Author: Shane

I am a family man of God first and foremost. I love my wife, two sons and daughter very much. After this, my life pretty much revolves around technology, music, writing, poetry, drums, dancing, singing, building up, and unifying others. I love learning, pro-actively gaining experience through what I've learned, then sharing the joy of my experience with others. My life is dedicated to loving and serving my Lord, through helping and blessing others.

Missionary Work, Service and Ministering

Being a Good Neighbor

A talk given by Shane R. Brown
During a Sacrament Meeting 6/09/2019

Let’s start off with the basics. I am a child of God. You are a child of God. We are all His beloved sons and daughters. God, our true and perfect Father, has sent us away, to school us on how to work, serve others, and be missionaries, bringing the gospel covenants and blessings to all His children. This is why we are here.

To love, serve, teach, associate and bless each other. To laugh and have joy and peace together. All through the righteous teachings of the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ, through His gifts of the atonement, administered through the Holy Ghost, and further through the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Consider this quote from Elder Uchtdorf from his April 2019 talk, entitled, Missionary Work: Sharing What Is in Your Heart. He says:

Laugh with them. Rejoice with them. Weep with them. Respect them. Heal, lift, and strengthen them.

What a great opportunity for all of God’s children, to reconnect on why we are here. To rekindle in our souls, the sacred work of lovingly gathering safe, all of God’s children into His fold and kingdom, that we also may return to His glory.

And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father!

These are our true brothers and sisters, whom we already know, love, honor, and respect, and they need us more than anything, and we them! What we offer them in Christ, are the most important, significant and incomprehensible blessings they could ever possibly receive, and without it, the unthinkable.

So how do we love and give this gift to others? Through missionary work, teaching and service. It is also in this service that our spirits grow and mature. Jesus Christ spoke very emphatically about loving service when He talked about true religion, as is found in Matthew 25:37-40, that we obtain charity, the highest saving virtue, and grace, to obtain the Kingdom of God.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

In pure missionary work is service. As missionaries, young men and women receive a letter of calling, in which they are called to serve in such and such a mission.

I believe that as members of our Savior’s church, the word for service and missionary work combined, is ministering. These two things together really are our call from the Lord as our stewardship, for our ministering efforts needed in the field of service, are not limited by anything earthly, nor by any geographical location. I am a missionary. You are a missionary. We are all called to serve.

I’m going to read Doctrine and Covenants 4, in the which I will add commentary for applicable context.

Now behold (or, at this very time, look into a vision of what I’m saying, and remember, Jesus Christ is speaking to and calling us), a marvelous work (or a work the whole world will greatly marvel at and be aware of), is about to come forth among the children of men (or among us, with the children of men, through God’s help).

Therefore, O ye that embark in the service of God (or you, as you set a course of service for our fellow beings), see that ye serve him with all your heart, might, mind and strength, that ye may stand blameless before God at the last day (this means that we must serve with all our capacities combined, to be readily equipped for the salvation of souls, for we cannot be saved without being member ministers. We must also remember, that as children of the covenant of Abraham, we already have the blood stewardship of everyone upon us so as to answer the call, we must.) Therefore, if ye have desires to serve God ye are called to the work; (There it is, your official letter of calling from the Lord).

For behold (or look upon your life openly, and see the lambs in your life, which you can minister to, feed and love), the field is white already to harvest; and lo, he that thrusteth in his sickle with his might, the same layeth up in store that he perisheth not, but bringeth salvation to his soul; (we cannot be saved unless we share, prepare and help others accept and live the gospel. Then we must continually feed His sheep once they have entered His fold. This works best when all of us feed one another through ministering and gathering together to partake of the sacrament, and other righteous activities).

And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God (or in other words, in every endeavor, our eyes being fixed upon the Lord, in that we do things for Him, and with Him), qualify him (or her) for the work. Remember faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness, charity, humility, diligence (and I would add, obtaining these things through feasting upon the words of Christ, for this shall help us develop these virtues).

Ask, and ye shall receive; (asking the Father to help us have these ministering experiences, and to help us magnify them), knock, and it shall be opened unto you (this is the success factor! It doesn’t mean they will join the church right away or in this life, but you have successfully helped plant a seed, or a desire to do so, as in the beautiful account in Alma 32).

We hear this theme of ministering repeated in the mission statement of the church, in the perfecting of the saints through serving and living the gospel. Redeeming the dead, and ourselves through family history and temple work, which when aided through missionary work on the other side of the veil, makes this efficacious. Proclaiming the gospel throughout all the earth, sounding the gospel in every ear, helping people know of the love and goodness of Christ through our efforts, and finally, taking care of the sick and needy through service and ministering.

This brings to light again, this very important truth. Missionary work and service together, truly are the embodiment of, and true form of ministering. We are bringing together everything the Lord has blessed us with to give, and ministering in the Lord’s way.

For example, if we bring a need to the attention of the Bishop, Elder’s Quorum President or Relief Society President, then administering and ministering can take place. In such a circumstance, a quorum or relief society can engage in bringing assistance to these needs, and filling them will be a manifestation to others of the Lord’s true church, functioning after the order of the Son of God. To truly be His disciples.

We are not to bury our talents, but to bring them forth, opening the door of opportunity and salvation to the rest of the world. Why else are we here!? Doing these things will in turn open the door of our salvation. For in no other way can we be saved, but by bringing others with us, through doing as Jesus would do. Our mandate will not be complete, unless we are true member ministers, through being active missionaries, loving and serving, and standing in for the Lord. In essence, becoming other’s true friends, and developing meaningful, lasting relationships with them.

When I look at the world around me, and all the people I meet and observe, one thing always comes to mind. None of us really have it all together in and of ourselves. No one is a professional at anything. We take ourselves way to seriously. We are all fallen, and a far cry from who we need to be. But, as we lay down our pride, put aside our self inflicted agenda, and forget ourselves, mercifully following the will and Spirit of the Lord, by steadfastly living the gospel with the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we will grow in the purposes of the Lord, and His use and care, and His privileges and blessings will sanctify and purify us, making us justified and confident in the presence of God our loving Father. He will, as in the parable of the talents, use us to do great things. Together we can do more.

Let me emphasize that we really do need each other. I believe that we shouldn’t wait to participate in redemptive acts of service and ministering, until we are of a certain personal stature. Greatness comes not from individual effort alone, but because we are willing to expose our weaknesses, and allow our burdens to be borne. This goes for everyone.

None of us are complete without each other. We need one another! My plea, is that we acknowledge our imperfections, and begin to fill in the gaps we all have, by standing in them for each other. What do we have to lose? Not a thing. What do we have to gain? Everything. In this there is true greatness, happiness, peace and reward. Let us be one, serve the Lord, learn to see the world as a world of opportunities, and, as it states in the Old Testament, esteem others as greater than ourselves, that we may do as He did, and live as He lived. I know we can bring about this change, and prepare the world for our Lord’s triumphant return. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

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The Compilation of Scriptures for the World

There Is An Established Pattern

The highly esteemed prophet of the Lord Moses, gathered together and compiled from all the holy writings, the records from the beginning with Adam, and all the prophets to his time. Then, from the time of Joshua, and up to Abraham and on to the Jews, all of what we received, is as the writings from them to the time of Christ. These records are all what we know as the canonized Old Testament.

The Apostles of Jesus’ time, then compiled their accounts of the Savior, and their acts and letters, forming the New Testament. These were then combined with the prophets of old, which now together form the Holy Bible.

Mormon and Moroni, similar to Moses, compiled the approximately 1,000 year period of sacred records, which came from a branch of Israel led out from Jerusalem to South America, before King Zedekiah of the kingdom of Judah was conquered by King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

These people were known as the Nephites and Lamanites, of which the Nephites primarily kept records. Along with their records, were those found by these Nephites, of a people who came out from Babylon to North America, at the time the Lord confounded the languages of the people, taking away from them, the universal language given to Adam.

All these abridged records therein, combine to constitute, The Book of Mormon, Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

A third book of scripture in the Latter-Day Saint cannon is the word of the Lord through His prophet Joseph Smith, revealed in the organization and running of His church once again established in the latter-days (our time). This book of scripture is called The Doctrine and Covenants, and was all but two chapters, dictated to the prophet Joseph by the Spirit of the Lord. The other two were revelations from the Holy Ghost to the then current Prophet, and ratified by the General church leadership.

We also have another book of scripture known as The Pearl of Great Price. This scripture contains, among other things, inspired and edited portions of selections from The Book of Genesis.

Another portion contains The Book of Abraham, an inspired translation of writings from Abraham, which Joseph Smith began the translation of in 1835, after obtaining some Egyptian papyri in New York, written upon by Abraham himself.

Also in this book of scripture is found, Joseph Smith—Matthew, an extract from the testimony of Matthew in the New Testament, from Joseph Smith’s translation of the Bible. Joseph Smith never fully finished a complete restorative translation of the Bible, but what he finished can be found in footnotes in the Later-Day Saint Bible study version. Also in The Pearl of Great Price, is found Joseph Smith—History, excerpts from Joseph Smith’s official testimony and history, which he and his scribes prepared in 1838–39.

Finally therein are The Articles of Faith, of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. A statement by Joseph Smith about some core doctrines of the Lord’s true church.

Shane

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The Economy of the Garden: Part One

Learning As You Grow

Originally written by Jon Foreman
Supplemented by Shane Brown
See end of post for reference

My wife and I planted a garden this year. This tiny patch of dirt has become a space where small miracles occur daily. The slow and steady growth of the garden contradicts almost everything about our fast-paced world. The constant rush of the freeway traffic nearby, seems to grumble in disagreement with the slow and almost imperceptible growth of the garden. The trucks roll through, the beamers and minivans fly past, all the while the green leafy fingers reach quietly for the sun.

Slower than a speeding bullet, slower than the internet, slower than a snail, the progress these plants achieve has no advertisement, and no solicited personal recognition. In fact, if I put my cell phone down long enough to examine the growth, it appears as though nothing is happening. Gradually and imperceptibly, a transformation has taken place. Over the course of a few months, the ground has become thick with plants.

Lately I’ve been thinking that maybe human souls grow best at the pace of a plant, and not a combustion engine. Maybe humans have much more in common with this greenery than I had previously thought. These “silent” life-forms really have a lot to say.

These days, I’ve been trying to listen to the slow growth methods of the garden, this incredible place of new beginnings. The genesis stories of many religions and mythologies begin in a garden. According to the Judeo / Christian account of things, humanity’s first occupation was gardening.

I’m pretty sure that things were all organic back then, no GMO’s or steroids. I don’t know what Eden may have looked like, but when I look at our little freeway garden, I can feel a connection with the earth, even in California’s stucco suburbia.

It’s been a truly liberating experience for me to eat a strawberry in the same place that it was born, only seconds after it was plucked. The fruit has no bar code, no USFDA information. It is not shrink-wrapped with thousands of others. No, it’s a very specific strawberry from a very specific plant.

Yes, it may look and taste like thousands of others, but it has a history and a connection unlike all the rest. For me, this berry is a distinct piece of fruit. I have watched her for days, waiting, until she’s perfectly ripe, trying to get to her before the caterpillars do.

And when I pick the strawberry up from her earthy beginnings, it feels like a sacred moment, where earth, wind, sun and water have come together to give me a piece of themselves. This tiny, miss-shaped berry becomes a celebration of life.

Consumption becomes tied to holy specifics, with sincere meaning. This little suburban freeway garden of mine, begins to feel like holy ground. Yes, even against the backdrop of a land where things are not generally held sacred.

Speaking of anthropology, I grew up in a world with very shallow roots. California has only been a state for about 150 years. Our nation has only been around for a few hundred more. We live in the land of new opportunities, yet generally, with a very short-term memory for what has gone on before us.

The American dream is one of growth, progress and change, yet sometimes even at the expense of the stability of communities. This is not unique to our own country. All around the world, humanity has seen more changes in the past couple hundred years than at any other period of time. Every subsequent generation watches the world evolve dramatically.

Electricity, air travel, cell phones, computers, cars, these represent comprehensive changes to our lifestyles that are radically new. And yet, these amazing developments are now, in a sense, held as unremarkable. Their availability and convenience is expected in our society. If you’ve got the cash, you can demand almost anything you want when you want it! Fast food, fast cars, fast Internet, even fast money from fast ATMs, yet, this nearly universal availability is relatively a new reality.

Year round, thousands of strawberries are down the street for most of us, at a relatively affordable price. This is amazing! The average American consumes groceries that kings and queens of the past could only dream of. A veritable cornucopia of fresh vegetables and fruits always at our fingertips. Any cut of meat, any beverage, any dairy product, food from China, France, Australia, South Africa, all within the reach of the average American salary. How incredible! Everything is available!

Everything is for sale, and yet, we have become divorced from the creation of these provisions. Without the garden, I eat my strawberries out of a plastic container at the sink, devoid of any connection with the earth. My consumption has no personal dedication. There is no individual connection with this unique offering that the earth has given to me.

Yes, my money spent at the grocery store represents hours of labor, but my work has no connection with the fields where these berries were grown. I know nothing of the berries’ origins, the hands that picked them, or how they arrived in my hometown. There could be a separation from the sacrifice, gift, and amiable acknowledgment of sun and rain. Now instead, there is a simple, unceremonious exchange. A few anonymous bills for a few impersonal berries. Yes, our stomach and our throats receive these berries, but are we not more than throats, not more than empty stomachs?

Yes! Everything matters, everything has meaning! The specifics are crucial. Ask your wife if any man will do. Ask a music fan why the Beatles are different than the Stones. Did our gas come from a BP source in the Gulf of Mexico? It matters. Are we buying our electricity or paper products from Enron? It matters. Is your bank using bailout money to pay executives their bonuses? It matters. These are important details. The children’s fingers that make our shoes, the migrant hands that pick our strawberries, the repressed souls that mine the diamonds of Sierra Leone.

These are not footnotes! No, these are the stories of our brothers and sisters on the journey with us! This is part of the fabric of the garden that binds us all together in this universal ecosystem. We are all connected, and increasingly so with the global reach of communications, markets and technology.

Our individual plot lines correspond and cross. Yes, capitalism may have brought the world within our reach, but when these products are stripped of context, we begin to lose a piece of our own soul’s individuality as well. The fast-food pace of our daily lives cannot replace the slow growth of the garden. When a product is stripped of its narrative, and we overlook its significance, we lose a portion of our own story as well. We can be slowly, but eventually, reduced to an appetite with nothing more.

Every anonymous bar code has an intricate connection with the “capital system,” which can rob us of our own upward, ongoing beautiful and divine human experience.

I’m not trying to speak against the tides of capitalism, and I’m not against grocery stores. I’m just stating that even as we profess progression with a world driven by money, that in the race for an unfounded entity of such a numerically acquired abduction, we lose a piece of our identity. We reduce our lives to an anonymous pocketbook, with a consuming mouth at the other end.

The unique identity of each one of us, is as a literal child of God, each possessing an infinite and eternal value and worth. We should not tie ourselves to the way we spend our time earning money. It’s certainly hard to call faceless consumerism progress.

In the face of capitalism and professionalism, my backyard garden reminds me that my plot is part of the broader narrative, which opens my eyes to the stories that don’t fit into sales tags. That even with the accelerating digital network and virtual reality, these are not the best soil for the human soul.

With the accelerated detachment of face to face interaction, I’m pretty sure we could all use a little more cordial kindness, and a little more dirt underneath our fingernails.

The economy of the garden reminds me that yes, money may not be the best model for our human experience, and yet the day will come, when all the politics, pretensions, preys and tyranny, will all be done away, and Jesus Christ will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

I want to live with deeper roots, even if it means a slower means of travel. Maybe I could spend a little more time in the life of the garden as Adam and Eve, and a little less time in the fast lane.

-Jon

Shane

Original source: Huff Post Article- Jon Foreman

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To Be One In Heart & Mind

To Become Zion

Consider this quote from Elder Dieter F. Uchdorf, of The Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As you do, keep in mind that another name for the Holy Ghost is, the Comforter.

“The Latin source of the word COMFORTER— com fortis—means “TOGETHER STRONG.” As the Holy Ghost visits your own spirit, you become stronger than you are by yourself. When you receive the Holy Ghost, you receive strength, power, peace, and comfort.” Elder Dieter F. Uchdorf.

I would also add that the Gift of the Holy Ghost, as an added enhancement to the lives of Latter-Day Saints, would, as we live up to these privileges together, make us even stronger as a collective whole, even as the body of Christ. In other words, of one heart, and one mind. An added sealing upon our heads, in and of the covenant of the First Born: together strong.

Shiftless Core

One heart, one mind,
Making music, divine.
One battle, one beat,
All gather in one to defeat!

It’s time to be bold,
And not overbearing,
To help bring forth light,
And healing to the world.

Remember the One,
With the shiftless core,
Our reminder,
Of who we always need to be.

Where ever we go,
And whoever we see,
We share love,
For His glory!

United in beat, and thought,
We’re not going to stop,
Because we are of one heart, one mind,
Making sweet music divine.

It won’t be enough,
To just believe, we must fight,
To overcome the foe,
With power from the Holy Ghost.

Come now, let’s win,
As we are unified in,
One heart, one mind,
Worthy of the divine.

It’s about how we live,
That we love and give,
Unified in one beat, and thought,
Now let’s spread the rock!

We are of one heart, one mind,
With one beat, divine, united in,
One purpose, and mission,
With a shiftless core, let’s give all to Him!

Shane

The Birth of Jesus Christ

Peace on Earth

All things are wonderfully orchestrated by our Heavenly Father. Not with a worldly type of control, but with a godly power and influence. Deep down inside everyone knows this. This is why the first thing they do is blame God for bad things that happen, but all things have their purpose, and everything has its meaning and significance.

Speaking of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, for Him to be given a body that could withstand death, and also allow Him to purposely and voluntarily commend His Spirit unto God, thus passing from this life unto the next, He could then also voluntarily heal, bless, and re-enter His body, through the resurrection ordinance, being a perfected, resurrected being, wherein His body would be a reflection of His Most High Righteous Spirit.

Our resurrected bodies will also only be as glorious, to the extent that we have been obedient and repented. Concerning our Lord’s birth, upon which much is yet to be revealed, Heavenly Father had to send down His capsule of insemination with the Holy Ghost, down unto Mary, to overshadow her, and give placement, for Jesus to have a body, which was both specific to deity, and mortality, so that He could accomplish His life’s missions, according to our Father’s will.

Before this life, Heavenly Farther and Jesus’ Heavenly Mother gave birth to Him in the pre-earth life, calling Him up from the pool of souls, through to His role as the Savior, as the First Born.

Mary was called and chosen to house and tabernacle the Christ child, with His earthen body, wherein He could perform all the functions His Father designed, concerning His children.

Saving Night

There was a glorious star, shining,
Bright in the heavens, piercing.
It lit up the night sky, like lightning,
Showing upon a village sight, conceiving.

All was calm, even the bustle from that great day,
For travelers who sought out their homeland pilgrimage,
Were worn out from their travels, of so far away.
Even a couple of Nazareth, looking for a place to stay.

Not far, and up on a hill where the sheep graze,
Was found a curiosity by these shepherds, with heads raised.
What a sight they did see in these midnight skies.
What did this mean, this holy light to their eyes?

Then came another light from above,
Growing brighter, filling them with peace and love.
At which occurrence commenced angelic singing,
Bringing the shepherds joy, as they began kneeling.

Over in this village, though not known to those around,
Was the source of this miracle, who made not a sound.
The birth of The King, and Savior of worlds renown,
Unto us in a lowly manger, the meekest circumstances around.

The lost would be found, and the beggar, not turned down.
Many of the pure worship him, as the One True King.
He brings exaltation to all who follow Him, earnestly.
His is the only way, He saves, and brings peace.

He is our exemplar, glorious and most excellent reward!
Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!
He brings us eternal life by His side!
Alleluia for coming down, on our saving night!

Shane

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Praying Without Ceasing

By Being Perfect In Christ,
We Can Obey All God’s Commandments

In the Lord’s church we are told to pray without ceasing. How? By living with the constant companionship of The Gift of the Holy Ghost. As the Holy Ghost is a revelator, and revelation is communication, our communication with our Father, is as we commune with Him our thoughts, feelings and prayers. To be in continual communion with the Father, through His Son Jesus Christ, and The Holy Ghost.

To have a continual flow of revelation from Him, through His Son, who is the only true source and light of the world, we must have The Gift of the Holy Ghost to always be with us. This is only found and acquired in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, for it is different than just having the influence of the Holy Spirit, as all can have.

As is discussed in my post Ones and Zeros: Part One, there are only two sources, in which there can be good, better and best for example, or bad worse and worst. Still only right and wrong. Having this great gift of revelatory power from God, we can learn great things about Him and His kingdom, and receive guidance, promptings and the understanding of His will. We can also avoid all deceptions and pitfalls.

To have such a gift always, we must first have the sacred priesthood ordinances of baptism and confirmation of The Gift of the Holy Ghost performed upon us. This is to be done through those who hold the proper priesthood power and authority. These gifts are then bestowed upon us, true and efficacious. It is an extra and added power of the Holy Ghost, wherein we can always “have His Spirit to be with us,” and speak with “the tongue of angels, ” provided we live worthily of Him.

To be partakers of this, we must understand the promises we make, obey the Lord, and live to the very best of our knowledge and ability. We can then be truly guided, thus fulfilling the commandment to truly pray without ceasing.

Shane

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Calming the Storm: Part Two

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

Is there peace on earth? We can have peace in Christ. Now that peace has been taken from the earth as was written, how do we play our parts as peacemakers, to help calm the storms surrounding us? Yes, the tempests all around.

We have power through the power of faith, acting within the power of Christ, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, to calm every storm in our personal lives, and aid those around us causing, or caught up in these storms.

Let’s discuss the Holy Ghost’s role in this for a moment, for everyone has access to the Holy Ghost, in which He teaches truth, comforts and bears witnesses of Jesus Christ. There is however, something far greater and more powerful found in the difference of having the influence of the Holy Ghost, which everyone has access to, and having what is called the Gift of the Holy Ghost (or Holy Spirit).

The Gift of the Holy Ghost is a beautiful, sealing, binding power, given to mankind through sacred priesthood ordinances and covenants, whose authority is found only in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

When these ordinances are performed, namely baptism, and the confirmation of the Gift of the Holy Ghost, by the power and authority of the Holy Priesthood, we are then fully enabled to keep these our higher sacred covenant commitments, with full access to the atonement.

With this gift, we can access all the gifts of the Spirit, which bless us unto the perfecting of our souls and the Saints, provided we live worthy of it.

In this way, the Gift of The Holy Ghost is a far greater influence in us, and we can more fully develop, and help others add to the peace within and around us, in which we can all have peace in Christ.

Shane

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The Fruits of the Atonement: Part One

Everything Is A Miracle

This is a short report of 10 Scriptural References of gospel principles, as they relate to the Atonement.

The First Reference under atonement, as taken from the Bible Dictionary, a general overview:

Note: I have altered and supplemented the definition of atonement, as found in The Bible Dictionary, to more fully and accurately define the aspects found therein.

The word atonement, describes the setting “at one,” of those who have been estranged, and denotes the reconciliation of man to God. Sin is the cause of the estrangement, and therefore the purpose of atonement is to correct or overcome the consequences of sin. From the time of Adam to the death of Jesus Christ, true believers were instructed to offer animal sacrifices to the Lord. These sacrifices were symbolic of the forthcoming death of Jesus Christ, and were done by faith in Him (Moses 5:5–8).

Jesus Christ, as the anointed One, and Only Begotten Son of God, and the only sinless person to live on this earth, was the only one capable of making an atonement for mankind. By His selection and foreordination in the Grand Council before the world was formed, His divine Sonship, His sinless life, the shedding of His blood in the garden of Gethsemane, His death on the cross and subsequent bodily resurrection from the grave, He made a perfect atonement for all mankind. All are covered as pertaining to the resurrection, for all shall rise from the dead with immortal bodies because of Jesus’ Atonement. “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22)

All little children are innocent at birth, and will automatically be covered by the atonement, until developmentally accountable. For this reason little children need no baptism until age eight, or until deemed accountable by the Lord. The forgiveness of sins is conditional however, on repentance. Each person’s individual forgiveness touches them to the degree that they have faith in Jesus Christ, repent of their sins, and obey the gospel.

The services of the Day of Atonement, foreshadowed the atoning work of Christ (Lev. 4; 23:26–32; Heb. 9). The scriptures point out that no law, ordinance or sacrifice would be satisfactory, if it were not for the Atonement of Jesus Christ (Heb. 10:1–9; 2 Ne. 9:5–24; Mosiah 13:27–32).

Sin is rebellion. (1 Jn. 3:4) It is a refusal on men’s part to submit to the laws of God (Rom. 8:7). By Adam’s transgression, man loses control over his own will, and becomes the slave of sin. (Rom. 7:14) So incurs the penalty of spiritual death, which is separation from God (Rom. 6:23). The Atonement of Jesus Christ, brings all mankind before the bar of God, to be answerable for their own manner of life. The means of atonement, is provided by the Father (John 3:16–17), and is offered in the life and person of His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:19).

Second Reference under Atonement: Grace, as it relates to the atonement.

“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, reconcile yourselves to the will of God, and not to the will of the devil and the flesh; and remember, after ye are reconciled unto God, that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved.” (2 Nephi 10:24)

In other words, pray unto the Father for forgiveness, repent, and know that it is not your penitence alone, or even the good works you do through the enabling atonement and grace in the first place, but that even after all this, we fall short, and need Him and His grace. We can do no good thing without Him.

As a further note, consider that Adam and Eve would not exist after partaking of the forbidden fruit without the promised atonement in place, for even their spirits would die, as would their bodies, except for this atonement. This is why God’s statement is true and correct. “Ye shall surely die (as a result thereby). As scriptures state, we would die spiritually and temporally (temporally meaning physically), except for our Father providing a Savior.

This staying alive spiritually was also extended to the adversary as their only grace, given by the glory of God. It was the Lord’s pre-instated act of atonement, of both before and beyond, which made providence to even give us all life in the first place, and the opportunity to have this probationary state and test here on earth. Jesus is the Life of the world, and all God’s children. With the act of transgression, Adam and Eve could then have children, and we could then be given bodies, and live here on earth away from our Heavenly Parents.

Think of the signifigance of this, why else would the adversary be purposely sent here, but to be a part of God’s plan for our test? The second great secret then, is that even the adversary will at one point, come to himself, and make his long, arduous way back home, as the ultimate prodigal son.

This will take place after his complete burning and purging clean in outer darkness, where he will finally realize, after having given his all to win, and having lost, suffering all the consequences he has to face, will penitently acknowledge all his faults, and be given the long, hard road home.

This will be at the end of his Third Estate, Estate referring to a period of life, separated by other periods of life, for example: The First Estate referring to a pre-earth life, The Second Estate as our earth life, and The Third Estate as post-earth life. At the end of Lucifer’s third Estate, he and his followers will then begin again, having learned in their best way possible, not to rebel.

Because Satan and his followers forfeit their agency in the pre-earth life, meaning that they placed themselves in a position where they cannot, and will not do anything good, and can only choose how to carry out their evil purposes, they will have a fair judgement, in the which situation they will be given the ability to repent, and begin again, in their next eternal life, with another First, Second and Third Estate, having served their purposes of helping to exalt us.

We too being called up to our next eternal life, having already enjoyed exaltation and eternal life, holy glory, joy and peace, will then also begin again, with another First, Second and Third Estate. Already having experienced the full healing and forgiveness from and for Lucifer and his followers, they also being changed, and gruelingly repented of all of their innumerous sins on their long road home, we will then in our next eternal life, finally welcome him and them back into the Father’s house, and will all be at peace, with a prefect understanding of the plan of our Father, for He is a prefect God, and will not lose any of His children. All having fulfilled their missions in the exalting of all of us. Satan, through being opposition for us to repent, learn and grow, and Jesus, providing the only way back home for us all. For it’s not just that we repent to become like our Savior, but it is in the repentance process we experience, that we become like Him.

As another note, all of us are, in body and spirit, collectively and individually held together and organized in perfection, through the atonement, under the sublime honor of God, and all his creations, unto the utmost high, holy, infinite, majestic and glorified creation of our spirits and bodies, even the highest and most sacred stewardships of all. We are to foster the good, and “bleed” out the bad through Christ Jesus.

Even Lucifer and his devils are held together, and not disorganized as dark matter unto their non-existence, for the atonement covers all of God’s children, even unto the sparing the children of darkness, who followed Satan and the benighted kingdom of Sheol. For the Lord controls and subjects them all.

Another truth, evil cannot get worse, unless good gets better. Their bounds are set, they cannot cross.

Third Reference under Atonement: Mercy, as a fruit of the atonement.

Isaiah 54:7
For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee.

A poem I wrote which helps explain and substantiate this scripture.

Mercy

Mercy is the substance,
Which stops our downward fall,
And gives place for grace,
To then lift us to our potential.

It is the sure steady rock,
Which we can all rely upon.
It’s essence and founder,
Is Christ our Savior.

He gained this victory and power,
As He lived and sacrificed His life,
With charity as the oath and standard held,
And champion which prevailed.

Christ is the Word, possessing
Every perfect godly attribute,
Which were poured forth,
From the garden, cross, and tomb.

He bought our way to freedom,
Living and giving His life in perfect light,
Shewing us mercy in loving submission,
And giving all the power to rise.

Mercy and grace work side by side,
And hand in hand, for without them,
We could not comprehend,
Or be lifted out of the power of Satan.

Mercy is God’s gracious gift,
Our great loving rescuer.
Grace is shared by Christ,
His gifts of perfecting power.

Forth Reference under Atonement: Charity, the pure love of Jesus Christ.

2 Nephi 33:7
I have charity for my people, and great faith in Christ that I shall meet many souls spotless at his judgment seat. Nephi had developed great charity for all his people, and knew that he would be greeted with such a wonderful reunion on the other side when he passed.

Fifth Reference, under Atonement: Hope, as a gift of the Spirit from the atonement.

Listen to the powerful words of Joel, as he relates the word of the Lord unto his people.

Joel 3:16
The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the Lord will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel.

This refers to the Zion of the New Jerusalem, and also the Jerusalem of old in Judea. The New Jerusalem shall be in Jackson County Missouri in North America, where His power shall be manifest, and the nations fear, for the fear of the Lord shall be there. And from the Old Jerusalem, the Zion of old, shall come forth His word.

For the salvation of the Old Jerusalem, two prophets from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, primarily the prophet of the last days, and his first councilor in the first presidency, shall go forth there, and fight off the armies of gog and magog. This will take place until the prophet allows himself to be killed, and then his first councilor, thus becoming martyrs for their own testimony of our Lord.

These two governing bodies of Zion will be as one, even His law and power coming forth from the New Jerusalem, and His word from the Old Jerusalem, renewed, for we need them both.

Sixth Reference under atonement: Faith, as is a gift of the Spirit from the atonement.

Matthew 9:29
Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. And they were healed.

Seventh Reference under Atonement: Repentance, as a gift of the atonement.

Acts 3:19
Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;…

The refreshing spoken of for us is the second coming, when the presence of the Lord will be here, and refresh the earth, and all that be from the time since the beginning of the earth.

Eighth Reference under the Atonement: Perfection, a fruit of conversion through the atonement.

Moses 8:27
And thus Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord; for Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generation; and he walked with God, as did also his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

To me being a perfect man or woman in this life, means nothing more than to know the Lord, to be like Him, being born again and converted, walking in the love and light of His soul, having the constant companionship of the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Knowing to whom you belong, and living according to all that you know, to the very best of your ability. To be yoked with the savior, in that you and He pull the load together, and with Him by your side, He makes up for that which we lack.

Ninth Reference under the Atonement: Humility, as is a gift of the Spirit.

James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. Humility is a strength.

Tenth Reference under the Atonement: Patience, as a parent virtue of many other attributes of Christ.

Revelations 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Shane

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God’s Perpetual Growth as Father

Eternal Progression For All

As is stated, God grows through his children, and through carrying out his work and glory, to bring us up to be as He.

Although God is perfect and able to do all, except sin, and knows and has all power over all his creations and children, He still grows. To say otherwise is to try to limit Him.

Let’s face it, we all grow and change throughout all the eons and eternal lives we go through, throughout all the eternities. Once we’ve finished our cycle of the current eternal life, of pre-mortal, mortal and post-mortal, we are then called up to the next larger, more powerful, bigger and better phase of existence.

What awaits us then? Another premortal, mortal and postmortal existence, only on a much larger scale. With the extremes being extended, both the good and bad, and the inherent, endowed ability of a higher form of entity, than is presently attainable in our current eternal life.

To focus more on our current state, we are all in the progression of life in the present, past and future, and what we do impacts the future, just as our past has effected our present. However, did you know that our future also effects our present? It does! It goes both ways, back and forth, ’round and ’round again, as we roll up the progressive “hill” of advancement in eternal lives.

There’s more, but it cannot be written, be it forbidden.

Shane

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