Saturday, May 30, 2015

The End

In March, 1974, a teacher's ministry began. In April 2014, that ministry continued, but changed drastically as far as outward appearances.

40 years from baptism to casting out - Sept 2013
40 years from beginning of ministry to end of either it or of the first phase of it - March 2024

This, below, was brought to my attention by "briznian" so I am quoting it. I find it key to the quotes below.
I've thought about that chapter [the chapter of scripture quoted below] for many months. Those three are the last of the quorum who deposed Eldred Smith and the office of Patriarch to the Church. While they live, they have the power to rectify the situation. After they are gone it will require a restoration for the office to return.

As much as I love those three, it pains me to watch as all this unfolds. I have figured for some time that it was Perry who would go first, then Packer ... and finally Monson. That way there will only one changing of the Presidency. Because both Packer [and] Monson have looked so feeble nobody will connect Zechariah 11 saying it was just coincidence. Then Elder Nelson will ascend to the Presidency. Elder Hales hasn't looked well for some time and supposedly Elder Scott is ill too. It's conceivable that five of the fifteen could be replaced in the next year. I figure that they will be replaced with churchmen like Elder Clayton (Google his involvement in high profile excommunications) and Elder Rasband who supposedly lives in DS' stake and was involved in getting DS exxed.

All this will come during the announcement by the SCOTUS that gay marriage will be the law of the land. We will then shortly see it in the church.

I hope I'm wrong.

 Combine that with this:
[L. Tom Perry's] passing will mark another milestone in the loss of leaders who were there when I first joined the LDS Church. The only ones remaining now in leadership who were there at the beginning are Thomas S. Monson, Boyd K. Packer and L. Tom Perry.

I wish him and his family well. It saddens me to see him depart.
from here

And this. I am quoting the chapter in its entirety, but highlighting a few spots for tl;dr people (too long, didn't read).

Zechariah, Chapter 11

1  OPEN thy doors, O Lebanon, that the fire may devour thy cedars.

2  Howl, fir tree; for the cedar is fallen; because the mighty are spoiled: howl, O ye oaks of Bashan; for the forest of the vintage is come down.

3  ¶ There is a voice of the howling of the shepherds; for their glory is spoiled: a voice of the roaring of young lions; for the pride of Jordan is spoiled.

4  Thus saith the LORD my God; Feed the flock of the slaughter;

5  Whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty: and they that sell them say, Blessed be the LORD; for I am rich: and their own shepherds pity them not.

For I will no more pity the inhabitants of the land, saith the LORD: but, lo, I will deliver the men every one into his neighbour's hand, and into the hand of his king: and they shall smite the land, and out of their hand I will not deliver them.

And I will feed the flock of slaughter, even you, O poor of the flock.  And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.

Three shepherds also I cut off in one month; and my soul lothed them, and their soul also abhorred me.

Then said I, I will not feed you: that that dieth, let it die; and that that is to be cut off, let it be cut off; and let the rest eat every one the flesh of another.

10  ¶ And I took my staff, even Beauty, and cut it assunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the people.

11  And it was broken in that day: and so the poor of the flock that waited upon me knew that it was the word of the LORD.

12  And I said unto them, If ye think good, give me my price; and if not, forbear.  So they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver.

13  And the LORD said unto me, Cast it unto the potter: a goodly price that I was prised at of them.  And I took the thirty pieces of silver, and cast them to the potter in the house of the LORD.

14  Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.

15  ¶ And the LORD said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.

16  For, lo, I will raise up a shepherd in the land, which shall not visit those that be cut off, neither shall seek the young one, nor heal that that is broken, nor feed that that standeth still: but he shall eat the flesh of the fat, and tear their claws in pieces.

17  Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock!  the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened.

Babylon
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
The God of Heaven tells me all the world should pray that Baghdad does not fall.

Lamentation for Baghdad
May 28, 2015
Days of distress are upon Baghdad and the days of their troubles are begun. Distress shall overtake them, for those who come shall have no pity.

During the next nine years, we will see things happen in the LDS Church (and probably in all of the factions that claim to be the "true" doctrinal and authoritative descendants of Joseph Smith Jr). A cry for repentance, coming from the Lord as He tears things apart, as He preaches His own sermons.

After those nine years (March 2024), what will happen then?

If the Gentiles (called Gentiles even if there happen to be drops of rebellious Ephraimite blood in them) have taken advantage of the calamities and destructions and have repented, it will be well with them. They will be numbered among the house of Israel.

If not, they will be destroyed and trodden under foot.

How long after March 2024 will that take? I don't know.

Am I a true "prophet" or a false one?

I don't know.

All I know is that we are in great spiritual and physical danger. As goes the world, so goes the Church.

 We cry, "All is well," and bury our heads in the sand to our detriment and to our future horror and agony.

Repent and come unto Christ. Lean upon Him and no other. Be baptized by one having authority (rather than by one merely commissioned in a dead Church). Join no formal organization.

Keep your current religion if you wish (LDS, FLDS, Community of Christ, Buddhist, Islamic, Catholic, Episcopalian, Baptist, Pagan, New Age, and so on and so forth).

The Lord's church consists of those who repent, come unto Him, and are baptized. That is His doctrine. There is no doctrine but this, which is encapsulated in the words, "Come unto me."

The Book of Mormon is extremely helpful in this journey, but a belief in the literalness of it as a history doesn't seem to be a requirement.

Zion

Tony wrote:
The problem is that you, Obrien, and so many others apparently think you can now flout the law that has gone forth from Zion. Both the Bible and the Book of Mormon speak extensively about the law going forth from Zion.

A Random Phrase wrote:
No law has come forth from Zion, because there is no Zion on the earth.

Tony wrote:
There are plenty of scriptures that contradict your view. Here are a few of them. [Several scriptures followed.]

A Random Phrase wrote:
The honest-to-God Zion is nowhere to be found. The fake Zion is everywhere. You know, the one Nephi addressed when he said, wo unto them who are at ease in Zion, who say Zion prospereth? That chapter pretty much damns us to destruction and to hell.

But the real Zion, the bona fide Zion, the one that can accept the Lord's presence without people frying and dying ... that one does not exist. There are poor among us. None of us are of one heart and one mind. None of us are truly and honestly the pure in heart. Virtually no one in this fake (or practice) Zion has seen the Lord, let alone everyone. Nowhere is it taught in this faux Zion that no one needs to be taught by any other person because everyone there knows the Lord and HE teaches them.

We accuse those who wear sleeveless shirts, who smoke, who drink, who have tattoos or more than the allotted number of earrings, who are not clean shaven, who do not wear white shirts, who do not bow to the scepter and kiss the golden ring. We have more hedges about our laws than the pharisees and sadducees in Jesus' day.

We have homeless people. We have beggars. We have people starving. We have people who are sick and suffering and there is no man or woman going around healing them. We use weapons, police forces, and governments to defend ourselves. Nature refuses to help us. We have those who fare sumptuously. We have those who sit in chief seats and gobble up the accolades, honor, and idolatry of the masses.

We steal from each other. We cheat each other. We dig a pit for each other in the hopes that the other will fall into it. We lust after each other. We lust for power and wealth. We freak out at the idea of giving so much away that the poor are comfortable and the rich are demoted to comfort from luxury. We judge and condemn the poor, the beggar, the different, those who are less than perfect in our eyes.

We fight. We argue. We get angry at each other. We want revenge. We want to force our views on others. We are jealous and envious. If anyone believes differently than us, we kick them out of our associations. We consider people apostate and headed for hell if they don't give deference to those people we think require deference. In Zion, deference is given only to God.

If Zion, the real one, suddenly appeared in our midst I suspect we would all die of culture shock.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Bullying

I have it from God (and I have His permission to say so) that those local leaders of the LDS Church who bully someone into resigning will be held just as accountable before God as if they had excommunicated these people. To force or pressure someone into resigning may look good* on the books, but carries no weight in heaven.







*Looks good because "they chose to leave; we didn't kick them out. It wasn't our fault they chose to apostatize and leave." Such reasoning won't work in heaven.

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Remnant Family Reunion Report

So, last year, I signed up to go to the remnant family reunion. My motives for going (in this order): I had no idea, and to see friends I hadn't seen since the lectures ended. I signed up with the idea that I would probably cancel. Like many other people, I was suspicious and fearful.

Well, time for the reunion got closer and closer and I never got around to canceling. Finally, I told myself that I needed to do it. I went into my email account . . .    . . .    . . .    and couldn't write a cancellation email.

Long story short, God opened the way for me to go. I got back today between 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. I'm glad I went.

(Note: it is on purpose that I am leaving out most last names in this post.)

It took us a couple of hours longer to get there than anticipated. When we got there, we were shown the room we were to stay in (in the most awesome house I have ever seen in real life!), and I crashed for a couple of hours.

Originally, I had intended to only go to parts of the Friday night meeting, and to the Saturday meeting long enough to get the agenda for the day. But it was rainy, so playing tourist didn't seem like a good idea.

Rock was the first speaker. My daughter immediately thought he would be worth listening to because of his hair (one doesn't usually find hair like that on a typical LDS speaker at any LDS Church meeting). (Pardon the quality of the photo below. I wasn't very close.)



Before Rock, a man named Jon sang "How Great Thou Art." I have never heard it sung like that (can I say "awesome" again?). It was easy to tell that this man meant every word he sang.

After Rock, a woman named Marti talked, incorporating music and song into her talk - then she had anyone who wanted to, come up on stage to dance. Too many people. Some had to wait for a second round. (There were three circles, inside each other, for the first round.)

Well, to be honest, I was torn between wanting to go up and feeling inhibited. My friends who were sitting next to me, Angelina and Daryl, convinced me to go up there with them - but we were part of the "too many." By the time the second round came, both of them had deserted me. Totally disappeared. I briefly thought about going up, changed my mind, and sat back down by my daughter. Later, I saw Angelina up on the stage, but not Daryl.

I really wish I had written all that happened after I got back to the place I was staying, but I didn't even think of it. (It would have helped me to sleep, and I would have more to report here.) Consequently, I don't remember enough about Jacqueline and Larry's talks, except that they were good and Larry has a beautiful voice (he sang a song).  Tim gave the closing prayer.

After the meeting, I met Connie (Rock's wife). She is very beautiful.

I was so wired after I got "home" that I could not sleep. I felt incredible spiritual energy. I wondered how much was spiritual and how much was simply an emotional high but, to tell you the truth, all of it felt spiritual.

I spent a lot of time praying. Telling God what I wanted out of the weekend, and what I hoped for. At the time, I thought "the lodge" on the Grand Mesa was a building we could go inside, and I put a great deal of energy into what might happen at the testimony meeting there. I craved a spiritual experience on the order of angels or power from God. I was convinced that the powerful energy of so many people seeking God would bring blessings upon my head. (I did not get the experiences I visualized, but I did get something.)

The next morning, the congregation was asked to sing, "Praise to the Man," and it was suggested they (the congregation) stand. I could not stand and I could not sing the song. I had not come there to praise a man. I don't know if anyone else stayed seated and did not sing. Bret did address that after the song, to attempt to explain that he was not trying to praise men.

In the dedication prayer, the devil was cast out of the place three times. Interestingly enough, I felt all criticism and negativity leave me. (Being critical and judgmental is one of my many, many defects. Ugh.)

Then, I found out that "the lodge" was actually outside. Thus far, the weather had not been as bad as promised (by the weather services). Still, it seemed to me that it would be too cold. Ever since I nearly froze to death a few years ago, I find I have a revulsion for any really cold weather that I can avoid.

Scott spoke first and I kept thinking, "I know this man." When he mentioned that Jules was his stepdaughter, I was like, "Duh." Some of the things he said at the beginning really hit deep (in a good way).

Rob spoke next. He was adamant that the Lord had given him this talk. I was all for it after the spiritual uplift I had just tasted.

Perhaps I didn't quite get what it was he thought the Lord wanted him to impart, because what I got out of the sermon was that - even if we reached the highest level possible (like Jesus is now) - we would still be miserable. The only difference between devils and Gods is that Gods stay happy when being sawn asunder and watching loved ones being tormented. We will probably be right there in the midst of the death, disease, armies, hell, and horror promised to those who reject Jesus and His prophets instead of in a place of safety (like Zion).

In fact, his talk had such an impact on me that I began to tune out and wrote a list of some of the worst nightmares I had lived through (beginning when I was 3 years old). Then I began to write exactly what I thought of what he was saying. As I was writing, God began speaking in my mind, reminding me that a Zion person allows others to have their beliefs. Later, it came to my mind that I may have misunderstood what he was really trying to say (I don't think I did, but I could have). In any case, the Lord imparted comfort to me, and explanations.

You see, going through more hell seems more than I can bear. Back when I was around 27-28, I took an institute class on teachings of the prophet Joseph Smith. That was the name of the class. The concentration was on having one's calling and election made sure. This was in the mid-1980s, when it was still okay to teach such things.

As a result of that class, I fervently asked that my calling and election would be made sure. I liked the idea of seeing Jesus, wanted to see Him, have seen Him in dreams, but wasn't particularly interested in the Second Comforter aspect (I forget why). Little did I know that asking such a thing would call into my life trials beyond what I could bear. Ouch. (You bear them because you have no choice, not because you can actually survive or endure them.) I didn't even see the connection between the nightmares and my request until years later.

But none of my trials brought me to a calling and election. At one point, I thought I'd received it. But it is supposed to be an audible voice telling you and I've never had that, so I dropped that belief.

Well, as usual, I veer off topic. Where was I?

When everyone began to split up, we went to a store to get something we could eat (three of us) and to a chocolate store a couple of towns away (the towns are small and very close together - it didn't take long), then we went to the high school where the women were. I wasn't really very interested in that, sad to say. It was there, though, that I first heard that Candice needed prayers. (The connection between her and the online user name I knew her as didn't sink in, though.)

Then we had a little something for Meili, who is expecting a baby next month. Then my daughter and I went "home" while everyone else went up on the mesa for testimony meeting.

Still concerned that, no matter what I did, I would never have a place of safety to live, I asked God in all sincerity to please -this time- give me scriptures that apply with me just opening my quad (that happens like .0000000001% of the time I try it).

When I opened the book, I discovered that I had been holding it upside-down. Sections 125 and 127 (126 did not apply). Verse 2 of the former and verse 1 of the latter. The one was the Lord mentioning building cities unto His name so "that they may be prepared for that which is in store for a time to come." (In other words, a safe place.) The other was talking about leaving the place "for my own safety and the safety of this people."

I was also concerned that I had somehow displeased God by being too much of a wuss to go up to the mesa. Obviously, I was going to miss the great outpouring of the Spirit that I'd expected to be there (and Bret had emphasized that the Lord had wanted the testimony meeting; that was apparently the most important part of being there). And, I would miss the sacrament they were going to have on Sunday, because my daughter and I were going to leave in the morning. What a bust. Ugh.

When Meili came back from being up on the mesa, she said there was a barbecue and invited us to go. I accepted the invitation. The idea was to go there and eat a little, then go to the family dance.

Meili got the address and put it into the gps on her phone. It took us to the middle of nowhere and said, "Your destination is on your left." Nothing. No house. No driveway. The nearest houses didn't have numbers that matched.

We drove around a while, then decided to just go to the dance (stopping off at "home" so she could grab something to eat).

The dance hadn't started yet. Lisa was there. We told her we had not been able to find the place. She said she could draw a map for me and asked if I'd like her to do so. (I was the driver.) I said yes. She did, and I saw where the gps had led us astray.

The place was easy to find. Meili and I left and went to the barbecue. It was still going on.

The aforementioned Tim was there. I told him I appreciated the interview he'd done with Denver and we talked a bit.

The host (we'll call him Joseph) was very friendly to everyone. At one point, he began bringing out wine. I asked if he was going to have the sacrament. He said yes. I gave a thumbs up.

He told me that everyone who had come was supposed to be there, that he had dedicated his home before the weekend activities for those who would come. He reiterated that to the group in general.

He blessed the bread and the wine. He bore his testimony, said he'd borne it before (I'm sure he meant on the mesa). Then, more people came and we were going to run out of bread and wine, so he brought out more and Tim blessed it this time.

Joseph bore his testimony again, but a little differently.

He had not intended to have the sacrament, but felt he should do it. Tim seconded the idea (this was before we had gotten there).

A few more people bore testimony. In fact, one young man did because he was going to leave and wanted to do it before he left. But, when a young lady began telling her story, he did not leave but stayed until the end.

At the end, Tim gave a blessing upon the people who were there, then Joseph did. Before he did, though, Joseph said that for the blessing to be binding upon us, we needed to write down what he was going to say at the end. When I sought him out to say goodbye, he reiterated to me that I needed to write the words for them to be binding - that writing the words made it so that I owned them so to speak.

This is what I see: God knew I wanted to be part of the outpouring of the Spirit. He knew I needed the opportunity to be part of the power of the Spirit that was being poured out, part of the blessings that were promised, and to partake of the sacrament. That is why, when the gps didn't work for us, He made it possible for us to get there anyway. That is why He told Joseph to do and say what he did (blessing and sacrament).

There are not too many men who I believe to be prophets of God, to speak for Him with power. Denver is one. Joseph was another. At least at that time, on that day.

And I must say (yes, I must) that I was impressed with Tim. For being such a popular blogger, he is a very unassuming man. That means he does not walk around as if he is important or bloated up in pride. Very humble. Very meek.

None of the bloggers I saw there gave an aura of self-importance. They were just people. I mention Tim specifically, because his meekness and humility were so obvious to me.

And I thank both Tim and Joseph for the blessings they gave to us. I believe the Lord honors and will honor both blessings. (Tim's was short, Joseph's was long.)

And I must add a note about Candice. She died. We found out last night, while at the sacrament/testimony meeting. It sounded as if it was her time, but she leaves behind a husband and small children. Any prayers any reader wishes to offer up in behalf of the grieving family will be greatly appreciated, I'm sure. I don't know if they need any concrete help (like donations), though if anyone knows them in "real" life, hugs and tears might be appreciated.

Had I power, I would leave a blessing upon the heads of the husband and children left behind: May God bless and comfort you. May you feel His loving hand. May you have experiences beyond the veil of conversing with Candice. May you understand why this thing has happened. May God seal you His, along with this loving mother and wife.

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

God, Numbers, and His Ten Lectures


I've been studying the ten lectures to see what God would have me learn, do, and be. This part made me wonder what it is God is saying by doing this:

. . . beginning in Boise and going on through Phoenix, the beginning date, the ending date, the content, the fact that there are 10 of them, the timeframe in which they are being delivered, the fact He wanted us to begin on the first day of the 40th year, and He wanted us to end on the last day of the 40th year, those things are not my doing. He is the author of this all.
What this site says about the numeral 40 is this:
The number 40 represents transition or change; the concept of renewal; a new beginning. The number 40 has the power to lift a spiritual state.
It represents a purification (see the link above).

The symbol for us may be that the messenger was purified, meaning we can trust what he says because he is not on his own errand, but that of the Lord's. It is a symbol or witness to us that he may very well have been sent by God. (For me, the message convinces me it is of God. The number only verifies that.)

Also, the change in the LDS Church (and probably other churches that count Joseph Smith Jr as their spiritual father) - a transition away from being led, collectively, by the Lord (though individuals are always able to open heaven, if they repent and believe, and follow Christ).

For those of us who listened to and believed the Lord's words through His messenger, it was the year of renewal and a new beginning for us, lifting us to a spiritual state because our hearts are not hardened, our minds are not blinded, our necks are not stiff. It can represent God's invitation to be purified, to begin anew, to change into what the Lord would like us to be.

10 lectures, 10 places (could have been 10 separate men, if 9 others could have been found. It reminds me of the story of the ten lepers. Only one returned, and he was a stranger. Only one was found to deliver the lectures, and he was a convert -instead of being one of the descendants of those who had lived in Nauvoo).

In regards to the numeral 10, this site has this to say:
[T]en is one of the perfect numbers, and signifies the perfection of Divine order, commencing, as it does, an altogether new series of numbers.  . . . 

Completeness of order, marking the entire round of anything, is, therefore, the ever-present signification of the number ten. It implies that nothing is wanting; that the number and order are perfect; that the whole cycle is complete.
That ought to give us something to ponder on (I have no intention of spelling out all that I've been thinking nor all my conclusions).

1 year. 1 = unity. Also, the first. The Firstborn. All rising up to be firstborn, if they are willing to do, to sacrifice, to be.

See this site - and this one for a little information about the numeral 1.

I couldn't find the meaning of a year, let alone an exact year, but I found this site that talked about the meaning of the number 365.
 Age of Enoch when God took him.
 Interesting, considering that it is the city of Enoch that we are looking for, after Zion is established.

North to Boise, south to Mesa (Phoenix area), west to Las Vegas (Henderson, actually), and east to Grand Junction. From Idaho to Arizona. From Nevada to Colorado. Thus covering the whole of Utah and most of the pioneer outposts or settlements sent out in Brigham Young's time.

From the Idaho Falls lecture:
I don't know if it's important that anyone from Idaho Falls comes here. I don't know if it's important if anybody from Idaho Falls hears one word. But I do know that a testimony needs to be spoken on this ground, in this place. I know that everyone will be accountable for that. Not just those who happen to stumble upon this.
 (Off our topic, but he also said: "God is moving systematically. He is taking the measure of the Latter-day Saints. His hand is about to move again in the affairs of men. We have a window." I would say that His hand is definitely moving now.)

 We could make a whole discussion on how we are all connected and that being the possible reason we are all held accountable. Or we could go at it from the angle of most of us within the parameters of the lectures know about the Book of Mormon and say we believe it is a holy book and valuable to us.

But, I am looking at the "testimony needs to be spoken on this ground," part. I believe there is a reason God wanted the lectures given in certain places (someone who ought to know, said that the messenger was rejected in Salt Lake City, and that is why one of the lectures was given in Centerville, Utah). I believe Manti was once holy ground and that is why one of the lectures was given there.

Look at the map (the cities that mark the outside perimeters of the lectures are starred). Draw your own conclusions. They are likely to be just as good or better than mine.



Sunday, May 10, 2015

Parable of the Talents

God's course is one eternal round. He does not vary.
 For God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round.
Doctrine and Covenants 3:2
----------------
LISTEN to the voice of the Lord your God, even Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, whose course is one eternal round, the same today as yesterday, and forever.
Doctrine and Covenants 35:1
His focus is on us - to bring to pass our immortality and eternal life . . . eventually. (How long that takes depends upon us and what we choose to do or be.)
For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Pearl of Great Price, Moses 1:39
Before the foundation of this earth, there was another round, a previous chance for us to rise up. Some did and some didn't.
And as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come, and there is no end to my works, neither to my words.
Pearl of Great Price, Moses 1:38

And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith, while others would reject the Spirit of God on account of the hardness of their hearts and blindness of their minds, while, if it had not been for this they might have had as great privilege as their brethren.
Book of Mormon, Alma 13:4
Like Moses, we only know about this round.
But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you.  For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power.  And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them
Pearl of Great Price, Moses 1:35

(I would like to know more about the earths "that now stand.")

We bring with us the level we raised to previously, even though we don't remember what that level was.
And this is the manner after which they were ordained—being called and prepared from the foundation of the world according to the foreknowledge of God, on account of their exceeding faith and good works; in the first place being left to choose good or evil; therefore they having chosen good, and exercising exceedingly great faith, are called with a holy calling, yea, with that holy calling which was prepared with, and according to, a preparatory redemption for such.
And thus they have been called to this holy calling on account of their faith . . .

Now, as I said concerning the holy order, or this high priesthood, there were many who were ordained and became high priests of God; and it was on account of their exceeding faith and repentance, and their righteousness before God, they choosing to repent and work righteousness rather than to perish;
Book of Mormon, Alma 13:3-4, 10
Some of us went one step higher, some five, and some ten - and that is what we brought with us from "heaven".
For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability;
Matthew 25:14-15
In this round, in this existence, we get to choose again. We can refuse to rise up. We can refuse to heed God. We can refuse to hear His messengers (and how unlikely a messenger they seem to be). We can refuse to follow Christ. We can refuse to seek His face.

In that case, we lose even the level we had risen up to before, in the last round, be it one, five, or ten. (I doubt that, in this case, the personal levels can be given to another - but what do I know? This present post is reflecting understanding I was recently given. It is a ladder that spirals round and round. If I continue, I will understand more and more about this stuff, about this parable's meanings.)
Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Matthew 25:14
But, if we do rise up, if we do seek the face of Christ -
If we do seek to remove all
jarring
contention
envying
lust for power and wealth

and

replace them with
compassion
loving kindness
willingnes to share what we can with the poor and needy
sacrifice all things to God (not to an institution)

then we will increase our talents.

To the degree that we rise up to do God's will (not some man's will, no matter what authority he professes to hold - and men like this are not confined to legal institutions), to that degree our talents increase.

And the more we increase here, the more we will have in the afterlife, so that in the next round instead of being the man with one talent, we may be the one with five or ten (and the one with five or ten could just as easily forfeit his talents in this round as the one with one. There is no guarantee of success. It depends upon us and the choices we make).
Whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life, it will rise with us in the resurrection.

And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come.
Doctrine and Covenants 130:18-19
And about that word talent? Even though we know it meant "money" in the old days, we seem to teach each other that it conveys the modern meaning, thus we think it is telling us to enlarge our talents to sing, draw, build cars, collect money, and so forth.

What if the Lord used the word "talent" because it connoted something valuable in that society (as it [money] also does in ours), something many people set their heart on. What if the transfer of meaning was supposed to be "something valuable" - something that gives life? (In the United States, not having money means no food, no shelter, few (if any) friends, being shunned, etc.)

In any case, those are the thoughts given to me on this subject. No doubt, the parable of the talents has varied and deeper meanings. No doubt, if I rise up to a higher level of intelligence, I will look back on this post and consider it on a toddler level at best.


The two version of the parable of the talents:

Luke 19:12-27
He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.

And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant.  Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

(And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

Matthew 25:14-30
 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.

Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.

And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.

But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.

After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.

And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.

His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.

His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:

And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.

His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:

Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.

Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.