Light And The Absence Thereof

In the heavens, the Sun is the only source of life sustaining light as far as we are concerned.  The Moon and the planets receive their light from the Sun and are not able in and of themselves to produce light; only reflect the true source.  

The light reflected by the Moon can illuminate a pathway sufficient enough to give direction, but who would want to live solely by it?  

All light illuminates.  It originates from Christ.  

God associates His power with His word.  This typology is given to John in John's documented revelation of Jesus Christ, as a sword that issues forth from Christ's mouth (Revelation 1:16; 19:15.)  Additionally we find this type in the men who are given His power in their word, to "kill the wicked with the breath from [their] lips." (see Isaiah 11:4)

God's Power is His word.  God's word is truth.  His truth is light. (see D&C 84:45)

God's Power is therefore also typified by the visual light we see.  God's power -the authorized version of it given to man- is expressed in the term, Priesthood.  

Therefore Priesthood is typified in light.  Through the Sun's light reflected by the Moon, the lesser priesthood is typified.  It points to the true light at night.  It stands as a nearly invisible, side witness during the day; fulfilling the calling given it for serving as a sign and processing through the seasons.  

Lesser priesthood is that of a fellowship among men or a 'hood' of priests. It serves only to allow men to point a mind to Christ by those to whom it will be 'received', (Jacob 4:5.) 

However, despite the lesser priesthood being a fellowship of men, they -like the Moon- wholly derive whatever light that they reflect from the true and only source of light in our darkness.  If the conditions by which the light is governed is not obeyed, then the light is cut off.  

In order to reflect light the Moon must face the Sun.  When through the process of only operating in the lesser/reflective light the Moon steps into the shadows and seeks to become a light unto itself, simultaneously with that action the light is taken away.  

Isn't this an interesting testimony that we have in the heavens?  On April 4th there will be a lunar eclipse.  Creating a display that cuts the light off to the Moon which is a type of the fellowship of men.  Instead of the usual illuminated semblance of a full moon deferring glory to the Sun from which it derives it's own light, that would be in effect otherwise;  there will be a symbolic display of blood which comes from a cutting.

The testimony of the heavens set there from the foundations of this world by God can not be changed, only disregarded (Jeremiah 31:35-36.)  It makes me want to be more aware of all of His works.  I wonder what other neat stuff is happening on the 4th of April?

Understanding The Truths Restored In The Book Of Mormon

I, Nephi, having been born of goodly parents.  Therefore having been taught somewhat in all the learning of my father.



Nephi equates being a good parent with teaching children in ALL of the learning that an individual may posses.  The children may not retain all of this learning, but if our desires are to live according to the definition that Nephi gives of being a "good" parent: we will teach them.

This principle was emphasized in the days of Joseph Smith.  On May 6, 1833 The Lord explained, "I have commanded you to bring up your children in light and truth."  A commandment given to all Latter-Day saints to bring up your children in light and truth.

Previously in the same discussion the Lord told Joseph, "The glory of God is intelligence, or in other words light and truth."  

A few months earlier He explained, "The Word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ."

So the first truth restored in The Book of Mormon that we encounter is the reality that all parents have a command from God to bring up their children in light.  Whatsoever is truth, is light.  Whatsoever is light, is the Spirit of Jesus Christ.  Which is His glory.  Which glory is intelligence.  

Earlier in the process of the restoration came a warning, however.  The Lord explained to Joseph's brother Hyrum that, "Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men."  This warning is puzzling in our day.  We are not familiar with a process of how to obtain the Word of the Lord unless it means simply to purchase scriptures.  Hyrum did have scriptures available to him at this point.  However, not the Book of Mormon as it had not been published yet...   

So on one hand we are commanded to teach our children after the all of our learning.  While at the same time we are warned against declaring the word of the Lord until we have first obtained the word of the Lord.  

-What does it mean to obtain the Word of the Lord?  
-What does that look like?
-Why the warning of not declaring before first obtaining?

Going back to the discussion the Lord gave to Joseph on May 6, 1833 He stated, "that wicked one cometh and taketh away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers."  The warning of declaring before first obtaining is given because we don't/shouldn't want to be responsible for passing on disobedience to God to anyone, especially our future generations due to the traditions of our fathers which traditions we are not adequately trained to differentiate from the Word of the Lord.

In speaking of faith, Mormon explained, " ...so great was [The Brother of Jared's] faith in God, that when God put forth His finger He could not hide it from the sight of the brother of Jared, because of His word which He had spoken unto him, which word he had obtained by faith.  

And after the brother of Jared had beheld the finger of the Lord, (because of the promise which the brother of Jared had obtained by faith) the Lord could not withhold anything from his sight; wherefore He showed him all things, for he could no longer be kept without the veil."

If we go back and read the Brother of Jared's account preserved within the Book of Ether, we find that -after praying that he, his family and friends not be confounded- he later petitioned the Lord to know whether it were His will to lead the Brother of Jared, his family and friends out of the land where they currently resided and into a new land of promise.  

He received a promise that the Lord would lead this group to such a place.  As a result of obtaining this promise, the quote cited above indicates that the Brother of Jared was able to posses the faith necessary to enter into the presence of the Lord; to see not only His finger but His face and whole body; and to commune with Him there.

Obtain is not a passive verb.  It is an action verb.  It requires effort from the person doing the obtaining.  If effort is not exerted then the appropriate word to use would not be obtain but rather received.
  
We have a commandment to bring up our children in light.  We are warned against the folly of declaring God's word when we have not obtained it.  

The Book of Mormon has restored the light to understand the escape from this conundrum.