There are many people on this path right now and I believe the Lord has told some to stay and some to leave. Some haven't received a clear answer and find scripture to help bolster their decisions. Recently I have watched someone come under the threat of excommunication to remove their content and they are complying to obey church authority. I believe they seek revelation from the Lord continually and maybe much good will come from them removing their content. I do not know the answers and I doubt they read my blog, but if they do I would refer to Jesus.
John 12:
37 But though he had done so many miracles before them, yet they believed not on him...
42 Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: (excommunication or having your Temple recommend taken away)
43 For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.
This video below (I have shared before) is the best description I have of what it was like to let go of my fear of "being put out of the synagogue". When you, of your own free will and choice, turn in your recommend, it can not be taken from you (Luke 10:42).
When people look down upon those cast out or not privileged to enter the temple/synagogue, do they not see them as misguided, poor, sinful, or confused?
ReplyDeleteI tend to hear, “I feel bad for them, I hope they come back.” I once’s said that. Shame on me.
Come back to whom I ask?
Now I pray all people will come unto Jesus wherever they are. “Ye are the temple of God.”
Alma 32 and 33 are placed/selected in the Book of Mormon for a reason! Just like all the war chapters (topic for another day). Selective is an understatement.
Mormon 8
28 Yea, it shall come in a day when the power of God shall be denied, and churches become defiled and be lifted up in the pride of their hearts; yea, even in a day when leaders of churches and teachers shall rise in the pride of their hearts, even to the envying of them who belong to their churches.
37 For behold, ye do love money, and your substance, and your fine apparel, and the adorning of your churches, more than ye love the poor and the needy, the sick and the afflicted.
38 O ye pollutions, ye hypocrites, ye teachers, who sell yourselves for that which will canker, why have ye polluted the holy church of God? Why are ye ashamed to take upon you the name of Christ? Why do ye not think that greater is the value of an endless happiness than that misery which never dies—because of the praise of the world?
39 Why do ye adorn yourselves with that which hath no life, and yet suffer the hungry, and the needy, and the naked, and the sick and the afflicted to pass by you, and notice them not?
Nephi 28
13 They rob the poor because of their fine sanctuaries; they rob the poor because of their fine clothing; and they persecute the meek and the poor in heart, because in their pride they are puffed up.
14 They wear stiff necks and high heads; yea, and because of pride, and wickedness, and abominations, and whoredoms, they have all gone astray save it be a few, who are the humble followers of Christ; nevertheless, they are led, that in many instances they do err because they are taught by the precepts of men.
Alma 32
5 And they came unto Alma; and the one who was the foremost among them said unto him: Behold, what shall these my brethren do, for they are despised of all men because of their poverty, yea, and more especially by our priests; for they have cast us out of our synagogues which we have labored abundantly to build with our own hands; and they have cast us out because of our exceeding poverty; and we have no place to worship our God; and behold, what shall we do?
6 And now when Alma heard this, he turned him about, his face immediately towards him, and he beheld with great joy; for he beheld that their afflictions had truly humbled them, and that they were in a preparation to hear the word.
Alma 33
2 And Alma said unto them: Behold, ye have said that ye could not worship your God because ye are cast out of your synagogues. But behold, I say unto you, if ye suppose that ye cannot worship God, ye do greatly err, and ye ought to search the scriptures; if ye suppose that they have taught you this, ye do not understand them.
3 Do ye remember to have read what Zenos, the prophet of old, has said concerning prayer or worship?
Those were great finds. Thanks Ryan!
DeleteGreat analogy. I hope this person will value their time and knowledge of the past few years and put their content back up. Emma didn’t give in to Brigham and give him what he wanted.
ReplyDeleteWoah. Good parallel.
DeleteThank you for your gracious words.
ReplyDeleteThe prophet Jeremiah was told in Jeremiah 7:2-11: "Stand in the gate of the Lord's house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, al ye..that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord...Thus saith the Lord, Amend your ways and your doings...Trust ye not in lying words, saying, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord, The temple of the Lord...For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings; if ye thoroughly execute judgment between and man and his neighbour; If ye oppress not the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow...neither walk after other gods...Then will I cause you to dwell in this place;...Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Will ye steal, murder, and commit adultery, and swear falsely..and come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.
You are correct, some stay in, perhaps to help others, others fear the shame of walking away from the corruption. Indeed, though, you are clearly correct, the corruption is evidenced by Isaiah's words: Isaiah 28: 7-9: "...the priest and the prophet have erred...they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean. Whom shall He teach knowledge? and whom shall He make to understand doctrine?"
Every time there is any gathering of those who would be saints, "all tables are full of vomit" with the regurgitation of words that pertain to the leaders' learning and quoting each other, which takes us away from Christ, rather gathering us into His fold. Jesus, on the other hand, reviewed the scriptures with those He taught, and then expounded the meaning of the scriptures unto them (3 Nephi 26: 1, Luke 24: 25-27).
God bless you.
GcNeslo
Well said. Jesus spoke to those who followed him and said:
Delete"They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God a service. And these things will they do unto you because they have not known the Father, nor me."
(John 16)
Prayer, prayer is needed. May we pray for this person who took down her channel, and many other’s who are being persecuted, but also for the persecutors. That God would soften their hearts, and that they might come to the knowledge of, and embrace the truth.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing Ruth, much love. I am thankful for how much you have impacted my life for good. May God bless you and your family always!
Prayer, what a great response. Thank you Joel. And thank you very much for your kind words. They mean more than you will ever know. Bless you, brother!
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