The Mormonizing Of America
By Alan on Mar 20 in Blog tagged Achieving, actors, America, American culture, apostles, athletes, authors, B, Brigham Young, children, church, David O. McKay, Donny & Marie Osmond, endowment, faith, Family, fourteen million, George Romney, Gladys Knight, Glenn Beck, government, Jimmer Fredette, Latter-day Saints, LDS, leadership, learning, marriage, Marriott, missionaries, Mitt Romney, Momonizing, Mormon, Mormonism, musicians, national stage, newscasters, NFL, Olympics, organizing, Osmonds, politicians, Presidential candidate, priesthood, progressing, prophet, religious value, religious vision, Revelator, sacrament, seer, sports, Stephen Mansfield, Steven Covey, successful, temple, Temples, The Book of Mormon, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, The Osmonds, Thomas S. Monson, upward motion, well educated, well spoken patriotic, willing to serve, worldwide | 1 Comment
The Mormonizing Of America
New York Times best selling author Stephen Mansfield
There are nearly seven million Mormons in America . This is the number the Mormons themselves use. It’s not huge. Seven million is barely 2 percent of the country’s population. It is the number of people who subscribe to Better Homes and Gardens magazine. London boasts seven million people. So does San Francisco . It’s a million more people than live in the state of Washington ; a million less than in the state of Virginia . It’s so few, it’s the same number as were watching the January 24, 2012, Republican debate.
In fact, worldwide, there are only about fourteen million Mormons. That’s fourteen million among a global population just reaching seven billion. Fourteen million is the population of Cairo or Mali or Guatemala . It’s approximately the number of people who tune in for the latest hit show on network television every week. Fourteen million Americans ate Thanksgiving dinner in a restaurant in 2011. That’s how few fourteen million is.
Yet in the first decade or so of the new millennium, some members of the American media discovered the Mormons and began covering them as though the Latter-day Saints had just landed from Mars. It was as though Utah was about to invade the rest of the country. It was all because of politics and pop culture, of course. Mitt Romney and John Huntsman were in pursuit of the White House. 
Glenn Beck was among the nation’s most controversial news commentators. Stephenie Meyer had written the astonishingly popular Twilight series about vampires. Matt Stone and Trey Parker had created the edgy South Park cartoon series–which included a much- discussed episode about Mormons–and then went on to create the blatantly blasphemous and Saint-bashing Broadway play The Book of Mormon. It has become one of the most successful productions in American theater history.
Meanwhile, more than a dozen Mormons sat in the US Congress, among them Harry Reid, the Senate Majority Leader. Mormons led JetBlue, American Express, Marriott, Novell, Deloitte and Touche, Diebold, and Eastman Kodak. Management guru Stephen Covey made millions telling them how to lead even better. There were Mormons commanding battalions of US troops and Mormons running major US universities. There were so many famous Mormons, in fact, that huge websites were launched just to keep up with it all. Notables ranged from movie stars like Katherine Heigl to professional athletes to country music stars like Gary Allan to reality television contestants and even to serial killers like Glenn Helzer, whose attorney argued that the Saints made him the monster he was. The media graciously reminded the public that Mormon criminals were nothing new, though: Butch Cassidy of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid fame was also a Mormon, they reported.
Most media coverage treated this “Mormon Moment” as though it was just that: the surprising and unrelated appearance of dozens of Mormons on the national stage–for a moment. More than a few commentators predicted it would all pass quickly.
What most commentators did not understand was that their “Mormon Moment” was more than a moment, more than an accident, and more than a matter of pop culture and fame alone. The reality was–and is–that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has reached critical mass. It is not simply that a startling number of Mormons have found their way onto America’s flat-screen TVs and so brought visibility to their religion. It is that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints has reached sufficient numbers–and has so permeated every level of American society on the strength of its religious value–that prominent politicians, authors, athletes, actors, newscasters, and even murderers are the natural result, in some cases even the intended result. Visible, influential Mormons aren’t outliers or exceptions. They are fruit of the organic growth of their religion.
In 1950, there were just over a million Mormons in the world. Most of these were located in the Intermountain West of the United States, a region of almost lunar landscape between the Rocky Mountains to the East and the Cascades and Sierra Nevada Mountains to the West. The religion was still thought of as odd by most Americans. There had been famous Mormons like the occasional US Senator or war hero, but these were few and far between. There had even been a 1940 Hollywood movie entitled Brigham Young that told the story of the Saints’ mid-1800s trek from Illinois to the region of the Great Salt Lake. Its producers worked hard to strain out nearly every possible religious theme, a nod to the increasingly secular American public. Though it starred heavyweights like Vincent Price and Tyrone Power, the movie failed miserably, even in Utah. Especially in Utah.
Then, in 1951, a man named David O. McKay became the “First President” of the Latter-day Saints and inaugurated a new era. He was the Colonel Harlan Sanders of Mormonism. He often wore white suits, had an infectious laugh, and under- stood the need to appeal to the world outside the Church. It was refreshing. Most LDS presidents had either been polygamist oddballs or stodgy old men in the eyes of the American public. McKay was more savvy, more media aware. He became so popular that film legend Cecil B. DeMille asked him to consult on the now classic movie The Ten Commandments.
Empowered by his personal popularity and by his sense that an opportune moment had come, McKay began refashioning the Church’s image. He also began sharpening its focus. His famous challenge to his followers was, “Every Member a Missionary!” And the faithful got busy. It only helped that Ezra Taft Benson, a future Church president, was serving as the nation’s secretary of agriculture under President Eisehower. This brought respectability. 
It also helped that George Romney was the revered CEO of American Motors Corporation and that he would go on to be the governor of Michigan, a candidate for president of the United States, and finally a member of Richard Nixon’s cabinet. This hinted at increasing power. The 1950s were good for Mormons.
Then came the 1960s. Like most religions, the LDS took a beating from the counterculture movement, but by the 1970s they were again on the rise. There was the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, a symbol of Americana when Americana was under siege. There was Mormon Donny Osmond’s smile and Mormon Marie Osmond’s everything and the three-year run of network television’s Donny and Marie in the late 1970s that made words like family, clean, talented, patriotic, and even cute outshine some of the less-endearing labels laid upon the Saints through the years. New labels joined new symbols. 
A massive, otherworldly, 160,000-square-foot Temple just north of Washington, DC, was dedicated in the 1970s, a symbol of LDS power and permanence for the nation to behold. Always there was the “Every Member a Missionary!” vision beating in each Saintly heart.
By 1984, the dynamics of LDS growth were so fine-tuned that influential sociologist Rodney Stark made the mind- blowing prediction that the Latter-day Saints would have no fewer than 64 million members and perhaps as many as 267 million by 2080.3 It must have seemed possible in those days. In the following ten years, LDS membership exploded from 4.4 million to 11 million. This may be why in 1998 the Southern Baptist Convention held its annual meeting in Salt Lake City. The Mormons–a misguided cult in the view of most traditional Christians, most Baptists in particular–had to be stopped.
They weren’t. Four years after the Baptists besieged Temple Square, the Winter Olympic Games came to Salt Lake City. This was in 2002 and it is hard to exaggerate what this meant to the Latter-day Saints. A gifted Mormon leader, Mitt Romney, rescued the games after a disastrous bidding scandal. A sparkling Mormon city hosted the games. Happy, handsome all-American Mormons attended each event, waving constantly to the cameras and appearing to be–in the word repeatedly used by the press at the time–”normal.”
The LDS Church capitalized on it all. It sent volunteers, missionaries, and publicists scurrying to every venue. It hosted grand events for the world press. It made sure that every visitor received a brochure offering an LDS guided tour of the city. Visitors from around the world read these words: “No other place in America has a story to tell like that of Salt Lake City–a sanctuary founded by religious refugees from within the United States’ own borders. And none can tell that story better than the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
Largely unchallenged, the Mormon narrative prevailed.
What followed was the decade of the new millennium we have already surveyed. Mormons seemed to be everywhere, seemed to be exceptional in nearly every arena, seemed to have moved beyond acceptance by American culture to domination of American culture. At least this was what some feared at the time.
But Mormons did not dominate the country. Far from it. Remember that they were not even 2 percent of the nation’s population as of 2012. True, they were visible and successful, well educated and well spoken, patriotic and ever willing to serve. Yet what they had achieved was not domination. It was not a conspiracy either, as some alleged. It was not anything approaching a takeover or even the hope for a takeover.
Few observers seemed to be able to explain how this new level of LDS prominence in American society came about. They reached for the usual answers trotted out to account for such occurrences: birth rates, Ronald Reagan’s deification of traditional values, the economic boom of the late twentieth century, a more liberal and broadminded society, even the dumbing down of America through television and failing schools. Each of these explanations was found wanting.
The Mormon Machine
The truth lay within Mormonism itself. What the Saints had achieved in the United States was what Mormonism, unfettered and well led, will nearly always produce. This was the real story behind the much-touted “Mormon Moment.” The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints had risen to unexpected heights in American society because the Mormon religion creates what can benevolently be called a Mormon Machine– a system of individual empowerment, family investment, local church (ward and stake level) leadership, priesthood government, prophetic enduement, Temple sacraments, and sacrificial financial endowment of the holy Mormon cause.
Plant Mormonism in any country on earth and pretty much the same results will occur. If successful, it will produce deeply moral individuals who serve a religious vision centered upon achievement in this life. They will aggressively pursue the most advanced education possible, understand their lives in terms of overcoming obstacles, and eagerly serve the surrounding society. 
The family will be of supernatural importance to them, as will planning and investing for future generations. They will be devoted to community, store and save as a hedge against future hardship, and they will esteem work as a religious calling. They will submit to civil government and hope to take positions within it. They will have advantages in this. Their beliefs and their lives in all-encompassing community will condition them to thrive in administrative systems and hierarchies–a critical key to success in the modern world. Ever oriented to a corporate life and destiny, they will prize belonging and unity over individuality and conflict every time.
These hallmark values and behaviors–the habits that distinguish Mormons in the minds of millions of Americans– grow naturally from Mormon doctrine. They are also the values and behaviors of successful people. Observers who think of the religion as a cult–in the Jim Jones sense that a single, dynamic leader controls a larger body of devotees through fear, lies, and manipulation–usually fail to see this. Mormon doctrine is inviting, the community it produces enveloping and elevating, the lifestyle it encourages empowering in nearly every sense. Success, visibility, prosperity, and influence follow. This is the engine of the Mormon ascent. It is what has attracted so many millions, and it is the mechanism of the Latter-day Saints’ impact upon American society and the world.
Mormons make achievement through organizational management a religious virtue. It leads to prosperity, visibility, and power. 
It should come as no surprise, then, that an American can turn on the evening news after a day of work and find one report about two Mormon presidential candidates, another story about a Mormon 
finalist on American Idol, an examination of the controversial views of a leading Mormon news commentator, a sports story about what a Mormon lineman does with his “Temple garments” in the NFL, and a celebration of how Mormons respond to crises like Katrina and the BP oil spill, all by a “Where Are They Now?” segment about Gladys Knight, minus the Pips, who has become–of course–a Mormon.
Mormons rise in this life because it is what their religion calls for. Achieving. Progressing. Learning. Forward, upward motion. This is the lifeblood of earthly Mormonism. Management, leadership, and organizing are the essential skills of the faith. It is no wonder that Mormons have grown so rapidly and reached such stellar heights in American culture. And there is much more to come.
President Thomas S. Monson
Prophet, Seer, and Revelator
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
For The Family
THE MORMONIZING OF AMERICA by Stephen Mansfield, © 2012. Published by Worthy Publishing, a division of Worthy Media, Inc., Brentwood, TN. 11/06/2012
The Secret To Life Is Happiness
By Alan on Dec 27 in Blog tagged adversity, art, ceation, chance, choice, commandments, eternity, Family, gospel, happiness, joy, needs, ordinances, prophets, Temples | Comments Off
The Secret To Life Is Happiness
Our Heavenly Father desires that we find true, lasting happiness.
Our happiness is the design of all the blessings He gives us—gospel teachings, commandments, priesthood ordinances, family relationships, prophets, temples, the beauties of creation, and even the opportunity to experience adversity.
His plan for our salvation is often called “the great plan of happiness”.
He sent His Beloved Son to carry out the Atonement so we can be happy in this life and receive a fulness of joy in the eternities.
For The Family
Happiness Is An Attitude
By Alan on May 05 in Blog tagged an attitude, commandments, creation, design of all blessings, enduring joys, family relationships, gospel teachings, happiness, hard work spiritual growth, Jesus Christ, joy, lasting, live the gospel. wholesome activities, meaningful service, miserable or happy, not wickedness, strong, Temples, temporary, the great plan of happiness, true and lasting, work | Comments Off
Happiness Is An Attitude.
We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same.
Heavenly Father desires that we find true, lasting happiness. Our happiness is the design of all the blessings He gives us—gospel teachings, commandments, priesthood ordinances, family relationships, prophets, temples, the beauties of creation, and even the opportunity to experience adversity. His plan for our salvation is often called “the great plan of happiness” (Alma 42: 8). He sent His Beloved Son to carry out the Atonement so we can be happy in this life and receive a fulness of joy in the eternities.
Testifying of God’s “eternal purposes,” the prophet Lehi taught, “Men are, that they might have joy” (2 Ne. 2: 15, 25). Many people try to find happiness and fulfillment in activities that are contrary to the Lord’s commandments. Ignoring God’s plan for them, they reject the only source of real happiness. They give in to the devil, who “seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself”
(2 Ne. 2: 27). Eventually they learn the truth of Alma’s warning to his son Corianton: “Wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41: 10).
Others seek only to have fun in life. With this as their main goal, they allow temporary pleasure to distract them from lasting happiness. They rob themselves of the enduring joys of spiritual growth, service, and hard work.
As we seek to be happy, we should remember that the only way to real happiness is to live the gospel. We will find peaceful, eternal happiness as we strive to keep the commandments, pray for strength, repent of our sins, participate in wholesome activities, and give meaningful service.
For The Family
Eternal Truth
By Alan on Apr 24 in Blog tagged covenants available, enables family relationships, eternal truth, eternally, families united, holy temples, LDS, Mormons, perpetuated beyond the grave sacred ordinances, Temples, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the divine plan of happiness, The Family, the presence of God | Comments Off
Eternal Truth
“The divine plan of happiness enables family relationships to be perpetuated beyond the grave. Sacred ordinances and covenants available in holy temples make it possible for individuals to return to the presence of God and for families to be united eternally.”
A PROCLAMATION TO THE WORLD.
The First Presidency and Council of the Twelve apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
For The Family
Life Is A Work In Progress
By Alan on Mar 26 in Daily Inspiration tagged atonement, commandments, cretion, experience adversity, family relationships, find true lasting happiness, fulness of joy eternities, Heavenly Father, just at different stages of life, live the gospel, man is that he might have joy, meaningful service, Plan of Salvation, priesthood ordinances, prophets, purpose, Temples, the truth, we are all living human beings | Comments Off
Life Is A Work In Progress
Heavenly Father desires that we find true, lasting happiness. Our happiness is the design of all the blessings He gives us—gospel teachings, commandments, priesthood ordinances, family relationships, prophets, temples, the beauties of creation, and even the opportunity to experience adversity. His plan for our salvation is often called “the great plan of happiness” (Alma 42: 8). He sent His Beloved Son to carry out the Atonement so we can be happy in this life and receive a fulness of joy in the eternities.
Testifying of God’s “eternal purposes,” the prophet Lehi taught, “Men are, that they might have joy” (2 Ne. 2: 15, 25). Many people try to find happiness and fulfillment in activities that are contrary to the Lord’s commandments. Ignoring God’s plan for them, they reject the only source of real happiness. They give in to the devil, who “seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself” (2 Ne. 2: 27). Eventually they learn the truth of Alma’s warning to his son Corianton: “Wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41: 10).
Others seek only to have fun in life. With this as their main goal, they allow temporary pleasure to distract them from lasting happiness. They rob themselves of the enduring joys of spiritual growth, service, and hard work.
As we seek to be happy, we should remember that the only way to real happiness is to live the gospel. We will find peaceful, eternal happiness as we strive to keep the commandments, pray for strength, repent of our sins, participate in wholesome activities, and give meaningful service.
Strengthening The Family
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For The Family
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We’ve Been Working At The Temple Most Of The Day
By Alan on Dec 21 in Blog tagged for time and for all eternity, LDS, many temples, marriages, Mormon, not secret, ordinances, sacred, Temples, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The House of The Lord | 2 Comments
Suzanne and I have been gone most of the day today. We are Temple Ordinance workers and love being there. My brother Jay and his son Eric, who is going on a mission for the Church were there today with us.
This is where marriages are performed and couples are sealed together for Time AND for ALL ETERNITY together with their children! There were MANY marriages performed today before Christmas! Genealogy and Ordinance work for deceased family members is also done here.
These ordinances are performed for individuals just as they did during the times of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Moses, and others to help us draw nearer to the Lord! When Jesus returns once again, He will first come to one of His Temples.
Only members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who are living the commandments and are found worthy by their bishops and Stake Presidency are given a recommend so that they can enter the Temples. Visitors are welcome to tour our Temples after construction before they are dedicated. They are NOT secret . . . they are Sacred.
All are invited to go to the various visitor centers and learn more about The House of the Lord . . . The Temple.
See the many Temples that we have all over the World!
CLICK HERE!
“Oh Holy Night” – By Josh Groben
By Alan on Dec 17 in Blog tagged Birth, blessing, Book of Mormon, born, eternal being, Father in heaven, first born son, follow him, followers of Christ, in a stable, Jesus Christ, jews, laid in a manger, Lord, meek, mighty works, miracle, Nephite civilization, Redeemer, sacred, savior, simple, son of God, Temples, The birth of Christ, The Family | Comments Off
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Dear friends and families,
As we approach this sacred season of celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, may we reflect on the miracle and blessing He was and is. As I’ve pondered on His holy birth, and the circumstances around it, I am reminded again of how the Lord goes about his mighty works.
The Holy Son of the most glorified and powerful eternal being, our Father in Heaven, was not provided with a wondrous palace, security, wealth and privilege befitting his status as God’s first born son, but rather He showed his everlasting power through the simple, the meek, the lowly and the weak things of this world. His sacred Son wasn’t born amid the tumult and praise of the political, secular or religious superiors of his day, but in obscurity, vulnerability and to parents who were powerless because of their circumstances to provide much more than the most basic necessities of life at his birth.
I am reminded of how the Jews were anticipating a mighty king who was prophesied to deliver them. They presumed that God’s Son would enter this world provided with what men supposed would be needed to carry out this deliverance. Why would they not expect their deliverer to be born to parents who could provide a world-class education, money sufficient to procure status, authority and prestige so that other men would know of his leadership and knowledge and thus follow him?
Instead His Holy Child was born in a stable and lovingly laid in a manger of hay by honest, hard-working parents of common status among the Jewish throngs. Indeed, His pre-mortal status was hidden and utterly concealed from the world. How ashamed many Jews must have felt when they realized they had been looking for the wrong identifying features of this humble Son of God sent to deliver them.
In like manner some have supposed that the Nephite civilization of the Book of Mormon recording should be identified by grand features and majestic ruins, signs of an overpowering and influential people that the world can look to because of their triumphant accomplishments. Yet the Book of Mormon speaks of a humble people who obeyed the Laws of Moses, dressed in inconspicuous clothing, and built homes and temples and cities of wood. It was the unrighteous that built large and spacious palaces to demonstrate their own greatness. In contrast to impressive structures, the righteous Nephites seemed to follow the Lord’s ways in putting people as a higher priority that power; of salvation over worldly possessions.
May we, as followers of Christ, strive to emulate and understand the true power of God’s example of His Son by humbly submitting ourselves and meekly seeking His will, realizing our weaknesses and asking for his grace to attend us. This is, I believe, a most wonderful way to celebrate His birth.
Merry Christmas to all,
The Staff and The Family
Sanctify Yourselves – For Tomorrow The Lord Will Do Wonders Among You
By Alan on Nov 13 in Blog tagged Aaronic Priesthood, baptism, crucified, Elijah the Prophet, from Jesus Christ, God the Father and Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, LDS, Melchizedek Priesthood, missionaries, Mormons, Priesthood keys of authority, prophets, resurrected, sanctify ourselves, saw a vision, second coming, Temples, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Holy Ghost, the Lord will do wonders among you, the power and authority, the Priesthood, Thomas S. Monson, to help someone, twelve apostles, video | 3 Comments
You Never Know When You Might Need To Help Someone.
Watch this moving video “Sanctify Yourselves.” When a little league football player is struck by lightning, his 18-year-old assistant coach, Bryce Reynolds, was prepared to use his newly-conferred Melchizedek Priesthood authority to call upon the healing powers of heaven.
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Where did Bryce get the power and the authority
to do this wonder?
It was from Jesus Christ Himself.
The Lord Jesus Christ Ordained His Twelve Apostles
with this wonder.
Then,
Jesus was Crucified and All of The Apostles were Killed.
Jesus was Resurrected and visited “His Sheep” or children in several other nations and it was recorded before He
ascended to heaven.
In 1820, Joseph Smith was 14 years old and with Faith, though lacking wisdom, he asked of God which Church he should join and he saw a vision.
God the Father and His Son Jesus Appeared To Joseph Smith.
15 May 1829, John the Baptist also Returned and gave Joseph Smith the Aaronic Priesthood.
Elijah the Prophet held the sealing power of the Melchizedek Priesthood and was the last prophet to do so before the time of Jesus Christ. He appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses and conferred the keys of the priesthood on Peter, James, and John (Matt. 17: 3).
On April 3, 1836, in the Kirtland (Ohio) Temple, Elijah the Prophet appeared again, with Moses and Apostles Peter, James,and John, who came from heaven and conferred the Melchizedek Priesthood and the keys thereof upon Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery
(D&C 27: 12-13; 128: 20).
As demonstrated by his miraculous deeds, the power of Elijah is the sealing power of the priesthood by which things bound or loosed on earth are bound or loosed in heaven.
Thus the keys of this power are once again operative on the earth and are used in performing all the ordinances of the gospel for the living and the dead.
This is done in The House of the Lord, His Temples.
Joseph Smith ordained others to both Priesthoods and it has been handed down over time to several other Prophets.
Our Living Prophet today is President Thomas S. Monson with Counsilors President Henry B. Eyring, and President Dieter F. Uchtdorf who hold all of the Priesthood Keys.
They hold the Authority to Ordained, Baptize, Bless and Administer the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
New Members and Converts can become Members of The Church of Jesus Christ.
First, starting at the age of eight, which is the age of accountability, with Faith and Repentance
they are Baptized by emersion.
They then Receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands by one who has the Authority.
At the age of Twelve, Worthy Young Men are Ordained into the Aaronic Priesthood.
The can then begin their leadership as young
Aaronic Priesthood leaders.
At 18 years of age, a young man who is worthy is Ordained into the Melchizedek Priesthood and given leadership callings.
If they continue to be worthy, they can be called to serve as full time Missionaries and go wherever they are called to serve somewhere around the world to teach the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
This is where that young man, Bryce Reynolds in the Video, got the authority to exercise his priesthood that helped save another’s life.
He knew he had the Priesthood authority.
… and so he used it!
His Authority Line goes back to Jesus Christ.
He holds the KEYS to the
Priesthood of God.
No one can just assume this Authority.
Based upon one’s worthiness, it MUST be given to him by one who has the Authority and the keys given to him that can be traced back to Jesus Christ. This ordination is done the same way that Jesus did by the laying on of hands.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
All of this has been in preparation for the second coming of the Lord, as spoken of in Malachi 4: 5-6.
President Monson and the First Presidency of
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,
hold these keys today.
The Genealogy of the Keys of Authority.
“For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” 1 Cor. 14: 33
Alan Osmond
For The Family
Isaiah’s Prophecy Of The “Mountain (Temple) Of The Lord” Is Fulfilled
By Alan on Nov 07 in Blog tagged his path, House of the Lord, Isaiah, Isaiah's Prophecy of the Mountain (Temple) of the Lord is fulfilled, Jerusalem, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith, LDS, prophecy, Temples, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the law, the Lord, The Plan of Salvation, Zion | 1 Comment
Isaiah speaks directly to us!
Many of us are personally blessed to see the fulfillment of this prophecy as we enter the Lord’s temples and are taught therin of “his ways” and walk in “his path”.
( Isa. 2: 3 ) “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”
Isaiah’s prophecy of the “mountain of the
Lord” (Isa. 2: 1-5) is fulfilled as we build
temples throughout the world.
(“Mountain of the Lord” = House)
The Temple is the Lord’s house.
(There are hundreds of them all around the world.)
Isa. 2: 10-22 is one of the greatest prophecies recorded in the standard works of Christ’s second coming and his judgments on the proud.
Perhaps we, or our children or grandchildren, may witness these events as Jesus Christ comes again to the earth this time with great power and glory.
The Mountain (Temple Of The Lord
(Isa. 2: 1-5)
This prophecy speaks to us in our day. The gathering of Israel, temples, and temple service. We will “flow” upwards to the temple mountain, learn of God’s ways (in the temple), and walk in God’s paths (in the temple). In additioin, temple service and worship (Isa. 2: 2-3) are directly connected to worldwide peace and prosperity (Isa. 2: 4); that is, temple attendance (Isa. 2: 2) results in peace (Isa. 2: 4), a desire to learn of God (Isa. 2: 3), and a willingness to walk in his light (Isa. 2: 5).
Micah presents the same prophecy in his writings (Micah 4: 1-3).
Joseph Smith summed up the connection between the gathering of Israel and temple service:
“The object of gathering the Jews, or the people of God in any age of the world . . . was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people
the way of salvation.”
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“He will teach us of his ways“… The Lord will teach us through revelation given through his prophets and apostles, through the scritures, and by way of personal revelation (Isa. 54: 13). Specifically, we will learn of God’s ways in his temple.
Isaiah’s Address (Prayer) to Jehovah (Isa. 2: 6-9)
Therefore [O Lord] thou hast forsaken thy people
the house of Jacob, because they be replenished from the east,
and [hearken unto the] soothsayers like the Philistines,
and they [clasp hands] please themselves in the children of strangers. (Isa. 2: 6)
Their land also is full of silver and gold,
neither is there any end of their treasures;
NOTES AND COMMENTARY:
Isa. 2: 6 thou hast forsaken. The Lord has forsaken members of the house of Israel because of their wicked condition (2:6-9). The term forsaken has the sense of abandoning the house of Israel and leaving them without the Spirit of the Lord, revelation, and God’s word through his living prophets.
replenished … east. To the Israelites, “east is the sacred direction. Holy temples are oriented eastward . . . Jesus Christ enters his temples from the east (Ezek. 43: 1-2; see Exek. 10:19); and at the time of the Second Coming, the Lord will come from the east (JS-M 1: 26; Matt. 24: 27; Teachings, 287).” In Isa. 2: 5, the prophet Isaiah commands the house of Israel to “walk in the light of the Lord,” which comes from the east. Yet the house of Israel attempted to be spiritually revitalized (replenished) through apostate, spurious sources from the east (such as the deities and religious systems of the heathen countries), which constituted mockery unto God.
soothsayers. Individuals who pretend to prophesy or predict the future are soothsayers. The law of Moses contained espress commands against the Israelites’ association with these false prophets (Lev. 18: 26; Deut. 18: 10-12).
Philistines. This was a group of people who occupied southwest Palestine and who often warred against Israel.
clasp hands . . . children of strangers. One meaning of this phrase is to participate and make covenants in apostate temple systems whith those who are not affiliated with the true Israelite temple. The Hebrew word for strangers has reference to characters who are “foreign” or “alien” to the house of Israel. A command from the law of Moses warned the Israelites, “Thou shat make no covenant with them [strangers; such as the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hivites, and Jebosites], nor with their gods” (Ex. 23: 32). The phrase also refers to God’s command that Israelites not intermarry with those who do not belong to covenant Israel (Deut. 7: 1-4).
2:7 silver/gold/treasures. When they sought these riches, which are symbolic of worldly materialism (Rev. 17: 4; Rev. 18: 16; 1 Ne. 13: 7-8), ancient Israel broke the law of Moses, for they were commanded, “neither shall [you] greatly multiply to [your]self silver and gold” (Deut. 17: 17). The Lord’s people are ever commanded to seek him rather than the riches of this world.
horses/chariots. These represent warfare and militar might Isa. 31: 3; Job 39:19-24; Jer. 46: 4; Ezek. 38: 4).
2:8 idols. This term refers both to heathen deities constructed of wood or stone and to more abstract things that men become excessively devoted to, including worldly wealth, the honor of men, and things of the flesh. Isaiah speaks of idols in Isa. 2: 8, 18, 20; Isa. 10: 10-11; Isa. 19: 1, 3; and Isa. 31: 7. The law of Moses speaks clearly against the creation and worship of idols (Ex. 20: 3-4).
2:9 ordinary/great man. Both ordinary people, or commoners, and those who have achieved worldly status and positions are guilty of pride.
forgive them not. Isaiah, whose testimony lists the sins of Israel, stands as a witness against the house of Israel in Jehovah’s courtroom (Isa. 1: 2-5; Isa. 2: 4). Inasmuch as the children of Israel saturate their lives with sins (as Isaiah suggests in the terms replenish and full, used several times) and fail to hearken to the voice of man prophets by repenting and turning to God, Isaiah can deliver his plea (prayer) before the Lord.
Forgive them not.
Isaiah has testified against Israel, and now, according to the custom of the court, the judge will deliver his sentence. In this case, the judgment will be delivered by Jesus Christ during the “day of Jehovah” (Isa. 2: 12).
(‘Understanding Isaiah’ – Donald w. Perry – JW N Perry – Tina M Peterson)
“For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time.” Moses 6: 52-62
Alan Osmond
For The Family
Temples – An Integral Part Of The Lord’s Church – EVERYONE Needs To Know Why We Build Temples
By Alan on Sep 03 in Blog tagged admission into God's presence, eternal exaltation, expressions of love, holy places, house of learning, initiatory ordinance, need to walk back to the presince of the Father, place of revelation, receive all necessary ordinances, sacred, Solomon Temple, source of spiritual power, Temples, Temples in the early Americas, Temples of old, the endowment, The House of The Lord, work for the dead | Comments Off
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The temples are sacred, holy places. They are a source of spiritual power and strength. They are a place of revelation.
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com
My heart is full of joy and gratitude as I contemplate this unique gathering of women throughout the world. What a privilege it is to be part of this great sisterhood, united in our desire to strengthen our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and build up His kingdom. I pray that I may be guided by the Spirit as I speak to you on the very sacred subject of temple worship.
The most holy places on earth are the temples. In the temple, worthy members of the Church receive the greatest blessings anyone can aspire to as we make sacred covenants with God. We also help make those same blessings available to our ancestors who died without receiving the necessary ordinances of salvation.
I will address the deep significance of building temples, why the ordinances performed in temples are essential to our salvation, and how to prepare to enter the temple.
I have witnessed and been greatly impressed by the sacrifices many members endure to get to the temple. Let me share one such story.
In 1976, when we were living in Costa Rica, the mission president asked my husband to help organize the first trip from the mission to a temple. The Central America Mission then included Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, and Honduras. The closest temple was the Mesa Arizona Temple. The trip required us to travel five days each way, crossing six borders. The financial sacrifice for most of those who went was great. They sold their television sets, bikes, skates, and anything else they could sell. We traveled in two uncomfortable buses day and night. Some of the members had used all their money to pay for the bus fare and had taken only crackers and margarine to eat on the way.
Why do members of the Church so willingly and happily make such great sacrifices to go to the temple?
I have never forgotten the great outpouring of the Spirit we experienced during the three days we spent at the Mesa Temple. I was deeply touched as I watched family members embrace each other with tears streaming down their faces after being sealed for the eternities.
Twenty-four years later the temple in San José, Costa Rica, was dedicated. Among those present at the session I attended were many of the families who had gone on that first temple excursion. They had waited faithfully and worthily for this sacred moment. They all can now attend the temple often because a temple in Panama was recently dedicated, and a temple in Honduras has been announced.
The Lord has always asked His people to build temples. The Lord commanded Moses: “Let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them.” 1 The portable tabernacle they built served as the central place of Israel’s worship during their pilgrimage to the promised land. Its pattern and structure were revealed by the Lord to Moses. It was to be the Lord’s holy house.
Later, King Solomon built the temple in Jerusalem using the finest building materials available. 2
During His earthly ministry, the Lord regarded the temple as a sacred place and taught reverence for it.
The Nephites also built temples to the Lord in the Americas. They were gathered around the temple when Christ appeared to them after His Resurrection. 3
Soon after the Church was restored in this dispensation, the Lord commanded the Saints to build a temple: “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.” 4
In response, the Saints built the Kirtland Temple at considerable sacrifice. In this holy temple, important priesthood keys were restored and the Savior Himself appeared. 5
At present, there are 135 temples in operation throughout the world, and many more are being built.
We have been instructed to build temples so that holy ordinances may be performed for both the living and the dead. These ordinances include initiatory ordinances, endowments, marriages, sealings, baptisms for the dead, and ordinations.
The initiatory ordinances provide us with specific immediate and future blessings.
The endowment embodies sacred covenants. It includes receiving instruction, power from on high, and the promise of blessings on condition of our faithfulness to the covenants we make.
President Brigham Young defined the endowment the following way:
“Your endowment is, to receive all those ordinances in the house of the Lord, which are necessary for you, after you have departed this life, to enable you to walk back to the presence of the Father … and gain your eternal exaltation.” 6
The sealing ordinances, such as temple marriage, bind families eternally.
The covenants we make with the associated ordinances we receive in the temple become our credentials for admission into God’s presence. These covenants elevate us beyond the limits of our own power and perspective. We make covenants to show our devotion to build up the kingdom. We become covenant people as we are placed under covenant to God. All the promised blessings are ours through our faithfulness to these covenants.
The temple is a house of learning. Much of the instruction imparted in the temple is symbolic and learned by the Spirit. This means we are taught from on high. Temple covenants and ordinances are a powerful symbol of Christ and His Atonement. We all receive the same instruction, but our understanding of the meaning of the ordinances and covenants will increase as we return to the temple often with the attitude of learning and contemplating the eternal truths taught.
Temple worship provides opportunities to serve the dead by performing vicarious ordinances for them. Family history research may be done by anyone outside the temple walls, but the sacred ordinances our dead ancestors need for their exaltation can be administered only in the temple.
The temple is the house of the Lord. He directs the conditions under which it may be used, the ordinances that should be administered, and the standards that qualify us to enter and participate in temple worship.
The Lord told Moses, “Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.” 7 In Psalms we read: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” 8 His house is holy, and no unclean thing may enter it. 9
The Lord has designated the bishop and stake president to be responsible for determining the worthiness of individuals to receive a recommend to enter His holy house. We have to be completely honest with our bishop and stake president when they interview us before issuing a temple recommend. The gift we bring to the altar is a pure heart and a contrite spirit. Personal worthiness is an essential requirement to enjoy the blessings of the temple.
We prepare by obeying the commandments and seeking to do God’s will. If you have not gone to the temple, start preparing now, for when the opportunity presents itself you will be ready and worthy.
When we go to the temple, we clear our minds and hearts of thoughts and feelings which may not be in harmony with the sacred experiences of the temple. We also dress in a modest, proper, and dignified manner. Our dress and grooming for this sacred occasion are signs of reverence and respect for the Lord and His holy house. Once inside the temple, we change into white clothing, which symbolizes cleanliness and purity. We are then ready to participate in the quiet reverence of temple worship. This eternal blessing is available to all who are worthy to receive it.
What can the women of the Church do to claim the blessings of the temple?
Through His prophets, the Lord invites those who have not yet received the blessings of the temple to do whatever may be necessary to qualify to receive them. He invites those who have already received these blessings to return as often as possible to enjoy again the experience, to increase their vision and understanding of His eternal plan.
Let us be worthy to have a current temple recommend. Let us go to the temple to seal our families eternally. Let us return to the temple as often as our circumstances will permit. Let us give our kindred dead the opportunity to receive the ordinances of exaltation. Let us enjoy the spiritual strength and the revelation we receive as we attend the temple regularly. Let us be faithful and make and keep temple covenants to receive the full blessings of the Atonement.
I testify to you that the temples are sacred, holy places. They are a source of spiritual power and strength. They are a place of revelation. They are the house of the Lord. In the sacred name of our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, amen.
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