Bless and Be Blessed

Priesthood blessings have been a part of all of our lives. I have experienced healing through a priesthood blessing when I was young. The blessing was instantaneous as I lay in my bed in extreme pain. Once the person blessing me placed their hands on my head I felt a wash of healing go over me and I was asleep before the blessing ended.

I've written about this before, but it bears repeating. The holy priesthood can be defined as our relationship with God, and God is no respecter of persons. Our relationship with Him is not gender-dependent. The Aaronic priesthood, or in other words - the ministering of angels, does not favor males over females. It is based on your faith alone, and is freely available to all men, women, and children who have strong Faith and a firm mind in every form of Godliness. This extends into the Patriarchal and Melchizedek priesthoods as well. 

26 And after that he (Christ) came men also were saved by faith in his name (faith is what saves men...not ceremonies. Ceremonies are designed to spark humble initiates with FAITH); and by faith, they become the sons of God. And as surely as Christ liveth he spake these words unto our fathers, saying: Whatsoever thing ye shall ask the Father in my name, which is good, in faith believing that ye shall receive, behold, it shall be done unto you.

27 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God, to claim of the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?

29 And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men.

30 For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness.

31 And the office of their ministry is to call men unto repentance, and to fulfill and to do the work of the covenants of the Father, which he hath made unto the children of men, to prepare the way among the children of men, by declaring the word of Christ unto the chosen vessels of the Lord, that they may bear testimony of Him. (Moroni 7)

As our family has gone on this journey we have walked by faith. We never had a plan of what we would do next - the spirit just revealed it to us as we went along and we went forward. I bet that's how it's been for you too. One thing that was revealed to us along the way was the power of prayer and uniting our voices in prayer for each other. We also learned the power of touch in prayer. I went through some health challenges the last few years which I believe were spiritual attacks set to take me down or at least slow me from heading in the direction I was going. But oh how grateful I have been for those physical attacks! It taught us to gather together, in the name of Jesus, to touch and pray for me and for each other.

I don't know if what I will share in this post is something you have tried, but if it isn't - I thought I might share today to offer a seed for you to consider planting and trying in your own home.

The priesthood is an association with the other side of the veil. The greater your righteousness the greater the association. Righteousness is this: 1. You seek the Lord's will and 2. You do what He asks you to do. The more you seek and do - the greater your association with heaven. Even small children can be righteous and have a great association with heaven. What I am sharing can be done whether you are married or single, children or no children. You can gather with others who have an eye single to the Glory of God and where there are two or three gathered together in His name - it is enough. (Matthew 18:20)

Two weeks ago a very close friend of mine came to visit from out of state. I have known this friend for 24 years and though we disagree wildly on politics, we come together easily on matters of the heart. This friend has always been extremely physically active. They hiked the Grand Canyon in one day (signs on location tell hikers NOT to do that). About seven years ago this friend was kayaking across a famous bay when about half way their body gave out. It was all they could do to make it to the other side and once they got there, they were bedridden for weeks and months at a time for seven years with only daily short spurts of enough energy to get some food or do basic self care. This person who lived for hiking and outdoors was trapped in a bed with many doctors giving various hypothesis' but no answers as to what was the cause. Ryan and I often fantasized about flying out to this friend and blessing them to be healed, but the Lord never gave the green light. They used to come to visit me and go hiking once or twice a year but with the health challenges, travel became nearly impossible.

Our little family has prayed for my friend for years and we have increased in prayer for them at almost every single meal and daily prayer for the last 4 years. Recently this friend had a wedding for a close family member which caused them to travel almost to my doorstep. When one of my children saw on my calendar that they were coming they said, "We pray for them every single day, please ask if we can come with you to visit them!" My friend consented and two weeks ago all eight of us drove to their little Airbnb where they were staying. We visited and laughed together and then when it was time to go I said, "The kids want to pray for you before we go (I cleverly said "the kids"...who can say no to, "the kids" eh?)." They said they had the thought we would ask to do that and they consented. I then said, "We are a bit weird when we pray for others - we touch them while we pray. Maybe one person will touch an arm, the other a knee, a foot, or a hand. Just some part of you - are you okay with that?" They said that they had seen that in their mind before we came.

And so, there we all knelt or stood with our hands gently holding them in some way. I began the prayer and I invited my friends parent who had passed away two decades earlier. I asked the Lord if the parent could come and lay hands on them. I asked Jesus if He would lay hands on my friend and then I said that we wanted to do the Lord's will and that we really, really, really wanted our friend to be healed but that we would trust Him no matter the outcome. I expressed my love for this friend and I told the Lord how much I admired that this friend still believes in Him even though they can't feel Him during this time of alienating pain. That alone causes the heavens to marvel and rejoice.

After I prayed I concluded my portion of the blessing with, "In the name of Jesus Christ" but I didn't say, "Amen". I left it open. This is how our family prays in group prayers for others. Then we all stay quiet and whomever feels a push to pray, prays. It was humbling to listen to each child pray for our friend. Some of our kids hadn't seen my friend in many years and some of the kids never met them at all, yet they prayed with sincere tenderness for this friends healing and comfort and with love and admiration for the life they have lived. After all of us had prayed, the last person praying said, "Amen".

Leonard Ravenhill said, 

"No man is greater than his prayer life. The pastor who is not praying is playing; the people who are not praying are straying. We have many organizers, but few agonizers; many players and payers, few pray-ers; many singers, few clingers; lots of pastors, few wrestlers; many fears, few tears; much fashion, little passion; many interferers, few intercessors; many writers, but few fighters. Failing here, we fail everywhere.”

I encourage anyone reading this to consider increasing your prayers for others and asking others to pray for you. Even asking Jesus to pray for you (Luke 22:32). Ask them to lay hands on you - a shoulder, an arm, a knee, the feet, wherever you feel comfortable. Tell them the prayer doesn't have to be fancy or special. The most important part of the prayer is to invite the Lord to come and then just talk to Him like He's your friend. I used to pray "Thee", "Thou" and "Thine" but then it got so that I was trying to remember the "proper" words to use which distanced me from God. So now I pray "You". Try it sometime. It makes Him close and relatable. Even in our youngest child's prayer for my friend she said, "Bless (the friend) to be healed, if it's Your will. And help (them) to have a good day. And bless (them) to have an awesome dinner." You don't have to wax poetic for the heavens to be moved into action.

I listened to a YouTube of a former Satanist who was converted to Jesus. The person who changed this Satanists life was just a young college aged girl. The Lord told her to go to him and she decided she would go at 7am in the hopes that he would be asleep and then she could tell the Lord she tried to reach him - but no luck. But as fate would have it - he was awake and came out of his apartment to catch a flight. She only had to do the Lord's will, and the Lord did the rest. 

What did she do? She said his name. "James." He was instantly enraged. No one called him by his name. They called him "master". He kept walking and she said his name again. "James." He determined he would turn around and curse her and cause her to go blind or kill her. As he turned around to curse her he couldn't see her but he saw a pillar of light and in that light was a man (whom he later understood was Jesus) and just that man's glance disarmed him of all the dark forces he was in possession of - only by a glance of Jesus. Then he looks again and the pillar of light is gone, Jesus is gone, and only the girl remains. She approaches him and does what the spirit instructs her to do and she says four simple words and the man is forever transformed. She didn't have to do anything other than seek the Lords will and then do the Lords will and then a life was transformed. 

If you're interested in watching that conversion story the link is here. Trigger warning: it is a very, very difficult interview to listen to. The first half is extremely dark and the second half is very instructive. It is not an interview to listen to casually. Pray to know if it is something you need to know or if it is not for you at this time. For me, this video transformed my prayer life. I now pray more regularly and deeply than I ever prayed before. I knew prayer worked, but I didn't know just how much prayer worked until I saw the underbelly of the beast. Sometimes the only way I seem to learn is to see how ugly the other side is.

I share all this today to encourage you to think outside of the box. When you tell someone you will pray for them - do it! Even think about writing down your prayer and texting it to them. Think about asking them if you can touch their arm when you pray. I did this with an old neighbor of ours (who is now a bishop and still "in the box" so to speak). This neighbor came to Ryan for a blessing. We were inactive at that time so we were amazed he would ask a blessing from one who could be deemed as "unclean" or "unworthy". I asked if I could say a prayer before Ryan blessed him and he consented. I said, "I'm kind of a touchy person, do you mind if I hold your arm when I pray?" And he said it was okay. When the blessing was over he spoke of me giving him - not a prayer but, "When you blessed me...."

We do far less praying and blessing than we are capable of! 

A friend reminded me of the scripture that says to pray for more laborers in the vineyard (Matthew 9:38). Who are the laborers? To me - laborers are people who pray. We need an army of those who unite and labor in prayer. The world is groaning under the weight of sin (Romans 8:22). We must break the chains (Moses 7:26)! We all have spiritual iniquity that must be cleansed. Someone once taught me that when Christ came he forgave sins AND iniquities. Sin is our own - iniquity is generational sin. To be forgiven of iniquity is to purify a bloodline. Each of us needs our bloodlines purified. None of us likely come through a line of Saints. So pray for your bloodline to be cleansed and the bondage of iniquity to be broken. This is something I have only been learning recently so bare with me as I share what I am in the middle of right now. I'll elaborate.

My husband and I go for a walk together every morning and we take turns praying aloud while we walk. One morning two months ago Ryan was praying and as he prayed, out of nowhere, I saw a part of his bloodline and I saw a generational sin. I asked him to pause his prayer and I vocalized what I had seen and I said, "We should pray that this doesn't come upon our family." Ryan began to pray and asked for the Lord to break the iniquity in his bloodline so that it wouldn't pass onto our family.

Two days later one of my children said they had a dream that a person was placing treasure chests around our property but that when we opened them, there were bombs inside that were hurting our family. I try to take dreams seriously so when we went for our walk that morning I was vocalizing the prayer and I said, "Lord, (the child) had a dream and if there is anything dark, evil, or negative coming against our family at this time - please bless...." 

*BAM* 

Ryan went down to the ground and said, "I just broke my leg!"

What happened? Well, there was a random patch of ice where we were walking. Ryan stepped on it, noticed it was ice and went to move to safer ground. As he attempted to move his foot he felt a force come and push his chest, hard. This push caused him to twist and he broke his leg in the twist.

Coincidence?

Breaking bloodlines of iniquity may mean you suffer. It may mean that you physically have to pay a price. This is everywhere in the scriptures if you ask the Lord to show you. In the video I mentioned of the former Satanist, after he was converted to Jesus Christ he got very ill with Leukemia. After a year in the hospital and after he lost his ability to speak and lost his ability to see - he was taken home to die. As he laid in his bed his eyes suddenly could see and Jesus was standing in front of him. Jesus spoke and said, "I have healed you." The man responded, "From what?!" Jesus said, "From the rebellion of your bloodline."

Pray for the cleansing and purification of your bloodline. Learn to pray for your loved ones and your enemies. Touch when you pray, if you can. Practice praying for each other. My oldest son was asked to teach Young Mens even though we don't go to church. In his lesson he shared the trials and struggles he was having and asked each young man and leader to share theirs also. Then at the end of the lesson he personally prayed for each of them, by name, and the specific trials they were going through. He came back from that lesson and I asked, "How did it go?!" He said the young men and the leaders were crying. 

Oh Lord...what if we did that at church?! What if we truly prayed for each other, by name?! Writing a name on a piece of paper and dropping it in a box to be laid on an altar of a Temple isn't the true order of prayer. It just isn't! You must work out your salvation, and the salvation of others, in communion with the Lord. This takes time and effort and instruction. Ask the Lord to teach you to pray with the tongue of an angel.

From the Wild At Heart ministry:

"Teach us to pray!” The disciples had been watching Jesus for some time when they asked him this. They must have noticed his prayers had power; they worked.

Most folks don’t actually see a lot of results when they pray; they get discouraged and come to some terrible conclusions about their spiritual life or God’s heart towards them. We’ll be honest with you—some prayers work, others don’t, and there is a reason why.

Some prayers just happen; they are “the cry of the heart.” No training needed when it comes to this kind of prayer. We’ve uttered it thousands of times. Bet you have, too. Like when the phone rings and the bad news starts to spill and all you can do is say, Father…Father…Father, your heart crying out to God. It’s a good kind of prayer, rising from the deep places in us, often unbidden, always welcome to his loving ears.

But most people get stuck there, which is kind of like ending your education somewhere around fourth grade. There is more.

The other kind of prayer is far more intentional, where we take up sword and shield and start making an impact through strong, determined prayer. We call this kind “the prayer of intervention.” Meaning we are intervening. Men and women were meant to rule the earth, and though we royally screwed up our first pass at that, God didn’t switch to Plan B. He intervened in and through Jesus of Nazareth to restore us as sons and daughters and put us back in the action. “Rule and subdue” is still the mandate. When we pray “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth,” we are acting as agents with God to bring about change, to enforce his Kingdom.

Name one thing in your life you enjoy doing that didn’t take some time to learn. Reading, skiing, playing an instrument, driving a car—there was something to be learned before you could enjoy it. Prayer is like that, too.

If you want to watch a video that teaches a non-Mormony and very holy way of group prayer - watch this here.  

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

a prayer:

Oh LORD...Make me righteous that my prayer availeth much. Forgive my sin. Forgive my unrighteousness. Bless us, your children, with an understanding of the law of heaven. Bless us to learn to pray and to seek you in prayer. Please send more laborers into the vineyard. Make me a worthy laborer. 

Bless us to awake and arise from our slumber of a thousand years. Bless your church to awake and arise and let your glory fill us, your Temple. We need more of you, Jesus. More of you, please. Reveal Yourself to us as we seek Your will. Where are the glimpses of you in this lone and dreary world? In the power and majesty of the waterfall? Are you Power and Majesty? In the fierceness of the mother bear protecting her cubs? Are you fierce for us? In the enchantment of the seashells and the healing of the sand and waves? Are you Enchanting and Healing? In the gems and rocks we search for and find with breathtaking joy? Are you Breathtaking? Are you Joy? Reveal yourself to us day and night. And teach us how to come to You. To be One with You. Raise us up. Raise up those who have an Eye Single to Your Glory. Raise us up, Lord!!! Holy is Your name. Endless is Your name. Majesty and Power are Your cloak and covering. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Please think about going in your holy place (a closet, a room, a quiet spot) and playing this song and just soaking in your love for the Lord.

So Will I

by

Hillsong Worship

https://youtu.be/GfVd5x9W1Xc?si=GJzpxkzFckky065s

To him that overcometh...

As I've pondered on and prayed for those who have stopped believing in Jesus I had the thought to share a portion of my journal. What I will share was a dream one of my children had 12 years ago.

12 years ago we were just barely waking up. We never taught any of our children about Zion. Our oldest child was five with another child three years old and  another child being one year old. Because of their ages we never had any deep gospel discussions. Please keep that in mind. We were at a "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam" level of gospel instruction with our kids.

I share this dream to ask those who don't believe the Bible...don't believe Jesus is the Son of God or don't believe He is coming back to earth or believe Him to be just an 'ascended master' - how can a little five year old who was just two years out of nursery have such a vivid and real dream that corresponds to the prophecies found in the Book of Revelation and elsewhere?

This child was five years old when they had this dream.

2-22-13

(Edit/name of the child removed) said he had a dream and in the dream he saw Jesus, Heavenly Father, and many angels. They told him, "thank you for repenting and keeping the commandments of Jesus". There was a wall. When I asked what was on the other side of the wall, he said "Everything that is bad. On our side was everything that was good."

He said our whole family was there and Jesus was there. I asked if we said anything to Jesus, he said, "We were singing every song there ever was about Jesus and Heavenly Father." He said his heart was warm.

He said on the other side of the wall was black and Satan was there and Satan had a robe like Jesus but it was black. He had no mouth. Satan had hands and blue eyes and everywhere he stepped the grass turned brown. Jesus came and everywhere He stepped the grass turned green. Once Jesus came the black on the other side of the wall became bright and there was no more darkness. He concluded by saying he felt that all of this was real and really happened.

Later I asked him if he was afraid of Satan. He said, "No. I was sad for him." He said there was a table with the sacrament and he said in his dream, "Maybe we are going to take the sacrament." Jesus said, "Yes (Edit). I will show you all things because you kept my commandments." He said that when Jesus came He taught but he said he already knew what Jesus was saying. Ryan asked him if everyone was in a church or a building. He said, "Actually, I don't know all the people that were there. There wasn't a building that could hold how many people there were."

2-26-13

(Edit) came into my room early this morning after he woke up. I told him to come rest by me and chat. He said he had the same dream. This time he said that Satan was angry on the other side of the wall and wanted Jesus to be brought to him. (Edit) had his scriptures and he said Satan tried to hide in one of the words in the Bible. When he opened it, Satan jumped out and went back in. Ryan along with (Edit/an elderly male relative), and (Edit/an elderly male relative) were giving him a black bag and he put Satan in the bag. Everyone was happy because they knew Satan would not get out. He said, "The bag was sealed".

Also - he said the people had clothing like rainbows.

3-3-13

(The same son) came to me and said, "Mom, can we be a God?" I said, "What? Where did you hear that? What do you mean?" He said, "Can we be a God? Can we have power like Jesus?" I asked if he thought that because of his dream. He said, "Yes, in my dream I could move a cow. If I pointed to a tree and asked it to move - it would. If I saw a flower seed, I could ask it to grow and it would become a beautiful flower. I had powers like Jesus and whatever I asked things to do, they did them."

Quotes from the dream with corresponding scriptures:

"Yes (Edit). I will show you all things because you kept my commandments."

7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

"We were singing every song there ever was about Jesus and Heavenly Father."

9 And they sung a new song saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5)

3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvelous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. (Revelation 15)

3 And they sung as it were a new song of praise before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. (Revelation 14)

Ryan asked him if everyone was in a church or a building. He said, "Actually, I don't know all the people that were there. There wasn't a building that could hold how many people there were."

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; (Revelation 5)

9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; (Revelation 7)

6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many spirits, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19)

"When I asked what was on the other side of the wall, he said "Everything that is bad. On our side was everything that was good." He said on the other side of the wall was black and Satan was there...everywhere he stepped the grass turned brown...Satan was angry on the other side of the wall and wanted Jesus to be brought to him.

19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. (Revelation 19)

7 The first angel started, and there followed hail and fire mingled with death, and it was cast upon the earth: and the third part of trees were burnt up, and all green grass was killed. (Revelation 8)

"Everyone was happy because they knew Satan would not get out. He said, "The bag was sealed"."

1 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, 3 And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. (Revelation 20)

10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. (Revelation 20)

"...in my dream I could move a cow. If I pointed to a tree and asked it to move - it would. If I saw a flower seed, I could ask it to grow and it would become a beautiful flower. I had powers like Jesus and whatever I asked things to do, they did them.....Once Jesus came the black on the other side of the wall became bright and there was no more darkness."

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that over cometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Revelation 21)

3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: (Revelation 22)

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. (Revelation 22)

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (Revelation 21)

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests , queens and priestesses: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; (Revelation 5)

"There was a wall. When I asked what was on the other side of the wall, he said "Everything that is bad. On our side was everything that was good.""

10 And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: ...15 And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. ... 17 And he measured the wall thereof, an hundred and forty and four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the angel. 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and the city was pure gold, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. ...23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 24 And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. (Revelation 21)

"He said there was a table with the sacrament and he said in his dream, "Maybe we are going to take the sacrament." Jesus said, "Yes (Edit)."

Matthew 26:

28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.

30 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. 

"...he said the people had clothes like rainbows."

White is the combination of all the colors in the color spectrum. It has all of the colors of the rainbow.

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (Revelation 19)

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19)

4 Thou hast a few names of servants, even in Sardis, which have not defiled their covenants; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. (Revelation 3)

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

18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed,  and that the shame of thy lack of knowledge do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with the Spirit, that thou mayest see clearly. 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and come unto me. (Revelation 3)

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (Revelation 4) 

11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellow servants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled. (Revelation 6)

8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. (Revelation 19)

14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. (Revelation 19)

I titled this after the words from Revelation 3:21: "To him that overcome will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."

What does He mean when he says 'overcome'? 

Overcome what? 

Ask and ye shall receive, knock and it shall 

be opened unto you - SEEK and ye shall find. 

Jesus tells us that the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls who, upon finding one pearl of great value - sold all that he had and bought it.

Jesus is that Pearl of great value. 

That Ye May Be Healed

I've been pondering on the loved ones in my life who no longer believe in Jesus being the Son of God. Some no longer believe in God at all. Some say there is a 'higher power' out there - but thats about it. To say that when I hear that my heart feels torn to pieces is an understatement. I found myself pleading with the Lord in the middle of the night to please take the ache that comes from watching those I love reject Him. It is too much for a mortal heart to carry unless He greatly increases my ability to abide in sorrow and not be consumed by it.

One thing I have noticed - in every.single.case of those people I love where the person has stopped believing in Jesus or the Lord - they have two solid commonalities (more on that in a minute).

In science we pay attention to commonalities in order to determine if a hypothesis seems to correspond with the real world based on observations and subjective judgment (thanks Google). For me when I see a commonality, I pay attention. If I'm interested in losing weight and the commonality of everyone who has had success in losing weight is that they counted calories and restricted them, I'm going to say that there seems to be a consistent pattern I ought to follow in order to obtain similar results.

And so it is with those who reject the Lord. The commonalities are:

1. They have a strained relationship with one or both of their parents.

2. They never really heard an answer from the Lord on anything. He didn't show up for them. He didn't come through for them. He didn't speak to them.

I can hear the naysayers now - "Oh, so entrez-vous Freud, right?"

Not exactly.

Here's all I can say, and I've said it before more thoroughly here. If you have felt God doesn't speak to you or answer you I have to ask you - how can He? If you have resentment in your heart, how can He reach you? If you've spiritually blockaded your soul but yet you ask Him to come through for you, you've put Him in a bind.

In order to know that God is real and that He hears you - you must forgive.

In order to live a life of Truth - you must forgive.

Mark 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

Ephesians 4:32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

Matthew 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Matthew 18: 21-22 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Matthew 6:14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Luke 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:

Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

Psalms 103:10-14 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

The Dilemma of Parenting

by Henry T. Close

"There is no question but that our parents failed us as parents. All parents fail their children, and ours were no exception. No parent is ever adequate enough for the job of being a parent, and there is no way not to fail at it. No parent ever has enough love, or wisdom, or maturity, or patience. No parent ever succeeds completely. As kids we needed more mothering than our mothers could give us - more fathering than our fathers had to offer - more brothering and sistering than we got from our siblings.

"Part of our task in growing up thus becomes finding our own sources of parenting - to add to what our mothers and fathers were not able to give us. We cannot wait for our parents' permission to grow up. We need to decide on our own to give to ourselves what our parents couldn't. To grow up isn't easy, but in order to do that we must forgive our parents. We must forgive them for our sake, not theirs. When we do not forgive them we are still expecting all of our parenting from them. We are clinging to them in the hope that tif we wait long enough - or do enough of the "right things" or make them feel guilty enough - the will finally come through with enough parenting for us. But this is impossible. And in order for us to be really free to find other sources of parenting, we must forgive..." 

If you are struggling to hear the Lord right now or feel like He hasn't come through for you - pause and take an inventory. Is there someone (or multiple people) in your life that you have not forgiven? 

And I can hear some of you say, "I'm not an angry person. I'm not mad at anyone. Not mad at my parents. There is no one I need to forgive."

That is called: Self Deception

There is always someone to forgive. Hello - the government and worldwide corruption for starters! Every day, for the rest of your life , no matter how 'chill' of a person you may believe yourself to be - you will have need to forgive. There will always be little (or big) wounds or inflictions that come almost imperceptibly unless we pause and ask the Lord to help us remember. Some of us are really good at stuffing our feelings. Pray for that to be uncovered too.

Getting Started:

Get a quiet place and time where you can have time alone. Get a notebook and begin with a prayer. Invite Jesus into this experience because this is a big moment for you and if you don't invite Him to sit with you and to interpret things for you, it can be an unholy experience.

Once you pray and specifically invite Him into this, then get your notebook and:

1. In the space below list all the things that I am angry at and have never forgiven myself for. (This should take a while...)

2. List all the people I am angry at, and what they did, that I have never forgiven them for. (This should take a while...)

3. Write and pray aloud if you can: "I forgive or release or accept (write their name) for (what they did).

4. Then write and pray aloud if you can: "I am grateful to (the person) for (what you learned or what came from it)."

Why gratitude?

When you take a hurtful situation and ask the Lord to help us look for gratitude we are persuaded to reevaluate our perspective and potentially change our grievance story. You may discover things you learned and ways in which you grew as a person due to someone else's hurtful behavior. When you do this with Jesus, you can begin to see yourself as more than a victim. You can also begin to see the other person as a "human being" rather than a villain.

I recognize that abuse situations may have happened to you. I am saying this for general forgiveness situations and where abuse has happened, being grateful would be very difficult and should not be attempted unless the Lord is walking you through it specifically.

my prayer:

Lord, Jesus, meet me here. My heart is broken today and I need the ointment of the Angels on High to cover me with Your Righteousness. Please let Your River of Life flow through me, surround me, consume me. Please send more Laborers into the vineyard. Please come to Your children. Visit them with affliction and pestilence and pain until they remember You, their Lord and their God. Let them know who formed them that they may rejoice in You and Your Goodness and Your Mercy. Please Jesus, none of us are lost that the Father gave You - but it feels like we are losing more every day. Help me to trust You. To believe in Your Promises. To rejoice that we are not cast off forever if we will but believe in You. You died for me. For us. You were beaten and tortured beyond recognition. Bruised for our iniquities. Torn to pieces and still you cried out, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Help me, Lord. Help me to do the same. Help us to do the same. To forgive! Please Father, bless us with Eyes to SEE and Ears to HEAR the person for whom we harbor hate, we despise, we reject. Help us to see their hearts, their story, their life. Grant us an understanding heart so that we may rejoice in Your Merciful Plan!! You are Holy. HOLY is Your Name. ENDLESS is Your Name. SALVATION is Your Name. There is none like You. None beside You. None to rescue, to succor, to uplift but YOU. You are Good. You are God. Bless your Children to SEE YOU. Bless us. Bless us Jesus. Bless us God Almighty, King of the Universe. I need you today. I need what only You have to offer and to pour out shaken and filled to the top and pressed down. The abundance of Cana - pour out on me. Pour out on us. The majesty and wonder of the 5,000 - bring forth to us now. There are many seeking You and walking in Truth. Raise them up Lord. Raise up laborers in Your vineyard!! There are many now who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of demons. Cause them a great famine. Let them hunger - to feast - to eat glutinously and cause their belly's to ache for starvation of Truth. Let there arise a famine in the Land for Truth. Cause your children to enter into hunger for You. You are the Way, the Truth and the Life. In Jesus name, Amen, Amen and Amen. 

A must watch movie found here.

A must subscribe to channel found here.

Forgiveness

by

Matthew West

https://youtu.be/h1Lu5udXEZI?si=3PP_LixKm5c925HE

The Sound of Silence

There is a famine in the church. Sitting through a typical sacrament meeting is akin to eating dry shredded wheat, with cotton mouth, as a substitute for a steak. My friend Tim made a comment in one of my posts that struck me: "I went to Church yesterday and was mindful that I left with less of the Spirit than when I entered. I spent the evening pondering why that was."

I never had the feeling put to words. Some of you have been told by the Lord to stay at church. Some of you have been told to leave. Some of you have been told to go back. As you go to church - if you ask Him - He will guide you as to what to share. Sometimes He may guide you to pray for those you sit in the room with. Sometimes He may guide you to stay home. 

This post is simple. I want to extend the idea to consider staying home one Sunday once in a while. Now for some of you, that just isn't possible because of your family situation. This suggestion isn't for everyone. But it's for someone. Consider staying home once in a while and giving your family a well thought out lesson and truly *resting* in the Lord. 

And if you go to church - consider the sound of silence. To speak? Or not to speak? Please click on this video and read the lyrics I posted below. As you listen to the song - imagine yourself sitting in church. 

https://youtu.be/uIBJJ3M76Mg?si=Itk-6RpSGLti1Cwo

Hello darkness, my old friend

I've come to talk with you again

Because a vision softly creeping

Left its seeds while I was sleeping

And the vision that was planted in my brain

Still remains

Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams, I walked alone

Narrow streets of cobblestone

'Neath the halo of a street lamp

I turned my collar to the cold and damp

When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light

That split the night

And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light, I saw

Ten thousand people, maybe more

People talking without speaking

People hearing without listening

People writing songs that voices never shared

And no one dared

Disturb the sound of silence

"Fools" said I, "You do not know

Silence like a cancer grows

Hear my words that I might teach you

Take my arms that I might reach you"

But my words, like silent raindrops fell

And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed

To the neon god they made

And the sign flashed out its warning

In the words that it was forming

Then the sign said, "The words on the prophets 

are written on the subway walls

In tenement halls"

And whispered in the sound of silence

Lastly, I liked what this guy had to say. Amen, brother. Amen.

Brandon Tatum

"Went to church today and now I'm sad"

https://youtu.be/aVUgj-XyXVs

I, I am the Lord's

I had a conversation a few weeks ago with a friend (the one that I pretty much broke their heart when they found out we weren't going to church regularly). They talked to me about the LDS church being the ONLY true church on the earth. My heart was so sad about this because, in this journey, I have listened to many Christian speakers and some who specifically brought me into greater intimacy with Jesus to levels that make an LDS sacrament meeting look like a funeral for someone you detested.

I shared with them that I felt that there were many Christians on the earth who were righteous but they were not Mormon. They disagreed. They love good literature so I pointed out C.S. Lewis as one who spoke and wrote things that were beyond the scope of anything we've seen in a hundred years within the leadership of the church. Their answer - was that C.S. Lewis was "good" but he's going to need a real LDS baptism and to accept the gospel before he can be truly saved.

Fine.

"What about Mother Theresa!?," I asked. Answer: she's not going to make it either. She needs an LDS baptism and she needs to accept it - then she'll be saved.

I get so depressed about stuff like this. I was so sad I felt paralyzed. I just sat on my the couch and stared out the window. Stupor. Deep sorrow. Anger. Repeat. I hate false doctrine that has no scriptural foundation. The arrogance of any who believe that "only they" can offer you true salvation. 

Let's explore. Does your church or group say this?

3 ...Behold, I, I am the Lord’s; and the others shall say: I, I am the Lord’s; and thus shall every one say that hath built up churches... (2 Nephi 28)

If so, just a few verses later it says: 

5 O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!

Being "thrust down to hell" is strong verbage and I had to ponder on why saying "I, I am the Lord's" induced such strong language. I believe that saying, "I...I am the Lord's" is akin to breaking the third commandment and is taking the name of the Lord, God in vain.

Elder Bednar has said:

"It cracks me up when people say we are not Christians. We are the only ones who by proper authority can lay claim to the title.”

I have listened to different Christian denominations the last 5 years. The amount of wholesome and wonderful Jesus lovers out there was, for me, totally unexpected. Being in the LDS bubble and being told we are "the only true church" always made me feel sorry for the other souls out there that weren't going to be saved - like us! I had no idea how salvation worked.

Because I have expanded my Christian experience outside of the LDS or LDS offshoot circles I have come to know that there will not be "one special group" that I can join that will be "one in heart and mind" (Moses 7:18) and be invited to build Zion.

Zion has been likened to a wedding. We are the bride awaiting her Bridegroom.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Revelation 21:1-2)

Once He comes for us - there will be a great wedding feast but only certain people will be invited. Many will think they are invited and felt they had a close relationship with the Lord but...

Matthew 7: 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Revelation 19: 6-9

Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out,

“Hallelujah!

For the Lord our God

the Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and exult

and give him the glory,

for the marriage of the Lamb has come,

and his Bride has made herself ready;

it was granted her to clothe herself

with fine linen, bright and pure”—

for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me,

"Write this: 

Blessed are those who are invited 

to the marriage supper 

of the Lamb.” 

And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”

The setting for this wedding will be a great party, the wedding feast of the Lamb. 

When imagining this wedding feast we've got to get images of LDS receptions entirely out of our minds — members milling around in the church gym, holding Styrofoam cups of punch, wondering what to do with themselves. 

You've got to picture an Italian wedding or, better, a Jewish wedding. 

They roll up the rugs and push back the furniture. There is dancing: "Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well" (Jer. 31:13). There is feasting: "On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples" (Isa. 25:6). (Can you imagine what kind of cook God must be?) 

And there is drinking — the feast God says he is preparing includes "a banquet of aged wine — the best of meats and the finest of wines." (Isaiah 25:6)

In fact, at His Last Supper our Bridegroom said he will not drink of "the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes" (Luke 22:18). Then He'll pop a cork.

Want an invite to the feast? You need a covenant. That's the code word for "invite to the feast". 

Here's how to get one:

Hebrews 8:

10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

11 And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

12 For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.

13 In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.

Okay, that scripture is kind of vague...we'll need a specific prophet to teach us though - ya? Someone who can speak with God and obtain promises/an invitation from God for you, right?

No. 

Hebrews 1:

1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

But we need a specific/special group of people striving to bring about Zion. Right?

No.

2 Nephi 30:

2 For behold, I say unto you that as many of the Gentiles as will repent are the covenant people of the Lord; and as many of the Jews as will not repent shall be cast off; for the Lord covenanteth with none save it be with them that repent and believe in his Son, who is the Holy One of Israel. 

 

To summarize: 

The Covenant is: A people that repent. 

What does it mean to repent?

It is to, "...love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." (Matt. 22:37)

That is what it means to be under Covenant with the Lord.

There is no special group or good ship Zion that will lead you to the Lord or save you from destruction. There is only you and the Lord. You work out your salvation with fear and trembling directly - with Him (2 Philipians 2:11-12).

What brings about Zion? A group of people or a church who unite together and work really hard to get along and build temples? 

No.

Zion comes when there are men and women who:

1. Do the Lords will (v. 21 "keep all my commandments")
2. Embrace the truth (v.22)
3. Keep the first commandment & look to God (repentant Matt. 22:37)

Genesis 9 (JST)

21 And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant, which I made unto thy father Enoch, that, *when men should keep all my commandments, Zion should again come on the earth, the city of Enoch, which I have caught up unto myself.

22 And this is mine everlasting covenant: that when thy posterity shall *embrace the truth and *look upward, then shall Zion look downward, and all the heavens shall shake with gladness, and the earth shall tremble with joy;

23 And the general assembly of the church of the firstborn shall come down out of heaven, and possess the earth, and shall have place until the end come. And this is mine everlasting covenant, which I made with thy father Enoch.

 

The people will be of One Heart. 

How will this be done? 

By working really hard to agree on things and get along, right?

No.

God will give it to them when He is their sole focus and when His will is all they seek after. 

Jeremiah 32:

38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.

But Zion is made up of a group and the group will need a prophet to form them into a group so that Zion can come. Right?

No.

Zion will come when you have a people who personally know the Lord. 

Matthew 7:

14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

That narrow path only admits one. Salvation is an individual experience. Zion is made up of one righteous saint at a time. No collective group can manufacture Zion. Only the holy and saved individual will make up the body of Christ and then Zion will come. 

Ezekiel 16:

60 Nevertheless I will remember my covenant with thee in the days of thy youth, and I will establish unto thee an everlasting covenant....And I will establish my covenant with thee; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD

 

Then how the heck will Zion happen!? 

God will do His work. All He needs are righteous individuals and then he will make up His jewels (Malachi 3:17).

Isaiah 61: 8-11

...I will direct their work in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them...that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed...For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

2 Nephi 6: 12-14

And blessed are the Gentiles...if it so be that they shall repent and fight not against Zion, and do not unite themselves to that great and abominable church, they shall be saved; for the Lord God will fulfil his covenants which he has made unto his children;...For the people of the Lord are they who wait for him; for they still wait for the coming of the Messiah...wherefore, he will manifest himself unto them in power and great glory, unto the destruction of their enemies, when that day cometh when they shall believe in him; and none will he destroy that believe in him...for the Mighty God shall deliver his covenant people. For thus saith the Lord: I will contend with them that contendeth with thee

But I need to meet with fellowships or my church in order to help practice being of one heart and one mind so Zion can come about. Right? I need to make and keep sacred covenants via a one who has authority.

D&C 101

37 Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul.

38 And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life.

39 When men are called unto mine everlasting gospel, and covenant with an everlasting covenant, they are accounted as the salt of the earth and the savor of men

Here's what Jesus did with groups: 

Matthew 22

1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,

2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,

3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.

4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.

5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:

6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.

7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.

9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

14 For many are called, but few are chosen. (D&C 121: 40)

Now to the point...: How to bring again Zion.

How many people are there who have disorder in their own home (raising my own hand here) yet they go off to another gathering or engage in more callings while their children are neglected, left untaught, or taught the bear minimum (been there, done that)? How many people have you seen with marriages that are devoid of service and adoration but they go to another fellowship meeting and "seek to bring again Zion within that little group" while Zion in their own home goes unachieved? How many have sibling relationships that are strained or a distant relationship with their parents but that is tossed aside to in favor of gathering with strangers. How many in these groups will fast for people they've only known a short while but ignore fasting for their loves ones that, "know not God" (Alma 6:6)

Zion will come and it will be comprised of the pure in heart (Matt. 5:8). As a wise person taught me - Zion will come from families who worship together and look out for one another. Some larger multi-generational and some small families of one or two people. We can look to the Book of Mormon for examples of this type - Lehi and his family being the first example. The prophet and servant of this group was their father. This will most often be the case for those who gather to Zion. Zion will be individuals and families who place the Lord's will ahead of themselves. It will come from some within the church and from some who have no formal religious convictions. It will be comprised of people who love the Lord, seek His will and do His will. The Lord will establish Zion. It will not come via a group that attempts to manufacture it. Remember the wedding feast in the verses above. Servants (aka. Angels) go and gather those invited to the wedding feast. 

This video perfectly demonstrates the family unit. The Hawk is the adversary. The animals are your family, whether single or married. They represent being of one heart and one mind - the Body of Christ!

Moses' brother, Aaron, was the first high priest. In Leviticus 16 we see the record of Aaron performing the Day of Atonement for the ancient Israelites. What is interesting was that, in verse 6, we see that Aaron offered his bullock of the sin offering first - "...for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house."

First we must cleanse and perfect our own house. We need to learn how to be attuned to the spirit in our own home. To learn how to receive personal revelation. To learn to have discernment before we set to manufacture a Zionistic group ascension. To attempt to gather and seek Zion before you achieve it in your own home would be akin to a diet of junk food and then working out three hours every day. Your progress will be minimal, if at all. First perfect your diet and then the effort will not be in vain. 

God will gather His people. For He has said, 

"I will show unto the children of men that I am able to do mine own work." (2 Nephi 27:21)

I have set before you life and death...Now choose life. (Deuteronomy 30:19)