Continued...

Don't let the world drag you down...

"Do no expect Plato's ideal republic; be satisfied with even the smallest step forward and consider this no small achievement."-Marcus Aurealus

 

Don't be deceived by the simplicity of the Way in Christ, that is what causes doubt and confusion and many fall to the Enemy for it.

1 Ne. 17: 41 And he did straiten them in the wilderness with his rod; for they hardened their hearts, even as ye have; and the Lord straitened them because of their iniquity. He sent fiery flying serpents among them; and after they were bitten he prepared a way that they might be healed;and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished.

 

2 Cor. 11: 3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

 

To not accept the Simplicity that is in Christ, is to entreat and abandon children to madness at conception. To not raise your children in the admonition of the LORD is hatred unredeemable. Even if you cannot live the Life yourself, to not admit to and point others toward Christ is cowardly and unforgivable.

This is what it's like trying to bring together irreconcilables and unforgiving, prideful, fearful, broken relationships with a patchwork of tattered, tainted ideals, empty promises, and faulty notions.

A fundamental change of allegiance and forgiveness of all, heals all instantaneously, though as of yet, much healing remains to be done...It places one and all, even the basest of men and women upon the road to Salvation. But it must begin at once, and with all due seriousness and resources available to those who are willing. It means protecting the innocent from the guilty with unrelenting love and abandon. Hating that which corrupts, even if it means hating yourself.

The American Dream is no substitute for the God Granted Reality, the one is empty and feed's off of the Other's Divine Right with wrong...and because the God Conceptualized Reality is a resurrecting, regenerating Force, it can keep the American Dream alive for as long as it takes to make a Faithful Bride out of a wayward wife and possibly even a whore. For each became so in error and desperation, never expecting nor desiring forgiveness and healing because the Pact brought a cunning survival in darkness and its works. But even in darkness the heart lives on and when Light shines upon it, feels remorse of soul and the realization of guilt and an overwhelming sadness of this loss begets a mighty Allegiance to the Right for those of peculiar strength and mindset...who consider Evil an Enemy even in bonds of. This is True Dog territory, where man's will becomes that of three modes of behavior: Kill, Work and At Ease...

The fundamental change begins in the Head whom the Nation betrayed with treachery, which change starts a chain reaction in everyman who is willing to take up the Standard of Liberty and claim his right to wed his lawfully wedded bride and humbly head his household.

 

Alma 46:34-37a Now, Moroni being a man who was appointed by the chief judges and the voice of the people, therefore he had power according to his will with the armies of the Nephites, to establish and to exercise authority over them.

And it came to pass that whomsoever of the Amalickiahites that would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, that they might maintain a free government, he caused to be put to death; and there were but few who denied the covenant of freedom.

And it came to pass also, that he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites.

And they began to have peace again in the land; and thus they did maintain peace in the land...

 

 

D&C 31:9 Be patient in afflictions, revile not against those that revile. Govern your house in meekness, and be steadfast.

So, as we've come full circle, if we want to beat "terrorism..." and not have to depend on military strength, and Hitler's wisdom...and if we want to fulfill Martin's"dream" or even Abbie's wisdom, we must be willing to strive with the Spirit, condemning ourselves when we fail, marking evil as evil, shunning sin and admitting what true strength and weakness is...never claiming anything but unworthiness at all times and in all circumstances, and that even if we could lead a perfect, spotless life, we owe everything and all to Him who made all and everything, and to deny Him is hatred and folly worse than any commited since the Fall.

 

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

 

Remember God chooses whom He will, whether man agrees with His choice or not, the man God chooses could be an oppressive schmuck in the eyes of the world, he could be a sinful seeming lecher, but God makes him worthy. Nothing we could ever do would make us worthy of Him. Maybe He does it just to frustrate the pride of holy men? Maybe He does it to prove the judgment of men entirely false and unworthy...After all, we are famous for judging and condemning men and women because of their actions which don't conform to our laws, but all the while God is considering the spirits and hearts, which none of us can see or have knowledge of until the afterlife, or Judgment Day.

 

Pro 16:2 All the ways of a man [are] clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

Dan 4:17 This matter [is] by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

 

1Cr 4:5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

 

Rom 9:15-21 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

So then [it is] not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.

For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will [have mercy], and whom he will he hardeneth.

Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed [it], Why hast thou made me thus?

Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

 

And why??? To show once and for all, in Jesus Christ that:

Isa 55:8-9 For my thoughts [are] not your thoughts, neither [are] your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

For [as] the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

And the Example set before us by the Head and Bridegroom? Impossible to follow and yet completely Just to All.

 

The unfailing consequence of blessings for righteous thoughts and acts, and punishment for unrepented sin. Justice is an eternal law that requires a penalty each time a law of God is broken,

Alma 42:10-24 Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state.
And now remember, my son, if it were not for the plan of redemption, (laying it aside) as soon as they were dead their souls were miserable, being cut off from the presence of the Lord.
And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state, which man had brought upon himself because of his own disobedience;
Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.
And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.
And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.
Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul.
Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?
Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man.
Now, if there was no law given—if a man murdered he should die—would he be afraid he would die if he should murder?
And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin.
And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature?
But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.
But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.
For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.

 

The sinner must pay the penalty if he does not repent,

Mosiah 2: 38-39 Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever. And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment.

It seems unfair, a man cannot pay for his own sins, he must go through the Only Mediator.

If he does repent, the Savior pays the penalty through the Atonement, invoking mercy,

Alma 34: 16 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.

The soul that sinneth shall die, Ezek. 18: 4. God will be just and forgive our sins, 1 John 1: 9.

1 Ne. 15: 30 And I said unto them that our father also saw that the justice of God did also divide the wicked from the righteous; and the brightness thereof was like unto the brightness of a flaming fire, which ascendeth up unto God forever and ever, and hath no end.

2 Ne. 9: 26 For the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel..

Alma 42:25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God.

Alma 54: 6 Behold, I would tell you somewhat concerning the justice of God, and the sword of his almighty wrath, which doth hang over you except ye repent and withdraw your armies into your own lands, or the land of your possessions, which is the land of Nephi.

D&C 82: 4 Ye call upon my name for revelations, and I give them unto you; and inasmuch as ye keep not my sayings, which I give unto you, ye become transgressors; and justice and judgment are the penalty which is affixed unto my law.

D&C 88: 40 For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things..

D&C 107: 84 Thus, none shall be exempted from the justice and the laws of God, that all things may be done in order and in solemnity before him, according to truth and righteousness.

 

Jesus' Example teaches the Ultimate Loophole...for all...

Gal 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 

You see, the way of the carnal world is to entreat innocence unto sin, but even therein the innocent shall be excused and forgiven and the world condemned for laying snares and traps and wanting to damn the souls of the innocent. All the while thinking themselves clever and justified, sayin "Aha! See he or she sins just like me, we're all damned!" Nay, ye are damned alone and doubly so for tresspass upon tresspass. The Righteous will save the innocent, and excuse sin, and make clean the filthy, while ye remain in your filth everlastingly...lest ye repent and learn Righteousness.

 

Mat 6:14-15 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.