For The Brethren

[Serg]

Kings and Emperors

Falliably annointed by an infalliable God</span>

Our Modern society has placed on us a preassure and load very heavy, one that partly finds itself even within us(in a natural way).The need to trust that which is reliable. In the last two hundred years, mankind has developed a universal(hence-"secure") concept, an "objective" fountain from which it can draw it's knowledge, but is no longer the Lord. The efforts(well intentioned) of many distinguished men, such as aristotle, Aquina, Keppler, Newton, Kant(favorite ), among many others, have molded our persuit of 'truth". We need truth(wether that be a created need), and we need it in order to trust it. Science has become recognized as "the only form of knowledge universally valid within our culture". But scientists recognize it as the falliable effort it is(althouh fruitful in many respects).

But if even science is not completely relliable, what is? The answer does not concern us, but it rather concerns us how we answer that very often.We have come to ignore the second law of thermodaunamics, we have come to believe that the world is a perfect sonata, we internalize nature as one of Bach's or Chaikovsky's melodious compositions, as a prototype of god's rule on earth.

Truth is, such a belief does more harm than good. As one draws near to the Lord(specifically the particular religion), andHis teachings, to find comfort while in th emiddle of such a hostile and confused enviroment(for deep inside we recognize that there is more than often no good order in this world), one begins to adapt the worldly concepts and expectations(and mental needs) to our faith experience. We need to put our need for "balance", stability and trust on something(or someone). Although we are told to do so, and let our needs be known to God, we rather place them(needs for assurance) on the humble promise of our earthly leaders and the echo of Woodruff's "we will not lead you astray".

Indeed, our leaders in the Church are of vital importance. Crucial, in fact, as we do not see the lord, but do see His annointed. We are being obedient to th ewarning of God of "he who fights against zion shall perish", thus we recognize the relevance of 'called" and annointed people to guide us.

But do we see our leaders as they see themselves? better put, do we see them as the lord wants us to see them? We do not.We have translated our most basic desperation for stability and future 'assurance' into the concept of infalliable men that divinely guide us. Interestingly, Lyman L. Woods stated once: 'I have seen him(Joseph smith) on a white horse...he was leading the parade of the Legion(of Navoo) and looked like a god'. The Lord told Moses(and Aaron) that they would be "like God unto the children of israel'.

What does scripture say? D&C 1:24-28 states:

"24 Behold, I am God and have spoken it; these acommandments are of me, and were given unto my servants in their weakness, after the manner of their language, that they might come to understanding.

25 And inasmuch as they erred it might be made known;

26 And inasmuch as they sought wisdom they might be instructed;

27 And inasmuch as they sinned they might be chastened, that they might repent;

28 And inasmuch as they were humble they might be made strong, and blessed from on high, and receive knowledge from time to time."

The Lord chooses humble persons, but that does not mean that they have no shread of pride, or that they will remain as humble(or even more so since their calling). They repent from their errors, they seek wisdom(hence, they do not have it all), they are instructed IN their weaknesses. Never will God choose a perfect servant because He cannot. there is no such being(while mortal). We have the leaders to guide us, to serve as examples of virtue and intelligence, but we are not expected to be dependent on the developement of their capacities to just 'imitate" them and follow. We are expected to grow, learn wisdom, preach, all according to the individual effort and graceful assistance of the lord, through the Holy Ghost.

The world compells us to stand by our leaders as defenders of their 'perfect' understanding of every issue. The one thought that Satan seems to have succesfully put in our minds, is that 'everuthing is well in zion' because of our semi-human, divine leaders. Zion cannot 'streatch" its stakes, or grow if the members have more faith in their leaders than they do in themselves. Joseph smith taught, that 'superstition and bigotry" often stand in the way of the Church, and does not let it 'prosper", so it "needs" to be purged out. We percieve our leader's frailty through their writtings and sermons, a vast list may be exposed here, showing the admissions of mostly every one leader this Church has had, concerning their weaknesses, but that is not my purpose now.

Follow the voice of the annointed as they instruct you, but follow even more the 'still, small voice" the Lord uses in you. Do not attempt to attribute every mistake of the leaders to the church(or God), or on the other hand, do not be blind as to create a disbelief for the reality of our leaders errors and falliable nature. It does harm to us, and to converts, without mentioning th eleaders themselves.

We are to progress on our own, and we wont be able to attribute any fault to our leaders when we get before the lord's judgement. As Brigham Young once said: "<span style="color:#FF0000"> Now ye kings and emperors, help yourselves if you can. This is the truth, and it may as well be told at this time as at any other. There's a good time coming Saints, a good time coming!"

May that time come, after we realize the nature of our personal relationship with God. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

[boyando]

Today, I went to a meeting, with ten thousand other Priesthood holders. I was pleased to hear from Elder Faust and Elder Bednar.

Elder Faust is getting older and has had back surgery. It was hard to see him in that condition. But his voice was strong and loud when he gave testimony of the divinity of Jesus Christ and the restoration of His Gospel. Elder Faust's words were like mana from heaven.

Telling you this, is like trying to tell a blind man about a sunset. You who were not there, can find that same feeling through the Holy Ghost.

A.

[Ray]

I just want to say that I personally love both posts above,

I hope you won't think that is odd,

I think it is beautiful to share the gospel with love,

May we all keep learning from God. :)

[79scholar]

Serg, you have discovered the first step into understanding the writings of Isaiah. As you are aware, the adversary uses the "All is well in Zion" mentality (2 Nephi 28:21, 24-25) to the maximum to mislead the members into disbelieving almost every prophecy of the Last Days.

EVERY servant of the Lord must consistently inquire of the Lord for directions (1 Nephi 15:8, 2 Nephi 32:5, 8-9). There are no exceptions. If they do not, they tread on dangerous ground and their pride may lead to their fall ... even for Apostles like Thomas B Marsh.

The keys to understanding all the words of Isaiah are the following:

- both Nephi and Jacob explicitly told us to apply them to our day

- Nephi stated that in the Last Days they would be understood, after they are fulfilled

- Isaiah 28, D&C 112:23-26, 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, 1 Peter 4:17,

- The Armageddon period will be a scattering and gathering of ..... Israel, to purify us into becoming a Zion people and prepare us for His coming. A complete timeline is from Isaiah chapters 3 to 14.

Consider Heber C Kimball's prophecy:

<blockquote>An army of Elders will be sent to the four quarters of the earth to search out the righteous and warn the wicked of what is coming. All kinds of religions will be started and miracles performed that will deceive the very elect if that were possible. Our sons and daughters must live pure lives so as to be prepared for what is coming.

After a while the Gentiles will gather by the thousands to this place, and Salt Lake City will be classed among the wicked cities of the world. A spirit of speculation and extravagance will take possession of the Saints, and the results will be financial bondage.

Persecution comes next and all true Latter-day Saints will be tested to the limit. Many will apostatize and others will be still not knowing what to do. Darkness will cover the earth and gross darkness the minds of the people. The judgments of God will be poured out on the wicked to the extent that our Elders from far and near will be called home, or in other words the gospel will be taken from the Gentiles and later on carried to the Jews.

The western boundary of the State of Missouri will be swept so clean of its inhabitants that as President Young tells us, when you return to that place, there will not be left so much as a yellow dog to wag his tail.

Before that day comes, however, the Saints will be put to a test that will try the integrity of the best of them. The pressure will become so great that the more righteous among them will cry unto the Lord day and night until deliverance comes.

—Heber C. Kimball, First Counselor in the First Presidency, May 1868, in Deseret News, 23 May 1931; see also Conference Report, Oct. 1930, p. 58–59</blockquote>