A Great Movie to Watch This Evening

I’m not big on Halloween, for many reasons. However, if you’re spending the evening at home tonight and you are wanting to watch a movie, may I suggest “Luther.” You can watch it for free on YouTube at this link.

October 31st is traditionally regarded as the day when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany. That event kicked off the Protestant Reformation—a necessary precursor to the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to all of the end times events that have happened and that have yet to happen.

There are worse things you could do tonight, and why pick something worse? :)

Stones, New Names, and a Sea of Glass (Part IV)

6 The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth;

7 But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord.

8 The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim.

9 This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ’s.

10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;

11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word. (D&C 130)

Growing up in the LDS church, I was taught that the celestial kingdom was the highest kingdom a person could attain in the afterlife through our experiences in this life. I was taught the church’s version of how to get there, and I adopted a lot of beliefs that were vain and false, which I have had to go to great lengths to disabuse myself of.

Without going into details that are unnecessary for the purposes of this series of blogposts, I think that attaining the celestial kingdom looks a whole lot different than what most LDS people believe. Many of those details are included in other posts. And while I will say that the specifics of the verses above only apply to a very small number of people (see Matthew 7:13-14) at a certain stage of progression, I also believe that there are general principles we can learn from, regardless of where we are in our progression.

God gives us laws, and we have the ability to obey or disobey them. They are written in “stone,” and it is appropriate that the first of Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness has similar imagery.

1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.

2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.

4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. (Matthew 4)

Words that proceed out of the mouth of God are written in stone. It is those laws that we live by, not physical bread, and we shouldn’t attempt to change them into something that is more palatable to us.

Our obedience to one law positions us in between that law and the next one that will draw us closer to God. As we progress towards him, we should be constantly putting laws “under our feet.” All those who have come to obey, understand, and appreciate a law clearly see the effects of that law, and when a set of laws that exist in one sphere is completely obeyed, those truths are circumscribed and the sphere becomes a fit and common habitation for those who are ready to receive things pertaining to a higher kingdom, which come individually and uniquely in the form of another stone. The sphere becomes a sea of glass, where things pertaining to a lower kingdom are easily seen and understood. 

The white stone has a new name on it. Again, this is specific to individuals who inherit the celestial kingdom. But in our own progress, each law that is given to us is meant to bring us closer to that new name, and each law that we receive sanctifies us and causes us to become someone that wasn’t proven before.

We should be constantly getting new and higher laws. As everything below us becomes something that we can understand through our obedience, we receive greater and greater portions of those things that are above us that we do not yet understand, but will through our obedience.

Stones, New Names, and a Sea of Glass (Part III)

6 The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth;

7 But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord.

8 The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim.

9 This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ’s.

10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;

11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word. (D&C 130)

We are told, in verse 10, that “…the white stone…will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one…” It will pass from one state to another. By contrast, we are told, in verse 9, that “…this earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon…”

These differences in tense are important. They correspond to the higher and lower kingdoms being referred to—the white stone being involved in an active, transitional process of revealing things that pertain to higher kingdoms and the earth in an already existing state of revealing things that pertain to lower kingdoms.

It is also important that the stone that makes known things of a higher kingdom is individual. Each individual receives one. Whereas the earth, on which all of the inhabitants dwell, becomes one Urim and Thummim given to many.

It is also interesting to note the imagery of inhabitants dwelling on this earth that will, then, be a Urim and Thummim. It conveys the idea that, as those inhabitants ascended, they subdued lower kingdoms—the ability to comprehend things of a lower kingdom being under their feet. Underscoring this idea is the fact that “this earth…will be made like unto crystal”—a very clear and transparent substance. It calls to mind imagery that this earth will be a window, of sorts, through which one can view the things of lower kingdoms that have been subdued and overcome.

A scripture from the book of Revelation conveys the same imagery:

And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. (Revelation 15:2)

Verse 8 tells us that “the place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim.” And verse 7 says that the angels “reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord.”

So, there is a pattern here. The stone and the places where these beings reside are meant to convey information. They are the means of making manifest “lights” and “perfections”—understanding and truths of things pertaining to both higher and lower kingdoms. 

Stones, New Names, and a Sea of Glass (Part II)

6 The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth;

7 But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord.

8 The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim.

9 This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ’s.

10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;

11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word. (D&C 130)

The words “Urim” and “Thummim” translate to “lights” and “perfections,” respectively. They are two words that should be, at least, a little familiar to anyone who has studied the priestly robes Aaron was required to wear in the tabernacle.

And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually. (Exodus 28:30)

These words are also found in LDS scripture. In the Book of Abraham, we learn that, by their use, Abraham learned of heavenly bodies.

1 And I, Abraham, had the Urim and Thummim, which the Lord my God had given unto me, in Ur of the Chaldees;

2 And I saw the stars, that they were very great, and that one of them was nearest unto the throne of God; and there were many great ones which were near unto it; (Abraham 3)

In the Joseph Smith—History and Doctrine and Covenants, we discover that Joseph translated the 116 pages of lost manuscript by the means of the Urim and Thummim.

By this timely aid was I enabled to reach the place of my destination in Pennsylvania; and immediately after my arrival there I commenced copying the characters off the plates. I copied a considerable number of them, and by means of the Urim and Thummim I translated some of them, which I did between the time I arrived at the house of my wife’s father, in the month of December, and the February following. (JS—H 1:62) 

Now, behold, I say unto you, that because you delivered up those writings which you had power given unto you to translate by the means of the Urim and Thummim, into the hands of a wicked man, you have lost them. (D&C 10:1)

These instruments were found deposited with the plates and other sacred artifacts, and in ancient times, their possession and use constituted seership.

Also, that there were two stones in silver bows—and these stones, fastened to a breastplate, constituted what is called the Urim and Thummim—deposited with the plates; and the possession and use of these stones were what constituted “seers” in ancient or former times; and that God had prepared them for the purpose of translating the book. (JS-H 1:35)

Several verses in the Old Testament indicate that the Urim and Thummim were instruments through which a righteous priest could discern truth and dispense judgment in holiness. Like all things sacred, they are to be used strictly for God’s purposes.

With regard to this series of blogposts, it is of special note that, in the Abraham account, Abraham learns of the relationships of heavenly bodies and intelligences. It is through the Urim and Thummim that Abraham sees things that are “greater” and things that are “lesser” and the reckonings of those things. Verses 9 & 10 of D&C mirror these ideas.

9 This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ’s.

10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known; (D&C 130)

Concerning things pertaining to a higher kingdom, we see that the white stone becomes a personal Urim and Thummim. It is a means by which one comes to know of and understand things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms. This is exactly what happens when we are given new laws higher than the ones we have previously been given and to which which we have been obedient. It is a pattern that is seen as one ascends. The new laws help us understand the order of higher kingdoms.

 

 

Stones, New Names, and a Sea of Glass (Part I)

6 The angels do not reside on a planet like this earth;

7 But they reside in the presence of God, on a globe like a sea of glass and fire, where all things for their glory are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord.

8 The place where God resides is a great Urim and Thummim.

9 This earth, in its sanctified and immortal state, will be made like unto crystal and will be a Urim and Thummim to the inhabitants who dwell thereon, whereby all things pertaining to an inferior kingdom, or all kingdoms of a lower order, will be manifest to those who dwell on it; and this earth will be Christ’s.

10 Then the white stone mentioned in Revelation 2:17, will become a Urim and Thummim to each individual who receives one, whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known;

11 And a white stone is given to each of those who come into the celestial kingdom, whereon is a new name written, which no man knoweth save he that receiveth it. The new name is the key word. (D&C 130)

When I was growing up, one thing that I loved about the gospel was that it seemed never-ending. There was always more you could learn and incorporate. I loved scriptures like the one above because of the fact that I didn’t understand them. It meant that there was a discovery ahead, and I grew to love searching things out and then having the Lord reveal things to my understanding.

One can determine that there are specific meanings to the things talked about in these verses, because we are given clues as to how the things in these verses pertain to things of a celestial nature. But there are also patterns in everything that God does, and I see a fractal, of sorts, in what we read above—a description of a process that can help us understand what is required of us as we ascend towards God.  

This will probably be a series of posts.

Let’s start with stones and work backwards. There are many scriptures about stones that convey various concepts, but only a few will be quoted here, and some will be saved for future posts in the series.

The Law of Moses was given to Israel on tables of stone.

12 And the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

13 And Moses rose up, and his minister Joshua: and Moses went up into the mount of God. (Exodus 24)

Interestingly, these laws were written by the finger of God.

We also read how receiving God’s laws on stone tablets is not the same as receiving God’s laws in your heart.

Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. (2 Corinthians 3:3)

These laws are written “with the Spirit of the living God.”

Verse 10, above, refers to Revelation 2:17, which says:

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. (Revelation 2:17)

Verse 10 goes on to explain that the “white stone” becomes a Urim and Thummim to the person who receives it, “whereby things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms will be made known.”

When we receive laws from God, that are not yet written in our hearts, they are written “in stone.” We receive laws from God when we have obeyed the laws that he has previously given to us. These new laws will always be laws that help us ascend, from the point at which we are to a point that is closer to him. It is by obedience to these commands that we come to know “things pertaining to a higher order of kingdoms.”

On the stone is written a “new name.” I wrote a blogpost about names a while back. In ancient times, names were more than just a means of identifying someone. Names told you something about the individual, and obedience to new laws that we receive is meant to change us into someone who did not exist before. Furthermore, you can only really know—or, in other words, comprehend—the new name—or the individual you become—by not only obeying the law that is given to you on the “stone,” but also by having it written on your heart—or on the seat of your desires.

All the Temples in the World…

16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (1 Corinthians 3)

33 For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;

34 And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy.

35 The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple. (D&C 93)

25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. (Matthew 23)

Last weekend, the LDS church held its semi-annual General Conference. In recent years, I’ve listened in on conference sessions, only to hear what some of my children who still attend are being taught, but the circumstances of last weekend made tuning-in fall very low on the priority list. I didn’t see or hear any of it, but, by way of social media, I encountered the announcement of plans to build several new temples.

Over the same weekend, a video was put up on YouTube. I got to watch it on a travel day last week, and I found it so sad that so many people were so excited to hear the news of temple construction, but were completely unaware of a video that shared such priceless information about (just a part of) what it’s like to become God’s temple. 

The most important “temple work” that can be done is internal to us. There is an enormous amount of symbolism to be found in the concept and practice of temple worship, but, to be quite honest, it is a lower form of worship than what God originally intended for mankind to have.

21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4)

Jesus says that true worshippers “shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” Engaging in this type of worship is effectual, and God has placed, is placing, and will place everything we need in our lives to engage in this type of worship.

The video I mentioned earlier in this post was published by Rob Smith on his YouTube channel, “upwardthought”, and can be found here. It’s a long video—the longest of any on his channel (though, not much longer than a general conference session and far more spiritually satisfying—just saying). If that particular video is too long, pick a shorter one. Every video is worth watching.

I’ve recommended his books on numerous occasions. The value of the principles in his books is many times the value of the time it takes to read one. If you find value in the videos, you should consider reading his books, several formats of which can be found on his blog.

The videos and (to a greater extent) the books are tools that shed greater light on God and his goodness and love towards us. They are instruments designed to help us do the “temple work” within ourselves that will cause us to become a fit habitation for God’s spirit.

For several reasons, currently and combined, all the LDS temples in the world cannot even come close to the capability of doing the same, and adding more to the existing number will not change that fact.

There are greater sources of light, and the Lord is making those sources more widely available. We should recognize these sources and benefit from them while they are available to us.