Would Jesus feel welcome in our ward/church?

[Dravin]

One of the meanings of offended is to be displeased.

41 And also he hath need to repent, for I, the Lord, am not well pleased with him, for he seeketh to excel, and he is not sufficiently meek before me.

2 But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine danger is kindled against them.

12 Wherefore, I, the Lord, am not pleased with those among you who have sought after signs and wonders for faith, and not for the good of men unto my glory.

• • •

55 And now behold, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, am not pleased with my servant Sidney Rigdon; he bexalted himself in his heart, and received not counsel, but cgrieved the Spirit;

31 Now, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with the inhabitants of Zion, for there are idlers among them; and their children are also growing up in wickedness; they also seek not earnestly the riches of eternity, but their eyes are full of greediness.

35 Nevertheless, I am not well pleased with many things; and I am not well pleased with my servant aWilliam E. McLellin, neither with my servant Sidney Gilbert; and the bishop also, and others have many things to repent of.

19 Behold, I, the Lord, am not well pleased with many who are in the church at Kirtland;

Brigham Young is talking about carrying grudges/not forgiving people and letting offenses steer you away from doing the right thing [e. g. I'm not going to church as long as they are there]. When I talk about Christ being offended by our behavior I mean him being displeased by it, not him storming out of the Chapel in a huff and declaring he isn't going to forgive any more sins, anyone's, until Bro. Johns doesn't go to that ward anymore.

Edited June 6, 2010 by Dravin

[Hemidakota]

The vast majority of scriptural experts and those that were looking for him did not recognize him in his day. He was popular among the "common" variety Jews for a while but then he was flat out rejected by almost all the Jewish clergy that felt he was too much a contradiction of the law "scriptures".

Even Jesus seems to indicate that 50% of those that are waiting for him in the last days are going to "miss", be unprepared and ready. I kind of like the attitude of the apostles at the last supper when told of his betrayal asked "L-rd is it I".

The Traveler

I agree...even if Christ would come to a local ward, clean shaven and two piece suit, how many people would easily recognize Him? It would require for their eyes to be open and the living closer to the Spirit in seeing Him.

The Jewish leadership, with a fake king and theological clergy knew who the Savior was. There is was no excuse for them or anyone should make an attempt to hide this open shame before GOD. They are justifiable judge even upon the cross when the true King of Judah, could not forgive them for this open shame. Asking for forgiveness was not for them but what GOD shall bring to this land ‘forty years’ later.

[Hemidakota]

I don't think it is possible to suppress glory. Changing his appearance only wouldn't mask his glory. This is why when people from our existence meet God they have to be transfigured or brought up to him in some way, God isn't brought down so we can see him. .... even though I believe you were just saying that for humor (clarifying that for the silent reader).

He does and can do it...as we can do the same before others. Even those who are translated can suppress their glory before men[women]. This is why the brethren keep telling us to live closer to the Spirit. We simply don't know who the servants of GOD are and who are not without the aid of the Spirit.

[rameumptom]

I think many of our wards will have to do a lot of repenting and humbling. My sister lives in a Utah ward where they are considered one of the "poor", even though her husband makes over $60K a year! And the rich sometimes do not treat the "poor" like others do.

My grandson, 8 years old, has some emotional issues. While driving by the park, my daughter noticed his cub scout pack playing. She stopped to see what was going on, and the scout leaders sheepishly admitted that they intentionally did not let her know about the event (or other previous ones), because they didn't want my grandson there to possibly disrupt things.

I think God is going to have to do a major house cleaning amongst the Mormons prior to cleaning the other Christian churches. We are too worldly, and too inconvenienced to save even an 8 year old, who feels lonely and shunned.

[Hemidakota]

What is coming first is church cleansing. However, through great calamities and penitence, I expect the church to grow more than three folds than what it is currently at.

[Elgama]

I would imagine that if he were to agree to shower and wear 21st Century dress clothes, he could attend the ward with no untoward incidence. Even better if he were to get a crew cut, shave, be willing to be part of the choir and play men's basketball.

LOL that was my thought, remember some very rude people when my husband had a long hair a beard, not sure the long hair, beard, smelling funky funky and wearing a dress and sandals he would be made to feel welcome in many of our churches.

[Hemidakota]

Let me share something valuable as a teaching tool for others who have not experience this yet.

Talking with a teenage sister of the church, through conversation, she asked a question concerning her unique vision/dream she had concerning the time to come of great calamities. Appearing next to her was a ministering spirit, who was instructing her concerning events to come to this land and her role in it. When she was taken to this very lofty building to view what was coming of the world [America] by this ministering spirit, she stated, this Nephite appeared in the doorway that leads to a building top. His status was bigger than the door width and height standing next to it. I quizzed her for a description. She described him as wearing a two piece suite and cleanly shaven with groomed dark hair. As the Nephite walked through the doorway, he had to turn and duck under the top jam. She went to explain what was shown to her by this Nephite. I asked her, how do you know it was a Nephite, she told me, it was a prompting from the ministering spirit gave her.

I won’t give the rest of the event since it was between the Nephite and her, but what was unique experience she happen to look back to see who was the ministering spirit. This is rarely done for most people to see who it is. But she recognizes the person and the rest is history. Here is a glorified being; [white robe, glory that surpasses our own written language, no shoes, standing in the air, with long white hair] same caliber of being that was sent to minister to Joseph Smith. She now knows who her ministering spirit or angel is. This again, is a rarity and not usual known.

The Nephite who came to reveal the future was not wearing any white robe but a normal two piece suite. Not strange at all the way I look at it. :)

[martybess]

I don't think he'd care too much if He felt welcome. He'd be there to strengthen the feeble knees and try to help the people who were not yet Christlike.

Not so sure about this. Many times he made statements to the effect that he was not welcome among his own and many were looking for him. In fact his own killed him. Are we not his own? There were hypocrites in the church back then and there are still today.

(D&C 121:34-40)

"34 Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?

35 Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson—

36 That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.

37 That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.

38 Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.

39 We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.

40 Hence many are called, but few are chosen."

I'm guilty of many of these things, prisonchaplain you have made a great point!!!