So are we willing to be good fruit?

 I have been reading Denver Snuffer's posts on Jacob 5 (Denversnuffer.blogspot.com). He has given me some enlightenment on the subject. (He's good for noticing some details that I do not; that makes it very useful for him to be around.)

I was particularly struck with a couple of things he said in his post today. I knew there was a scripture that fit, and I found it. For your information, I include the things that struck me, and the scripture that fits them.

Proud and vain men strut about proclaiming how special they and their cultic-following are before God, while God pleads for our repentance, humility and willingness to return to Him.

If our present form of "Zion" wasn't "prospering" then we might be more acutely aware of our sickness, sores, disease and stench. We use the measuring rod of Babylon and conclude we are among the greatest of people rather than the standard of heaven against which we are loathsome, bitter fruit.

17  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked
(New Testament | Revelation 3:17)

Brother Snuffer is often very pessimistic. For this reason, he reminds me of Jeremiah who seemed to be a prophet of woe. I expect he (DS) has good reason for his pessimism. But my question is this: Do we, individually, have to be a fulfillment of that pessimism?

You see, along with the pessimism, is the promise that we can be the exception. We can turn to God, individually. We can humble ourselves. We can sincerely ask God to teach us, to open our eyes, to wake us up. Whether or not it will take a hundred or more years to build a real Zion, each of us can choose to be "Zion" in ourselves.

I suppose we may still have to live in Babylon. I really don't know if or when God would take a person out of Babylon, physically. I am still on my journey. I have never seen angels or Jesus outside of dreams, so I don't think I qualify as one who has attained Zion within myself, hence I do not know the answer to this.

Waking up is a bit painful. As God distances me from what I formerly believed was true, I find that I find it repulsive that even one soul remains deceived. I wish with all my heart that people would take the Holy Spirit for their guide, that they would cease idolizing men and organizations and look to Christ only, for their salvation.

Even though it is painful, I cannot go back. I don't want to go back. I want to continue forward until I have completely left Babylon and have found the face of Christ. And I want to continue on until I am as pure a Zion person as it is possible for me to be.

I want to encircle everyone in the love of God, open their eyes, pull them out of the traps they are unknowingly (and willingly) in, and thus stop the devil's power on this planet.

The person each of us should be working on is ourselves. We cannot change another person. We have no right to insist that anyone live their lives according to our dictates. We pray for them. We speak to them according to the whisperings of the Spirit (and we'd better make sure it is the Spirit of God; not the spirit of vanity, fear, pride, or the devil). We are, most of all, examples to them of true believers in Jesus Christ - not true believers in a man, but in Christ.

This is not to say that we hide our heads in the sand. I believe we should acknowledge the falsehoods and wrongdoing that is around us, even in the leaders, but I don't know that it is wise to dwell on them. I do believe it will be all we can do to center our energies on coming to Christ in the flesh. That should be our focus, not the behavior of others. When we have seen Him face to face, and have felt the wounds, and have been redeemed from the fall, then we can find out what else we should do.

Women and Veils

There's an interesting discussion on LDSFF about women and veils (you have to be a member, not only of LDSFF, but of the subforum of Seeking the Heavenly Gift to see this thread). After reading the thread, I feel inclined to write my perception of this idea (if I remember correctly, it was a user called paper face who brought this up originally).

In the temple, there are two veils:

One is where a person symbolically enters the presence of the Lord.

The other is worn by the women in the audience.

This veil worn by women is not to symbolize their inferior status to men, not by a long shot.

The veil in the temple represents stepping into the presence of God from this life (and in this life - this life. The veil in the temple does not represent the veil of death, because we can and should enter the presence of God in this life).

At the bottom of this post, I include some scriptures that speak plainly of or hint of seeing Christ in the flesh (in our flesh).

The veil on the women represent the veil separating pre-mortal life from this life. We step out of the presence of God and into mortality through our mothers, thus women are the guardians of the veil on one side and Christ is the guardian of the veil at the other side. It is a chiasmus.

Ideally, as the scriptures say, we part the veil between us and Christ before mortal death (symbolized by not discarding the item that represents our imperfect, mortal selves).

There is much symbolism in the temple that we can pass by if we are focused on being offended or insulted because we view ourselves of the "inferior" sex. Also, there is much we pass by until someone with insight brings it to our attention, like this was brought to mine.

We are here to help each other; we are here to lift each other up. We are here to become one.

Below are the scriptures I promised.

 VERILY, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am
Doctrine and Covenants Section 93:1 (See also verse 2)

19  And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.
20  Therefore, in the ordinances thereof, the power of godliness is manifest.
21  And without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh;
22  For without this no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
23  Now this Moses plainly taught to the children of Israel in the wilderness, and sought diligently to sanctify his people that they might behold the face of God;
24  But they hardened their hearts and could not endure his presence; therefore, the Lord in his wrath, for his anger was kindled against them, swore that they should not enter into his rest while in the wilderness, which rest is the fulness of his glory.
25  Therefore, he took Moses out of their midst, and the Holy Priesthood also;
Doctrine and Covenants 84

10  And again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am—not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual.
11  For no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God.
12  Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind.
13  Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected.
Doctrine and Covenants 67

1  AND now, Jacob, I speak unto you: Thou art my first-born in the days of my tribulation in the wilderness.  And behold, in thy childhood thou hast suffered afflictions and much sorrow, because of the rudeness of thy brethren.
2  Nevertheless, Jacob, my first-born in the wilderness, thou knowest the greatness of God; and he shall consecrate thine afflictions for thy gain.
3  Wherefore, thy soul shall be blessed, and thou shalt dwell safely with thy brother, Nephi; and thy days shall be spent in the service of thy God.  Wherefore, I know that thou art redeemed, because of the righteousness of thy Redeemer; for thou hast beheld that in the fulness of time he cometh to bring salvation unto men.
4  And thou hast beheld in thy youth his glory; wherefore, thou art blessed even as they unto whom he shall minister in the flesh; for the Spirit is the same, yesterday, today, and forever.  And the way is prepared from the fall of man, and salvation is free.
2 Nephi 2

6  Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh.  And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.
Book of Mormon 2 Nephi 32:6

10  And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
Pearl of Great Price Moses 5:10


1  THE words of God, which he spake unto Moses at a time when Moses was caught up into an exceedingly high mountain,
2  And he saw God face to face, and he talked with him, and the glory of God was upon Moses; therefore Moses could endure his presence.
10  And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before Moses did again receive his natural strength like unto man; and he said unto himself: Now, for this cause I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed.
11  But now mine own eyes have beheld God; but not my natural, but my spiritual eyes, for my natural eyes could not have beheld; for I should have withered and died in his presence; but his glory was upon me; and I beheld his face, for I was transfigured before him.
31  And behold, the glory of the Lord was upon Moses, so that Moses stood in the presence of God, and talked with him face to face.  And the Lord God said unto Moses: For mine own purpose have I made these things.  Here is wisdom and it remaineth in me.
Moses 1

6  And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his hand and touched the stones one by one with his finger.  And the veil was taken from off the eyes of the brother of Jared, and he saw the finger of the Lord; and it was as the finger of a man, like unto flesh and blood; and the brother of Jared fell down before the Lord, for he was struck with fear.
7  And the Lord saw that the brother of Jared had fallen to the earth; and the Lord said unto him: Arise, why hast thou fallen?
8  And he saith unto the Lord: I saw the finger of the Lord, and I feared lest he should smite me; for I knew not that the Lord had flesh and blood.
9  And the Lord said unto him: Because of thy faith thou hast seen that I shall take upon me flesh and blood; and never has man come before me with such exceeding faith as thou hast; for were it not so ye could not have seen my finger.  Sawest thou more than this?
10  And he answered: Nay; Lord, show thyself unto me.
11  And the Lord said unto him: Believest thou the words which I shall speak?
12  And he answered: Yea, Lord, I know that thou speakest the truth, for thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie.
13  And when he had said these words, behold, the Lord showed himself unto him, and said: Because thou knowest these things ye are redeemed from the fall; therefore ye are brought back into my presence; therefore I show myself unto you.
14  Behold, I am he who was prepared from the foundation of the world to redeem my people.  Behold, I am Jesus Christ.  I am the Father and the Son.  In me shall all mankind have life, and that eternally, even they who shall believe on my name; and they shall become my sons and my daughters.
15  And never have I showed myself unto man whom I have created, for never has man believed in me as thou hast.  Seest thou that ye are created after mine own image?  Yea, even all men were created in the beginning after mine own image.
16  Behold, this body, which ye now behold, is the body of my spirit; and man have I created after the body of my spirit; and even as I appear unto thee to be in the spirit will I appear unto my people in the flesh.
17  And now, as I, Moroni, said I could not make a full account of these things which are written, therefore it sufficeth me to say that Jesus showed himself unto this man in the spirit, even after the manner and in the likeness of the same body even as he showed himself unto the Nephites.
18  And he ministered unto him even as he ministered unto the Nephites; and all this, that this man might know that he was God, because of the many great works which the Lord had showed unto him.
19  And because of the knowledge of this man he could not be kept from beholding within the veil; and he saw the finger of Jesus, which, when he saw, he fell with fear; for he knew that it was the finger of the Lord; and he had faith no longer, for he knew, nothing doubting.
20  Wherefore, having this perfect knowledge of God, he could not be kept from within the veil; therefore he saw Jesus; and he did minister unto him.
Ether 3

6  For the Lord said unto me: They shall not go forth unto the Gentiles until the day that they shall repent of their iniquity, and become clean before the Lord.
7  And in that day that they shall exercise faith in me, saith the Lord, even as the brother of Jared did, that they may become sanctified in me, then will I manifest unto them the things which the brother of Jared saw, even to the unfolding unto them all my revelations, saith Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Father of the heavens and of the earth, and all things that in them are.
13  Come unto me, O ye Gentiles, and I will show unto you the greater things, the knowledge which is hid up because of unbelief.
14  Come unto me, O ye house of Israel, and it shall be made manifest unto you how great things the Father hath laid up for you, from the foundation of the world; and it hath not come unto you, because of unbelief.
15  Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon the Father in my name, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, then shall ye know that the Father hath remembered the covenant which he made unto your fathers, O house of Israel.
Ether 4

Time Passes

Wow! I have totally had nothing to say on this particular blog.

Well, nothing about writing as really come to my mind.

I did sign up for fall classes at the local college. Nothing like being early enough to have a guaranteed seat, eh? This summer, I'll be old enough to take advantage of the cheap tuition. Sadly, that will not apply to the books I'll need for at least two of my classes.

Maybe I'll post something totally random some day - like on unassisted birth (which I wish I had known about; I would have and could have avoided the c-section I had with my first - and I would have avoided the vaccine that was given to my son WITHOUT MY PERMISSION, for which I believe he suffers even today).

Freedom to Choose

So, I've been thinking about freedom to choose. The adversary has hidden and covered up our freedom to choose, thus we are blind-sided by lies. Teachings of society, of government, of parents, of schools, of religion control us to varying degrees. Our own experiences and wounds teach us lies, put into us a lack of knowing how free to choose we really are.

For example, if I'm feeling negative about someone or something, I can choose to feel differently. If I choose to – Well, if I've been taught that some things just “are” -

like certain things (health-wise) cannot be healed

like childbirth has to hurt

like unassisted birth is dangerous (what did Eve do?)

like leaders are always right

like women should be subservient to men (or vice versa)

like life has to be painful

like we have a God-given mandate to condemn and reject those who sin differently than we do

like God is a harsh taskmaster

like we have to suffer because we can learn in no other way

like we understand the gospel better today than Joseph Smith did

like Joseph Smith lived polygamy but pretended not to

like we are humongously more intelligent than those who lived thousands of years ago

(and I could go on and on)

Well, if I believe all of that I just might not realize that all of those things are choices, not truths.

Who says I cannot humble my own self and learn God's ways without going through hell to learn and to become?

Who says that birth is inherently dangerous and painful?

Who says that I have to live the ways of Babylon, even while it surrounds me?

Who says I cannot be perfect in this life? Isn't the Atonement there to create perfection in us?

You can cite general authorities, medical authorities, scientific authorities, scriptures, and movie stars but that does not mean I have to believe you – or them. The only thing I should believe completely are the words spoken to me via the Holy Ghost. Even pure scripture can be misunderstood and misapplied.

We are supposed to be preparing to live in Zion, for heaven's sake! We should not be living as people have lived for thousands of years! The society we should be living in has perfect health. It has righteousness so perfect that Satan has no power. Everything we ask God to do, He does. We see Jesus often. In fact, no one says, “Know ye the Lord, because they all know him.”

No doctors. No lawyers. No police. No government officials. No church hierarchy that stands between us and God. No locks. No slave labor giving us cars, computers, and other toys. No fear in birth or in death.

We cannot magically and instantly become the type of person who can live in that society when the end of this era comes. By then, it is too late. Each of us who wants to be there has to be that person now! Otherwise, we will die with the wicked when that sort of living is ushered in by Christ and his angels. Now!

Change the paradigm and you've changed the person. Change the person and you've changed those around him/her (some may choose to leave because they are uncomfortable around a person with such an unusual and strange perception),

We are so steeped in Babylon that we don't even know that something else exists. And when it comes to our attention, we often reject it because such radical change makes us nervous; it frightens us.

I have seen people who are determined that, in the Millennium of Peace, there will be cars, computers, electricity, airplanes, and all of the other comforts and toys we have today. Who is going to be the slave labor for these things? Why would any of these things be necessary?

I submit that the non-Babylonian way to live is very simple. We get places by walking. If we need to travel a long distance, we go by Light (notice the words that sometimes accompany descriptions of seeing Jesus, Moroni, other angels). If we wear clothing at all, I expect it will be very simple – and easy enough for anyone to make. But, remember, we are supposed to be ultimately entering a garden in Eden state; they wore no clothing, and there is no mention of a house, either.

To our eyes, the ideal way to live may very well look extremely primitive. We might turn away because we refuse to believe in the absence of

money

razors

jewelry

vehicles

airplanes

fine clothing

fancy shoes

suits and ties

briefcases

electricity

fine buildings

formal schools of learning

formal, organized religion with lots of rules

computers

radios

washing machines

ipods

and so forth.

We are so steeped in Babylon that not only do we not have a clue that a better way exists, but if or when we see the other way, we often reject it out-of-hand. When are we going to turn to God with all of our hearts and souls and be willing to give up all we have and believe so that we may enter Zion? For myself, I am attempting to leave Babylon behind. I am actively doing all I can to open up my willingness to give up every Babylonian paradigm that is in me.