Back to the Law...
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.
If the Law seemeth to change in Christ and yet the Law changeth not, it is because Christ is the Law.
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
3 Nephi 15:4-10 Behold, I say unto you that the law is fulfilled that was given unto Moses.
I am he that gave the law, and I am he who covenanted with my people Israel; therefore, the law in me is fulfilled, for I have come to fulfil the law; therefore it hath its fulfillment in me.
I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled.
The covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled; but the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me.
I am the law, and the light. Look unto me, and endure to the end, and ye shall live; for unto him that endureth to the end will I give eternal life.
I have given unto you the commandments; therefore keep my commandments. And this is the law and the prophets, for they truly testified of me.
'Y'shua/Jesus taught (Matt. 5:17-19) that anyone who annulled the least of God's Commandments, or taught others to do so, would be called "least" in his kingdom. He didn't come to abolish or set aside the Law and its teachings: he came to do the opposite, to fulfill them. The term Jesus used for "fulfill" carries the idea of bringing to full expression, showing forth its true meaning. The image is that of a Crown, showing someone off in his full radiance.' Without the Law and Festivals one cannot rightly know and honor the Commandments and the God who gave them. They act as reminders not only to us, but to God Himself that He promised to be merciful and kind to us in our imperfection and to forgive us, raise us up and perfect us at the Last.
The Law hath an "end" for those who can keep the Commandments with all their hearts and minds and Liberty is born in the Creature that Overcometh and one is Crowned.
If we cannot and fail to keep the Commandments, we must keep the Law and perfectly, and this is difficult when we mix those who keep the Commandments with those who keep the Law andRitual; Liberty is compromised in us when we fail to keep the Commandments in our hearts and minds with all Grace and Love, and bring this Grace and Love to Life in our Acts and Thoughts and Words and Deeds, as when the Divine meets the Natural and both are uplifted and subdued and Perfected in His Peace. And as we stray from Him and keeping the Commandments, the results are obvious and plain to see. We die daily, as Paul surmised. The Law keeps us Holy and Alive, sin brings death and with it, the need for sacrifice.
1Jo 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Those who keep the Law, love to fight for Freedom but cannot enjoy the Liberty which they MUST protect, thus we stray towards the abominable creation of civilization and humanity which manipulates and most often sabotages the Greater Glory of the Sons of God out of envy and want.
Many rabbis and priests do not even want to understand why and wherefore the Law came, they only wish to use It, abuse It, add to It and call it religion. Joseph was the first to add to It worthily or seemed to add to It, but he was only taking from Christ and often erringly, which Christ has had to fix, but that was the plan. Joseph lied and betrayed out of envy and want, but it was because he kept the Law that he thought he could, he just forgot the Spirit of Truth was watching, and God was searching his heart.
Jhn 16:13-15 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.
He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.
All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew [it] unto you.
Jesus was always speaking of Himself, and He is the Enigma, the Three in One. The One the world cannot accept.
D&C 20:35 And we know that these things are true and according to the revelations of John, neither adding to, nor diminishing from the prophecy of his book, the holy scriptures, or the revelations of God which shall come hereafter by the gift and power of the Holy Ghost, the voice of God, or the ministering of angels.
This is Manifested in the Word made flesh, and his Life and Ministry. Rabbis, who kept the Law perfectly or acted as if they did, constantly accused Jesus of breaking Laws and trying to make him seem Lawless. They themselves knew in their hearts, they could not keep the Law they were keeping and that It could not save them nor give them Life. How could this Jesus? How could anyone be said to be "without sin" (Hebrews 4:15) when he took flesh upon himself and had to sin? (Romans 8:8) He must need and heed the Law as prescribed by the Chief Rabbi! The first thing a Rabbi must admit if he wishes to teach Torah, is that he is unworthy to do so, and cannot be made worthy no matter how hard he try nor perfect he behold and carry out the Law.
Mat 17:5 This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
How!?
No one understood what sin is until Paul.
Rom 14:23 Whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.
Faith findeth Grace and Truth.
Jhn 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
What if Love and Innocence causes, and more, requires of one to transgress the Law, and contrarywise, striving to keep the Law that causes one to transgress and betray Love and Innocency leaving one with a hardness of heart that not even God nor His Son can touch?
Mat 19:8 He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.
Mar 3:5 And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts
Maybe God permitted everyone to fall in sin to remove the vilest, most detestable sin that ever took shape in the hearts of men or angels-Pride.
Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
When Joseph reached his supposed pinnacle, he defiled the entire mission and ministry with a single boast of how great he was and how unworthy and false everyone else was, even Jesus.
The Greater Jesus became, the humbler he became, often hiding away.
When Paul reached his height, he often sought to pretend humility, which the great recognized as shrewdness and the common mistook for plainess.
When the Lord steps out, the Real Slim Shaddai has been pleased to Stand Up.
Thus, though the Lord would be attracted to the Church for Its obedience and what seemeth like perfection(Luke8:21) he would also sense their reluctance to follow him away from their Church and understand why they could not, for their shepherd is Joseph and not Jesus.
When the Lord steps out, it is to save that which was lost and receive their stripes, and not condemn them for being lost as Pride might, yet he would and did praise the Righteous.
Isa 11:11 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people...
The disciples of Joseph are really good liars, mostly because they have not realized and do not know that they are lying. And it's a lie based upon Truth, for the Book of Mormon does indeed contain the Fulness of the Gospel, and is Scripture of and about the Christ.
Jesus, obviously, could not lie, for the fulness of the Godhead dwelleth in him bodily, he is the "Jew" in whom there can be no guile found. And Paul was a most beautiful example of a vile, wretched man encouraging others with all his wonderful heart to avoid the traps and snares he had fallen into, he was one who could be clever and guileful, but also had a clear and precise gift of recognizing God's Spirit and utilizing this gift to it's crowning perfection, thus a king among them. The realization of Paul's Vision and gospel and God's Spiritand Blessing gave birth to a society and culture in which children of God could mature into proper men and older gentlemen who received due honor and respect among the youth as guides and learned men of old. Honest, aging men who could be tutors and helpers of the young and coming generations, rather than old foolish objects of derision and scorn, who are preyed upon and set at nought unless they agree to play The Game and encourage youth to folly and cunning craft. All of which seemeth to me a right and due fulfillment of Leviticus 19, and what we must return to, proper Dignity in the LORD.
Joseph uses "holiness" as a weapon, and serves the enemy of God with "obedience." But the mockery and distaste for the Lord comes out, can be seen and felt, in their works. For this, Paul wept.
Phl 3:18-19 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Paul uses sinfulness as a starting point for all men to return to God, gradually being made holy because of Him and our agreement to follow and serve, and also makes clear the fact that there exist some who can not be holy, yet may be anointed servants of God, those tried by fire and found worthy and faithful despite the pain and disfigurement of their trials. Joseph condemns these anointed brethren simply because they are unclean in his eyes, but he knoweth not their hearts, and he sees not that those he blesses as worthy, God has hated.
Isa 65:5 Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These [are] a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
Joseph did what he believed was right for his brethren- to reward and honor the righteous, but their reward should be no more nor less than their righteousness. And the world is not going to reward anyone for being righteous, not with worldly gifts, at any rate. So when the D&C says that people will give the missionaries money, it is out and out lying or selling the Church out again.
It's Joseph or Pharoah trying to become Solomon. It's extremely cunning, and lawful. For if the Christ had not recognized it for what it is, a lie, then they would have the lawful right to the Church and Ministry and all it's riches, and the appointment and decisions of usage of saidriches would be theirs to make. But such belong to Christ alone.
Phl 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
The answer lies niether with Paul nor Joseph but with Jesus, the Law and the Testimony, and the Power and Sovereignty of the LORD. Salvation is of the Jews.
Rev 5:12-14 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four [and] twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Through the misuse of Paul's gospel and the misunderstanding of the Grace of Jesus Christ, Israel became the tail, instead of being what he is meant to be, the head. Thus the LORD will go after Israel again, to retrieve that which was lost...and return them to blessing as in the beginning of Deutronomy 28...so that they may lead, for another nation may not lead, but may oppress Israel if Israel be disobedient...ala Jesus as Solomon...a dying Godhead, all the nations round about took advantage of his "fall." David saw it coming...
Psa 37:24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth [him with] his hand.
Israel got used to being the tail and even found joy, fellowship, and a sentimental and sometimes humble will to endure that which was and is too weak to endure; Iniquity and Deception, the fruit of which rapidly ferments into a rod of wickedness.
An interesting correlation can be noticed between David and Saul, both of whom wished to be King over Israel and each disliked the other passionately, Saul was very rough and hard, and David, though led astray into war and combat, had a heart after the Lord. Saul and it can be seen in Paul as well, wished the Lord to answer to his heart's wish for the Lord. This unfortunately,often Hooved the Lord, and caused Him to follow along behind, when He wishes to be a comforting guide ever present...and He who waits ahead with everyman's reward.
But then, being in three places at once, is what Our LORD does best.
To be Christ's handler, is what Paul/Saul hungered for, like a prizefighter, and his eye was, as he stated, "on the prize"(Phl 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.) And he won It, and I would think the prosecution may object and rightfully claim he were "leading the Witness..." But then, the only One the Christ would recognize would be Himself at work in a Disciple or Apostle.
The meeting point for Saul/Paul and David is how either man had to learn and be humbled by the Lord, in affliction...And if we somehow combine the heartfelt passion of David psalming to the Lord and Paul wrestling therewith as Jacob once did, we discover the problem and solution of the everyman in the world which the LORD hath created to be Sovereign over and worshipped in.
Everyman has and instinctive drive to fulfill his spirit's desire, and to do so, must come to the LORD and ask how, especially when failing or having trouble doing so, because that is when Satan is waiting on our fall, and as David found, only the LORD can hold a man up, who has absolutely no right to stand.
And Paul miraculously discovers the Way.
2Cr 5:19-21 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
L'SHANAH TOVAH
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