament times. Possibly one named Jonah.
The prophet, Jonah, in the story, through his disobedience, represents all of us. No matter what we do we will always fall short of the demands of justice, just as Jonah fell short. When he is thrown into the ocean, it represents his death, and inevitable burial, his spiritual death. He's drowning. He has fallen short.
God, however, sends a great fish, Jesus Christ, to spare his life, his very spiritual life. Remember, Jesus is often depicted as a fish. (I can't help but think of the fish magnets placed on the backs of cars, which represent Jesus.)
While he's in the belly of the fish, Jonah says, Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look again toward thy holy temple. I think about those who die without knowing the gospel, or without accepting it. To me, one of the things this allegory is saying is that despite our disobedience, or falling short, we can yet look toward the Holy Temple, in the afterlife. The saving ordinances will be made available to all, even after this life.
Once Jonah is vomited out of the fish's mouth, in other words, after he is saved, or in the afterlife, he has the opportunity to preach to the wicked, or those who were wicked in this life. Jonah's preaching is successful. Maybe our preaching in the next life will be more successful than it is here. The wicked repent, completely, as fully as they can, and they accept Jesus Christ. God gladly accepts their repentance and saves them, through the atonement of Jesus Christ.
Nineveh, in Old Testament times, was an enemy to Israel. It was also a very wicked place. As such, it's the perfect place to represent wickedness in general, being the exact opposite of Israel, which represents righteousness, or God's gospel plan.
I can see how this deathbed--even later than that--repentance could displease Jonah, even to the point of wanting to be dead. (Think of the prodigal son. Or, more specifically, his brother.) What was the point of preaching in the first place when Jonah knew that God would be so kind and forgiving, even after life was over? That was Jonah's question. Chapter 4:2:
And he prayed unto the Lord, and said, I pray thee, O Lord, was not this my saying, when I was yet in my country? Therefore I fled before unto Tarshish: for I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repentest thee of the evil.He's basically asking, why did I work so hard to do what was right? You were willing to save all of us anyway?
God reminds Jonah of the grouse, which grew in a night and died in a night, which gave Jonah comfort. Jonah had nothing to do with its growth, yet he's angry when it's gone. God says, aren't these people even more important than that?
Interesting that the number of people in Nineveh is 120,000. Seems like a common theme, divisible by 12, but a relatively large number, to represent all the wicked. Nineveh represents the wicked, or those who did not have the chance to accept the gospel, maybe even a second chance for those who did have the opportunity but didn't take it.
There's more to this allegory than I've ever thought. Though I've realized for some time that I'd continue to learn from it. In other words, I knew there was a lot here. It reaches even beyond the veil, or beyond this life, and, again, it looks to the Temple. It looks to saving ordinances, which, as we know, reach beyond the grave. Something no other religion can actually get from this story, though an intuitive and wise person might anyway, is that it represents God's love for all his children, which reaches beyond the bounds of this life. He loves all of us so much, and he doesn't just say it, he provides a way to show it completely, offering us all the opportunity, the true, legitimate, opportunity to accept his saving plan, with all its ordinances. Can it be that the book of Jonah says all that?
Again, another Old Testament prophet pointing us to the Temple.
Monday, April 21, 2014
A Right to the Throne
Moses 7:59 -
Why was this so powerful to me? Enoch says he has been given a right to the throne of God. I don't think I've ever thought of it that way. Through the grace of Jesus Christ, Enoch had a right to the throne, and so do we all.
And Enoch beheld the Son of Man ascend up unto the Father; and he called unto the Lord, saying: Wilt thou not come again upon the earth? Forasmuch as thou art God, and I know thee, and thou hast sworn unto me, and commanded me that I should ask in the name of thine Only Begotten; thou hast made me, and given unto me a right to thy throne, and not of myself, but through thine own grace; wherefore, I ask thee if thou wilt not come again on the earth.
Why was this so powerful to me? Enoch says he has been given a right to the throne of God. I don't think I've ever thought of it that way. Through the grace of Jesus Christ, Enoch had a right to the throne, and so do we all.
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
The Number of the Beast
Revelation 13:18
-The number of the beast is 666.
-The numerical value of the name Jesus (IESOUS) in Greek is 888.
-From wikipedia.com for "Number of the beast": There are several interpretations-translations for the meaning of the phrase "Here is Wisdom, Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast" where the peculiar Greek word ψηφισάτω (psefisato) is used. Possible translations include not only "to count", "to reckon" but also "to vote" or "to decide". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_the_beast
-The beast is 666; Jesus is 888. They are both decipherable, recognizable, differentiated. We can reckon between them. We can decide which one to follow. We can know which is which.
-It looks as though in the process of trying to say, "The beast has a number, it's different from Jesus', you can decipher between the two and choose which one you will serve," all of which I'm sure was meant to clarify the situation, John ended up confusing the great majority of us, which basically is our fault I think.
We ended up by making a complete mess of the 666 thing. It's not meant to be looked upon as a literal number we should avoid, or we should try with all our hearts to decipher. Like we often avoid the number 13, out of superstition. It's a symbol that differentiates the beast from the Savior. It says, "You can tell between the two, and if you're wise you'll make the right choice."
-The number of the beast is 666.
-The numerical value of the name Jesus (IESOUS) in Greek is 888.
-From wikipedia.com for "Number of the beast": There are several interpretations-translations for the meaning of the phrase "Here is Wisdom, Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast" where the peculiar Greek word ψηφισάτω (psefisato) is used. Possible translations include not only "to count", "to reckon" but also "to vote" or "to decide". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Number_of_the_beast
-The beast is 666; Jesus is 888. They are both decipherable, recognizable, differentiated. We can reckon between them. We can decide which one to follow. We can know which is which.
-It looks as though in the process of trying to say, "The beast has a number, it's different from Jesus', you can decipher between the two and choose which one you will serve," all of which I'm sure was meant to clarify the situation, John ended up confusing the great majority of us, which basically is our fault I think.
We ended up by making a complete mess of the 666 thing. It's not meant to be looked upon as a literal number we should avoid, or we should try with all our hearts to decipher. Like we often avoid the number 13, out of superstition. It's a symbol that differentiates the beast from the Savior. It says, "You can tell between the two, and if you're wise you'll make the right choice."
Friday, April 11, 2014
Revelation 13 and 14
Revelation
13:1 - the beast is almost like the church, seven heads--a heavenly number, 10 horns, 10 crowns, not quite the 12 crowns representing the church, but similar, like enough to be deceptive, enough truth to be deceptive.
13:3 - one of the beast's heads is wounded as it were to death. The gospel in the meridian of time wounds the beast as though to death, but the beast recovers and gains power and overcomes the saints, then the beast's influence covers the earth. The great apostasy.
13:11 - another beast had two horns like a lamb, and spoke as a dragon. Again enough similarities to good to be deceptive. It's not blatantly bad.
The beast: he is an evolving creature, or the dragons associated with him are evolving, ever changing, ever becoming more sly and deceptive.
14:1-5 - The 144,000: a number signifying, or representing the faithful followers of Christ. They will be redeemed in the first resurrection, the first fruits unto God and the Lamb. Maybe the number is what it is to represent how small the actual faithful to the Savior will be? 144,000 in relation to many numbers used in the scriptures, or mainly in relation to numbers in general, now, seems very small. I want to say it's a generic number, but I'm not sure that's exactly what I mean. It has no literal significance in my opinion.
14:13 - And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,a Blessed are the b dead which c die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may d rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
The works of the righteous follow them because they are done with authority, being acceptable to God. They can rest from their labours, because they are complete. All the work has been finished, and accepted.
14:14-20 - the true second coming of Jesus Christ, after all the work has been done, all the work that can be done has been done, and has been accepted. Those who follow the Savior are taken to their rest and then the Savior sends those who are proud and unrighteous to their just place. The final scriptures compare it to a wine press and blood. The wicked being required to pay for their sins on their own. Since they did not accept the blood of Christ to cleanse them.
13:1 - the beast is almost like the church, seven heads--a heavenly number, 10 horns, 10 crowns, not quite the 12 crowns representing the church, but similar, like enough to be deceptive, enough truth to be deceptive.
13:3 - one of the beast's heads is wounded as it were to death. The gospel in the meridian of time wounds the beast as though to death, but the beast recovers and gains power and overcomes the saints, then the beast's influence covers the earth. The great apostasy.
13:11 - another beast had two horns like a lamb, and spoke as a dragon. Again enough similarities to good to be deceptive. It's not blatantly bad.
The beast: he is an evolving creature, or the dragons associated with him are evolving, ever changing, ever becoming more sly and deceptive.
14:1-5 - The 144,000: a number signifying, or representing the faithful followers of Christ. They will be redeemed in the first resurrection, the first fruits unto God and the Lamb. Maybe the number is what it is to represent how small the actual faithful to the Savior will be? 144,000 in relation to many numbers used in the scriptures, or mainly in relation to numbers in general, now, seems very small. I want to say it's a generic number, but I'm not sure that's exactly what I mean. It has no literal significance in my opinion.
14:13 - And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write,
The works of the righteous follow them because they are done with authority, being acceptable to God. They can rest from their labours, because they are complete. All the work has been finished, and accepted.
14:14-20 - the true second coming of Jesus Christ, after all the work has been done, all the work that can be done has been done, and has been accepted. Those who follow the Savior are taken to their rest and then the Savior sends those who are proud and unrighteous to their just place. The final scriptures compare it to a wine press and blood. The wicked being required to pay for their sins on their own. Since they did not accept the blood of Christ to cleanse them.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Roots and Branches and Burning
This is the post I should have started with, since deciphering the symbolism in this revelation is what started me on the path to a growing sense that scripture is more likely symbolic than not. I've since looked at scripture as symbol, or metaphor, or parable, or allegory, first. Then, as literal, second.
I was in an Elder's Quorum meeting a couple years ago. We were separated into groups of two or three at some point in the meeting. We were asked to research a particular sign of the times, I believe. That part I can't really remember clearly. Anyway, at some point in the discuss with the two men I was paired with, I mentioned my belief that the burning of the wicked at the last days was not literal. Both of these men were friends, so we were able to speak fairly openly. One of them saw some merit in what I was saying, or at least tried to, or at least acted like he did. He's a deep thinker. I think he really thought about it. The other disagreed openly and found a scripture where it mentions the burning and said, See, it's a literal burning. I still disagreed. No big deal. We had a difference of opinion.
I guess I should really start long before this incident. As a young man I was taught on a regular basis the signs of the times and how things would supposedly play out at the end. And how the Savior's second coming would likely take place, and even when. The descriptions and explanations never felt right to me. They never fully made sense. What was the worst part about many of these descriptions and explanations was that they made me feel like I had no real purpose or motivation to improve myself, to prepare for a productive life, here and now. Why would I go get a college education when the world would be ending soon? What's the purpose of a secular education when the near future holds only a spiritual lifestyle, lived in the presence of Jesus Christ?
Plus, the event, the second coming itself, and life after the second coming were such mysteries to me. I believe they were mysteries to everyone trying to explain them too. I didn't understand the need for such mystery. But, think about it, we're often motivated by the lowest common denominator towards motivation: fear. Human beings often are most motivated by fear. What's scarier than being told "the great and terrible day of the Lord is near." And by the way, the wicked will be burned. I didn't even know if I was wicked or not. Often I felt I was. Burning sounds like a terrible way to die. Especially, when following the excruciating pain of burning, you're cast into hell.
When I saw that the scriptures relating to the wicked being burned were also more often than not paired with roots and branches, I realized there was more to this revelation. It lead me on a new path. One where scriptural imagery was just that.
In the General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, last weekend, Elder Quentin L. Cook said this about roots and branches and burning:
Our Father’s plan is about families. Several of our most poignant scriptures use the concept of the tree with its roots and branches as an analogy.In the closing chapter of the Old Testament, Malachi, in describing the Second Coming of the Savior, vividly uses this analogy. Speaking of the proud and wicked, he notes that they shall be burned as stubble and “that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.” Malachi closes this chapter with the Lord’s reassuring promise:“Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord:“And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.”
Yes, our Heavenly Father's plan is about families. When we talk of families we talk of roots and branches and trees. As do the scriptures talking of the burning of the proud and wicked.
Burning is a terrible way to die, I'm sure. But being without the ones you love would be worse.
There's a couple of things to consider when we think about a literal burning and an analogy of burning. In the first case, it would seem to me that God would have to take part in some way in literally lighting his children on fire. I don't know how it would happen, but it seems he would have to do something, or enact something that would set his children alight.
In the second case, God has asked us to follow the laws of heaven, by accepting the gospel of Jesus Christ, and receiving the ordinances, or ceremonies, or performances, that save us. One of those ordinances is being married, or sealed, to our spouse, in the holy temple of God. Along with that, we're sealed to our parents, our grandparents, and on and on (our roots), and to our children, our grandchildren, and on and on (our branches). What the revelations are saying is that those who choose not to receive these ordinances, those who do not believe in the laws of God, or who choose to rebel against them, will pay natural consequences. They will not be linked with those they love in the next life. Their relationships will not be recognized or accepted. It takes no further action by God. He's set up his law and we can choose to accept it and obey it or not. Our rewards and consequences will naturally follow.
I can imagine that the pain, or the hell, of not having your spouse, your companion, your children, etc. linked to you in the next life will be something similar to the way gay people feel now, who seek to have the government and people recognize their bonds. I'm not in their position, so I cannot speak definitively about this, but I can imagine they feel they are in limbo. If they live in a place where their relationship is not recognized, I can imagine it occupies their mind daily. They feel it's mean, it's unjust, and it's painful.
I've battled minor injustices in my life against bodies that were much larger and more powerful than I. I always feel my angriest, my most out of control, my most revengeful, when I'm fighting against someone or something that is bigger than I am, who has the final say on my fate in that particular situation. I always feel like what they're doing is unjust. That makes my anger and pain so much more potent. I'm being treated unjustly and I have no control over correcting the wrong. They have all the control.
In this life, gay people have a supreme court and legislatures that are becoming more and more compassionate to their cause. There's hope for them. They may see their relationships sanctioned by most governments in the near future. In many places they already have. But imagine fighting this battle in the next life, where there is no supreme court, no legislature. Where there is no recourse. God has decided that families consist of mothers and fathers and children, etc. And those families are only sanctioned through ordinances approved by him, which take place in holy temples, where the ceremonies are performed by people who have the direct authority from God to perform them. All others will be fighting to have their relationships sanctioned by God, or will relent and accept their fate, or, I hope, will have and take the opportunity to finally follow God's laws.
I believe we might be surprised just how similar the next life will be to this one. People who believe God is unjust will still believe it there. People who don't want to live God's law but want many of the benefits of doing so, will still want those things there. People who want to fight perceived injustices here, will want to fight them there. Hell is feeling like you've been dealt with unjustly and knowing no matter how hard you fight it won't be overturned. Hell is wanting something so badly it's all you can think about, and knowing you'll never be able to have it. Hell is not burning to death or sitting in a fiery place for eternity.
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
Joseph and Hyrum Smith, Two Prophets Killed in Jerusalem
Jerusalem = the gospel
New
Jerusalem = the restored gospel?
In the
book of Revelation, chapter 11, we're told that the Gentiles will tread
"the holy city" under foot forty and two months. In the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we've been taught that the holy city refers
to Jerusalem. To the point that the heading before the 11th chapter says
"In the last days, two prophets will be slain in Jerusalem." It's
true, in the 77th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, Joseph Smith, in
relation to this chapter, states:
"They are
two prophets that are to be raised up to the Jewish nation in the last days, at
the time of the restoration, and to prophesy to the Jews after they are
gathered and have built the city of Jerusalem in the land of their fathers."
It's obvious where we've gotten the idea, in our faith, that the two witnesses are prophets and that they would be killed in the city of Jerusalem. We usually take everything Joseph Smith said to be the truth, or prophecy. As we should. I tend to believe Joseph Smith first, then if I feel there's anything that could be off about something he said, I consider that. My testimony, my belief, in God, in Jesus Christ, in the Book of Mormon, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, are all predicated on a belief in the divine mission of Joseph Smith. What he did during his short life changed my life. And improves my life on a daily basis. So for me to say, I think there's more to this revelation than what Joseph Smith said, which appears in a book or our scriptures, is not just bold, it's kind of stupid or crazy. But as I said in my previous post, I think it's okay, even healthy, to question things when we feel they're a little off.
Let's think a little more broadly and symbolically about this revelation. If the Book of Revelation isn't symbolic it's utter nonsense. We tend to want to believe that the revelations concerning the "last days" will all occur in our lifetime, or very shortly before or after. We all want to be part of something grand. And we are. Here's the first two verses of Revelation, Chapter 11:
1 And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.
2 But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months.
We see that the verses don't actually mention Jerusalem. They speak of the "holy city". We can obviously make the connection between Jerusalem and the holy city. (Let me just add here that all the things I'm posting, at least here at the beginning, are fairly new thoughts and ideas to me. They're appearing, changing, evolving, growing. Even my posts here may be somewhat incoherent at times, as I write them as I'm thinking.) But let's consider another option. Can the holy city symbolize the gospel?
Later in the chapter, we read that the beast of the bottomless pit will finally overcome the two witnesses and that they will be killed and their bodies will be in the streets of "the great city".
8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.
Again, the name Jerusalem is not used. But we've made the connection, through symbolism, that the great city equals Jerusalem.
Let's think about what's also in that verse. "That great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt." Why would Jerusalem be called Sodom and Egypt? We definitely have to be aware of all the other scriptures having to do with these revelations, which, admittedly, I'm aware of many, but I'm sure not all. But what I believe is even more important is being aware of parallel uses of the same symbolism in the same book. John wrote this book. He has his own style and used his own language, meaning his use of language would be similar throughout the book. John obviously received an expansive, beautiful, literary, revelation. To add to that, he was a wonderful writer. He uses language to create a compelling story. Just seeing something doesn't mean you can describe it effectively or compellingly. John was able to do that. In the book of Revelation, John describes Babylon, not Jerusalem, as the great city a number of times. In 14:8, "...Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city." In 16:19, "And the great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceness of his wrath." In 17:18, "And the woman which thou sawest is that great city, which reigneth over the kings of the earth." In 18:2, "And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen..." In 18:10, "Standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Alas, alas, that great city Babylon, that mighty city! for in one hour is thy judgment come."
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we had two witnesses, who were literally prophets, killed by an angry mob. Joseph and Hyrum Smith were martyred in Carthage Jail, in Carthage, Illinois, June 27, 1844. Joseph Smith fell from the second story window when he was shot and lay in the street. They were not killed in Jerusalem. But they were raised up to the gospel of Jesus Christ, or the holy city, and were killed by angry, wicked men, in Babylon.
It's kind of obvious why Joseph Smith would not receive a totally accurate revelation concerning his own death. Even if we could, would any of us really want to know our own fate? Would it do us any good? I believe that Joseph and Hyrum Smith were those two witnesses and that prophecy is fulfilled. If that's true, we may have to rethink a lot of the signs of the times.
Revelation Is Living, Breathing, Growing
I'm an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I'm not in the least bit disgruntled, disenchanted, or disengaged from the church. I believe very strongly in the doctrines of my religion. But I believe it's okay, and even healthy, to question things when they appear to possibly be incorrect or outdated.
I believe revelation happens line upon line, precept on precept, here a little, there a little. I don't believe it always comes perfectly clear the first time. It's a process. I believe revelation, like knowledge, discovery, growth, can expand. We can look at all the events that have happened, read all that's been said, add our thoughts to those existing, listen to God's voice, and receive new and beautiful ideas that are relevant to our times. That's all I'm doing here. It seems to me as though we're experiencing something of a spiritual revival. Even within our own religion. New thoughts and ideas are being expressed. I take my cue from the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles of my faith. At times, they think in ways and express ideas that are revolutionary. They're expansive. They're beautiful. Joseph Smith, whether you believe in him as a prophet or not, was one of the greatest thinkers of all time. Certainly one of the most daring theologians in history. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though it can be very conservative when necessary, is an evolving, growing, thought-provoking religion. We believe in living prophets. What would be the purpose of living prophets if we didn't believe there was more revelation to come? We're the most dynamic and evolutionary religion on earth, as far as I know.
I'm not claiming to be receiving revelation concerning our religion in any way. That's not my place. I merely have ideas I'd like to put down in one place so I can think about them. This is as much a thought journal as anything. If people find this blog and want to be involved in the conversation, I welcome it. I think we all benefit when we have open, civil discussion.
I believe revelation happens line upon line, precept on precept, here a little, there a little. I don't believe it always comes perfectly clear the first time. It's a process. I believe revelation, like knowledge, discovery, growth, can expand. We can look at all the events that have happened, read all that's been said, add our thoughts to those existing, listen to God's voice, and receive new and beautiful ideas that are relevant to our times. That's all I'm doing here. It seems to me as though we're experiencing something of a spiritual revival. Even within our own religion. New thoughts and ideas are being expressed. I take my cue from the First Presidency and Twelve Apostles of my faith. At times, they think in ways and express ideas that are revolutionary. They're expansive. They're beautiful. Joseph Smith, whether you believe in him as a prophet or not, was one of the greatest thinkers of all time. Certainly one of the most daring theologians in history. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, though it can be very conservative when necessary, is an evolving, growing, thought-provoking religion. We believe in living prophets. What would be the purpose of living prophets if we didn't believe there was more revelation to come? We're the most dynamic and evolutionary religion on earth, as far as I know.
I'm not claiming to be receiving revelation concerning our religion in any way. That's not my place. I merely have ideas I'd like to put down in one place so I can think about them. This is as much a thought journal as anything. If people find this blog and want to be involved in the conversation, I welcome it. I think we all benefit when we have open, civil discussion.
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