The Plan of Eternal Happiness

Some time ago, before the world was created, there were two exalted beings.  Two persons who had already experienced an earthly existence and had overcome it and had received their eternal reward and had become celestial beings.  Thus began the cycle of eternal existence in which we have a part.  Our Heavenly Father and Heavenly Mother lived on a world much as the one we live on.  They had many of the same challenges we have.  They overcame temptation just as we must do.  They repented just as we must do.  And if we do as they did, we will become just what they are now.

Our Heavenly Parents began generating their glory.  Moses was told, “For behold, this is my work and my glory–to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” Moses 1:39 They began to conceive and produce spirit children.  How many did they have?  I don’t know.  I do know they produced sufficient spirits to people this world with all the people who have lived here, who live here now, and who will live here until the end and more.  We lived with our Heavenly Parents and were taught by them.  We learned all of the things we needed to know before we came to this world.

While we lived as spirits in the pre-earth existence a grand conference was held.  All of Heavenly Father’s children were in attendance.  There were speakers who gave us instruction much as previous conferences we attended.  This was to be a special conference, though, because we were to be given information that would affect all of us.  Jehovah, the first spirit child born to our Heavenly Parents, spoke.  He told us of an eternal plan.  A plan that would offer us an opportunity to become celestial beings like our parents are.  This plan would have some danger.  We would have to prove ourselves worthy to receive celestial glory.  We would be given the right to chose right and wrong;  To set in motion our own path; to make our own destiny.  Then if we made bad decisions and recognized them, we would be given the opportunity to repent and ask forgiveness.  A Savior would be provided so that we could repent and change our destiny.  Jehovah told us that a council of heavenly leadership had been held and that He had volunteered to be the savior for all mankind. 

After Jehovah finished his presentation, Lucifer, one of the most chosen spirits, began to address us.  He reported that he had volunteered to be the savior of mankind also.  He had presented a plan to the leadership council that provided that all of Heavenly Father’s children could receive celestial blessings.  He would create an environment that would compel us to do right and would not permit us choices.  In return, he wanted Heavenly Father’s power and glory. 

We were given the opportunity to vote as to which plan we wanted to follow.  The results were that 2/3 of us wanted the plan presented by Jehovah.  We knew this plan  was the plan followed by our Heavenly Parents, and that it was a plan that had been in place for eternities.  1/3 of our brothers and sisters voted for Lucifer’s plan.  After the vote was concluded, Lucifer and the spirits that voted for his plan rebelled against Heavenly Father.  A great war broke out.  How it was fought I don’t know.  I do know that Michael, the Arch Angel, led the fight on the side of Heavenly Father’s plan.  Lucifer, who’s name was changed to Satan, led the fight on the other side.  Michael’s forces prevailed and at the command of Heavenly Father, cast Satan and his followers out of heaven.  They were exiled to this world.(Revelation 11:7-9) They would be the catalyst that would permit us to make decisions based on right and wrong.

Peace was again established in Heaven, and the plan could go forward.  Plans were laid to carry out the great plan of happiness.  A world had to be created for us so that we could go forward.  Our Heavenly Parents have physical bodies.  We, as yet, were  only bodies of spirit.  In order for us to become as our Heavenly Parents we needed a place to gain physical bodies. 

Heavenly Father directed Jehovah and Michael, among others, to go and create a world.  We can read about this creation in Genesis, Moses, and Abraham.  I don’t know how long it took to create this world.  I’m pretty sure it wasn’t in 6 days.  We are taught in the temple that there were 6 creative periods that Heavenly Father called days.  I suspect that the periods were not of equal length of time.  I’m not sure that time was even measured during the creative periods except that they called each period a day.

This earth was not created out of nothingness.  There were materials unorganized available.  These materials were used to make this earth.  How was it done?  I don’t know and I don’t think any of the greatest scientists have any idea either.  I have an idea that it was done using natural physical laws, many of which we have no knowledge.  We are told that it was done by God’s power delegated to Jehovah. 

At any rate the world was completed and a garden planted eastward in Eden.  It was a glorious garden.  It was a paradise.  Food grew spontaneously.  It would support life.  Heavenly Father and Jehovah saw that the creation was complete except there was no people yet on the earth. 

President Harold B. Lee taught that our Heavenly Parents produced two physical children for this world, Adam and Eve.  We know that the Arch Angel we knew as Michael in the pre-earth life, became known as Adam.  He was given the honor because of his station in the pre-earth life.  The spirit that became Eve was equal in spiritual stature to Adam and was given the honor of being the first daughter to inhabit a physical body.  Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden and were given commandments by God. 

1.    Take care of the Garden of Eden.
2.    Multiply and replenish the earth.
3.    Don’t partake of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
4.    Stay together.

In their current state, they were not yet mortal.  They had physical bodies, but they were not yet mortal.   So they could not have children.  They were in a quandary.  What should they do?  They were commanded to multiply and replenish the earth, but they couldn’t unless they partook of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The were taught what the consequences would be if they partook of the fruit.

What should they do?  Satan helped them with their decision.  Here’s a thought that each of us should consider.  Satan will use truths to aim us at his goal post. Satan taught them that if they wanted to continue with their celestial journey, they must partake of the fruit and become mortal.  He purposely didn’t mention that by so doing they would loose the spiritual connection with God that they had previously enjoyed.
Adam was resistant.  He was pretty happy to live in the Garden of Eden with his sweetheart.  Eve, however, could see beyond the moment.  She understood that in order for them to progress they would have to choose mortality.  Thus she partook of the fruit and encouraged Adam to do likewise.

The fall was understood. Adam and Eve understood the consequences.  But they also knew the benefits.  They were able to follow the higher law by transgressing the lesser law.  As a result, mankind was permitted to follow.  We came into this life because of the choice that Adam and Eve made.

We came to this world full of promise and thinking we could overcome anything thrown our direction.  I believe our family ties were established in the pre-earth life and that we may have even chosen some of our own circumstances.   I’m pretty sure we  were, in a way, pretty delusional about how well we would do.  I doubt we had any clue how hard it would be to always make right decisions.  I don’t think we knew how much work it would be to control this physical body and its appetites.  I suppose if we knew then what we know now, we’d have entered into this life with much more fear. 

When we see a little baby, new from the pre-earth life, we can tell of its divine nature.  Then when we understand that we are responsible to teach this little creature the difference of right and wrong, what consequences follow our decisions, and what we must do to earn eternal life, we find the responsibility very daunting.  Some of us never learn and thus never teach our children those things that will get them back to our Heavenly Father.  Some of us are afraid to teach our children for fear they won’t like us anymore.  It is hard to be firm to our children if we think we have to be their friend.  But let us think of the consequences of NOT teaching them correct principles.  If we only depend on the church, or the schools to teach our children, we fail them, we fail our Heavenly Father, and we fail ourselves. 

We must teach them of morality,  What clothing is inappropriate to wear in public,  What language is inappropriate,  What attitudes are inappropriate, What actions are inappropriate.     We must teach them of loyalty to our God, our Church, and our Country.  We must teach them to follow the teachings of the prophets and even our own Prophet, President Thomas S. Monson.  We must teach them and ourselves to obey the commandments and guidance given to us by God through his prophets.

Then as we grow old and prepare ourselves to depart this life, we will find satisfaction in our lives.  My father was still giving us guidance up until just a few days before he passed away.  He was fulfilling his responsibilities as a father. 

When we have passed through this mortal life and have done all we think we can, when we  have repented of the bad decisions we have made, and when we have tried to mend whatever fences we’ve broken with those about us, we can rest easy.  But our lives are not over.  We just pass in to a different phase of our eternal existence. 

When we leave this life, we pass into a Post-earth existence as spirits.  If we have failed in this life we will go to a state of spirit prison.  I believe this to be a state of mind more than an exact prison.  We will be in darkness just as people who live in sin here live in darkness, not knowing the true light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

If we have done well we can enter into a state of paradise.  While in the post-earth spirit existence we may be asked to work as missionaries to teach those who didn’t get a chance to enjoy the teachings of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We may be asked to serve in other capacities too.  When we die, our lives are not over and we don’t just stop doing.  We’ll still be concerned for our descendants.  We’ll be able to become acquainted with our ancestors.  We’ll be able to help those of our friends that we didn’t teach when we were living.  We’ll still have things to accomplish.

When the right time comes, we will be judged by our actions according to the knowledge we have attained.  We will be placed into an eternal existence that will most fit our circumstance.  The Apostle Paul taught in 1 Corinthians 15:40-41:

40    There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 
41    There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differeth from another star in glory.

I believe we will receive the kingdom that will be most comfortable for us. I believe that is the mercy of our Father in Heaven.  The hell will come when we remember our potential, but know our station.  That we could have been celestial, but fell short.

If we do as our Heavenly Parents did, we will be able to build our own glory just as they did and are doing.  We can begin to create worlds without number and to have children without number to people those worlds.  This is our ultimate goal.

I testify to you that the principles I have taught you today are true.  They have been similarly taught by prophets throughout the generations of this world.  They have been understood by the Saints in each dispensation from Adam to Joseph Smith.  They can be found in the writings of the prophets that we know as the Holy Scriptures. 

God loves us.  We are his children.  He wants us to succeed, but he won’t compel us to do so.  He only asks us to follow his commandments and teachings and in return he promises all he has to us. 

Democrats Defining GOP?

Why is the Democrat party trying to define republicanism?  Democrats have no idea what it is and are really not interested in finding out.  In my not-so-humble opinion a simile might be a blind person attempting to describe a pretty vista.  He has never seen it and thus can't describe it.

Democrats have never seen how a republic works and are uninterested in discovering how it might be helpful.  Democrats appear to be interested in only one thing.  Control of every part of every life in the country.   They cannot abide personal liberties.  The cannot permit decisions based on one's taste, talent, experience, and education.  They won't investigate illegitimate science.  They won't dig into disaster to find the root cause.

Republicans, on the other hand, (and I mean true republicans, not the politicans that call themselves Republicans), represent the people.  They work to enforce the people's desires not their own personal desire for control.     The people's interest is what they should be doing and they will hold the line against any effort to circumvent that interest. 

Unfortunately, I don't see anyone in congress brave enough to be a leader of a republican nation.  I hoped we'd see one in Paul Ryan, but I see he has walked back to the confines of a centrist.  Rand Paul talks like a conservative and he acts like he would actually back republicanism, but he has yet to show his true colors, in my opinion. 

What to do.  Should we sit back and let the socialists take us over?  I suspect there will be rebellion before too many years.  Americans will not tolerate their liberties being withdrawn.   I hope I don't live long enough to see the People's Republik of Amerika unfold. 

The Politicrats in Washington Still Don't Get It!

So our nation is broke.  We are in debt up to our eyebrows with no end in sight.  Our elected representatives cannot bring themselves to the point of eliminating costs in order to unravel the mess.  This is kind of like trying to untangle an extension cord.  In order to put it right you have to start at one end and work to the other.

In the case of our government, rather than start to unravel the tangle, we're making it worse by increasing costs.  My question is:  How does that help?  Obviously the people the Administration has hired have never met a budget.   Oh Yeah...they haven't had a budget to meet.  Congress doesn't want to publish one.  Why does the House of Representatives not perform its constitutional duties and create and pass a budget and then let the Senate and President explain to us why they won't endorse it.  Since a compromise does not seem to be in the cards, the House needs to just act unilaterally.  If Mr. Boehner is not man enough to take care of business we'll need a new Speaker with courage and forcefulness.

I'll restate my suggestions:

Close the Department of Energy Denial.  Dismiss all employees, regulators, managers, enforcement officers and any other person attached to that department.

Close the Department of mis-Education.  Dismiss all employees, regulators, managers, enforcement officers and any other person attached to that department.  Send the responsibility for education back to the local level where it belongs.

Sell ALL land now administered by the Bureau of Land Mis-Management, close the bureau and dismiss all employees, regulators, managers, enforcement officers and any other person attached to that department.

Sell ALL land now administered by the National Park Service to private entities who will run the parks and monuments at a profit.  By so doing, the parks and monuments will be better maintained and will be more attractive and less dangerous to the public.  Close the National Park Service and dismiss all employees, regulators, managers, enforcement officers and any other person attached to that service.

Close the Department of Transportation.  Dismiss all employees, regulators, managers, enforcement officers and any other person attached to that department.  The federal government long ago gave responsibilities to the states and there is no reason for it to exist now.

Close the National Health Service.  Dismiss all employees, regulators, managers, enforcement officers and any other person attached to that service.

Close the Food and Drug Administration.  Dismiss all employees, regulators, managers, enforcement officers and any other person attached to that Administration.

Close the FAA.  Turn all responsibilities over to the American Airline Association who is funded by those who use the airways.  Dismiss all employees, regulators, managers, enforcement officers and any other person attached to that administration.

Close the Department of Homeland inSecurity.  It is a intrusive department that is not needed or wanted by the public.  Move all law enforcement to the Department of Justice where it belongs.  Dismiss any other employees, regulators, managers, bureaucrats, and any other person now attached to that department.

Reduce the Department of Agriculture.  Obviously if the BLM, the Park Service, FDA, and other entities are reduced, the department won't need as many people.

Close the Environmental Protection Agency.  They've regulated us out of business.  They've strangled the free market.  Dismiss all employees, managers, enforcement officers and agents, and any other person attached to that agency.  

By attending to the above, the deficit is eliminated, taxes can remain low and there is plenty of money to take care of essential government programs.

Warriors and How They Fight

I've stumbled upon a thought today that I've never had before.  It was a moment of spiritual realization that spilled out during a moment of meditation this morning.

Our nation has many thousands of battle-ready warriors around the world who are ready to follow their leaders into war.  These warriors are trained to fight physically against a foe similarly prepared to fight against them.  In reserve, our nation has hundreds of thousands of battle-hardened and seasoned warriors that could be called upon and who would respond to the call.

Similarly, the Lord has nearly 60 thousand battle-ready stripling warriors, endowed with His power and authority, in the field with double that many who are preparing to serve.  Similarly, there are hundreds of thousands of battle-hardened warriors who are willing to serve at a moment's notice and do so currently as home-guards.  Who are these warriors?  They are missionaries who are serving to battle ignorance, darkness and evil.  They are young men and women who have been called by the Lord's prophet to teach His gospel.  They are the young men and women who are preparing to serve. They are also the silver foxes who have served throughout their lives and are ready to teach what they have learned over the years.  They are those who are home, strengthening and helping those who remain behind.  They are those who administer the Church that contains the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Where the warriors of military might fight physically, the representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ are continually battling spiritual darkness and evil.

I am pleased to note that my princess bride and I will be joining the silver foxes who will teach what we've learned over more than 45 years of service.  Though our bodies are not young and strong, our spirits are sturdy, our will is strong, our service is needed and we will respond.

It is interesting to me that a time of sacred and spiritual uplift is preceded by the most chaotic of times.  And the more sacred and spiritual the uplift, the more chaos precedes it.

Please read 3 Nephi 1:4-13 as an example.

Today we have chaos predicted by prophets for generations.  Will it lead up to the 2nd coming of the Lamb?

So Separation of Church and State?

Because the current batch of liberals who have infested the White House and the Senate and who seem to have the majority in the Supreme Court, and because these statists insist that we maintain the fairy tale of separation of Church and State, I will expect the following:

The Supreme Court, its clerks, staff, security, and attendants will be on duty as usual during the week of December 24-28.  Those who declare their belief in Jesus Christ publicly and in writing, and take the days off to celebrate their religion will not be intimidated, disciplined, or maligned in any way, but must take the days off without pay.

The White House, the President, the Cabinet, all of the advisors, czars, employees, Secret Service attendants, secretaries, and staff will be at their posts as usual during the week of December 24-28.  Those who declare their belief in Jesus Christ publicly and in writing, and take the days off to celebrate their religion will not be intimidated, disciplined, or maligned in any way, but must take the days off without pay, and the offices must be open and staffed. 

The Congress, clerks, staff, Capital Security, and all employees will be taking care of the people's business as usual, i.e. actually working instead of posturing during the week of December 24-28.  Those who declare their belief in Jesus Christ publicly and in writing, and take the days off to celebrate their religion will not be intimidated, disciplined, or maligned in any way, but must take the days off without pay, and the offices must remain open and properly staffed.

The bureaus, departments, commissions, administrations, enforcement agencies, and any other government employees will be at their posts and offices open for business during the week of December 24-28.  Those who declare their belief in Jesus Christ publicly and in writing, and take the days off to celebrate their religion will not be intimidated, disciplined, or maligned in any way, but must take the days off without pay, and the offices must remain open and properly staffed.

All state agencies, offices, bureaus, administrations, commissions, their staffs and employees will be at their posts and offices will be staffed as usual and open for business during the week of December 24-28.  Those who declare their belief in Jesus Christ publicly and in writing, and take the days off to celebrate their religion will not be intimidated, disciplined, or maligned in any way, but must take the days off without pay, and the offices must remain open and properly staffed.

All city agencies, offices, bureaus, administrations, commissions, their respective staffs and employees will be at their posts and offices staffed as usual and open for business during the week of December 24-28.  Those who declare their belief in Jesus Christ publicly and in writing, and take the days off to celebrate their religion will not be intimidated, disciplined, or maligned in any way, but must take the days off without pay, and the offices must remain open and properly staffed.

All state sponsored Schools, Colleges, Universities, training programs, etc will be open for business and their employees, administrators, managers, and teachers will be at their posts whether or not students attend.  Students and staff who wish to be away from school practicing their religious beliefs will not be intimidated, disciplined, or maligned in any way, but the schools will be open and fully staffed.

All of this so that the leftist zealots cannot say that there is a bias for a certain religion.  I don't want any of them to benefit from the Christian beliefs that are so dear to the rest of us.

That seems fair to me.  

Life is....and then isn't.

Yesterday I had the privilege of attending the funeral for one of the most influential people in my life.  When I met him I was a skinny, painfully shy, backwoods, 19 year-old youngster.  We met in his office in Montevideo, Uruguay.  He was my Mission President and I had arrived in country mere moments before. 

President Gardner H. Russell was a truly amazing man.  He led hundreds of missionaries through some pretty troubling times.  He was threatened by urban gorillas, the tupamaros, and yet continued in his daily routine.  He was unflappable.

President Russell saw a potential in me that I did not see myself.  He gave me confidence.  He gave me support.  Before I was 20 years old he called me to the position of Branch President and I continued in that calling until a few days before my 21st birthday.  I served as Branch President in two different branches.  The first was wildly successful and the second struggled.

In any case, at his funeral I saw a man I thought I recognized.  I didn't know who he was but I held out my hand and said, "I should know you."  He introduced himself as Mark Walton, who was my companion.in La Paz 41 years ago.  We remembered our time together and we remembered President Russell.

Amazingly, though it has been 40 years since I last saw the Russell children, and I'm twice the man I was in those days, Jana recognized me as did Dorothy.  I felt it a privilege to be personally notified of the funeral, and I was honored to be there.

Though we enter this life and then we leave it, there are some things of which I am certain.  I've had a confirmation of my faith and these things are the foundations of it.

1.  God lives.  He is interested in our lives.  He won't interfere unless we disturb his plan.  He will help good people to become better, and he will permit bad people to indict themselves.  He permits disasters to happen because they are tests of our faith and because it lets the wicked prove themselves.

2.  Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.  He is my Lord, my Savior, my arbiter with the Father.  He is my Master whom I willingly serve.

3.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in its fullness by Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ using the means of modern prophets, namely, Joseph Smith, Jr, Brigham Young, John Taylor, Wilford Woodruff, Lorenzo Snow, Joseph F. Smith, Heber J. Grant, George Albert Smith, David O. McKay, Joseph Fielding Smith, Harold B. Lee, Spencer W. Kimball, Ezra Taft Benson, Howard W. Hunter, Gordon B. Hinckley and today Thomas S. Monson.

4.  I know that my Princess bride and I have been sealed together for time and eternity.  If the last nearly 40 years is any indication, we will enjoy the eternities together.  I know that our children have also been sealed to us for time and eternity.  I love each of my children.

5.  I know that salvation is an individual project, but exaltation is a family project.

I hope each of my acquaintances will come to similar knowledge.