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.

Two Sources, Two Opposing Forces

As We Roll Upward Towards the Light

Light (white), holds all the colors in our earth’s spectrum (millions of colors if we were talking about heaven’s). A lack of light, darkness, is where devils, his subjects, and God, in conquest of saving souls, has descended, and conquered all their domains. For God comprehends, and has all godly power and all control over all his children’s eternal welfare and eternal progression. Not worldly control, as some might erroneously think, but a Godly control, wherein agency is safeguarded and protected. Life, in God’s sphere, is ordered by Him, rather than by us in our chaos.

Think of a baby in it’s father’s or mother’s arms. Does it go to work, or prepare a meal? No, yet it is cared for in all its needs by the ones who birthed it. Does it have to provide shelter or self protection? No. Then who’s care is it under? The parent’s. God is our Father. We are His children. He, in a Godly way, perfectly governs and controls the circumstances for His children, to help them grow and learn appropriate life lessons, even while providing protection where need be.

We are currently unable to care for ourselves, yet, by and by, as a child can grow up to be like its parents, so can we. Everyone eventually, will have this come to them in the eons of eternal lives. This is our Father plan, and it is truly perfect, like Him!

Do we have a Heavenly Mother? Yes, each one of us does, and God has his nurture upon us all, not just here, but throughout all the eternal lives through our progression.

Again, with opposition in all things, this is speaking specifically of circumstances. This means that while there is good in every situation, in which God is blessing us, it is also true that Satan’s influence will be there too, trying to destroy us and do us harm. God is in every detail of our lives, and so is the adversary, or Satan. In every situation, there is going to be either a lot of good and a little bad, or a lot of bad and a little good. This is the compound refered to, in which all things are a compound in one. We get to choose which force, good or bad, will have the majority. In other words, we can choose the better part, through the exercise of agency, which is simply, the ability to do good.

We can take what little good is in a situation, and learn from the bad, repent, and never have to walk down that path again. Likewise, we can have a beautiful and glorious experience from the tender mercies of the Lord, through obedience to His laws and commandments, and choose the good, provided by His grace. We can then receive the little bit of bad which comes with it, and use it to serve and tutor us, as we choose to repent, and learn from it. Yes, there is opposition in ALL things, circumstantially speaking, and the choice is ours.

Shane

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Light & Knowledge – Be Prepared

Develop a Lifetime of Learning – You’ll Need It

Reading is a good way to bring in light to our minds and knowledge to our souls, as long as its source is inspired from God. The call we have as Latter-Day Saints, which we cannot neglect, as illustrated in the parable of the ten virgins, is to read our gospel cannon, and stay current with our modern living oracles. We must not deny the Christ. We must ready ourselves for Christ’s return. Follow Him, the prophet, and counsels of the general leadership of His church, as given by The Gift of the Holy Spirit.

We can start little. Read on your 10 minute breaks at work, in the morning or evening, with your family as a re-occurring scripture study. Live the gospel alive, with your family, and you will have Christ as your foundation. We must do this, raise the bar, and prepare the earth for the Lord. He will come when we have made ready.

All that we now know, all our testimony, and all our spiritual experiences, will not be enough for the days to come. We must now advance, improve and gain our footings. We must be Latter-Day Saints, not professors to be.

Shane

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Faith, Repentance, Baptism and Receiving The Gift of The Holy Ghost

Prepare Yourself For The Kingdom

The first principles and ordinances of the Gospel are first, Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ; second, Repentance; third, Baptism by immersion, for the remission of sins, by one holding the proper priesthood authority; fourth, the Laying on of hands for the Gift of the Holy Ghost, to be confirmed a member of Christ’s church, also accomplished through one holding the holy priesthood authority.

Faith is belief put into action. It is only belief if it is not practiced and acted upon. Faith that Jesus Christ has the power to save, forgive, and renew light and life in you, and that partaking of His gift of love and wisdom will bring you hope, happiness and eternal salvation, is acting on the doctrines and commandments He set forth in His gospel.

This creates in us a newness, and changes our bodies and spirits, through taking the next steps in the process of the gospel, namely repentance, baptism, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

Upon acting on the substance of our faith, a creative process, we first bring things to pass of a new creation, first spiritually, and then manifesting physically, all made possible through the fruits of the atonement.

Faith in Christ, and all good, real and true things, are all fruits of Christ’s atonement, for we can do no good thing without Him. Everything else is counterfeit, and cannot bring happiness, nor can they last.

Belief that Jesus Christ will help us in all we do and face, and then relying on His promises, while acting our part of faithful obedience in Him, upon inspiration from the Holy Spirit, is faith.

Repentance, is recognizing the error of our ways and actions, and feeling the necessary and helpful godly sorrow, rather than worldly sorrow, for what we did wrong. Worldly sorrow is sorrow for being caught or exposed. Godly sorrow is sorrow for doing the wrong thing and hurting God and His son Jesus Christ.

As part of godly sorrow, we must feel pain, sorrow and remorse for what we did wrong, for this is an important and necessary part of the repentance process. Godly sorrow works in us unto repentance, through the power of the Holy Ghost and prayer.

If the sin is of a certain seriousness, it must be confessed to a bishop, who is your local priesthood leader. He will help you on your pathway and road to repentance and recovery.

To receive the miracle of forgiveness, wherein God, through His Son, applies through the Holy Ghost, through the source of the atonement, the gift of forgiveness, is a process in which we are restored and made clean. We are also healed of any emotional and spiritual deficit incurred by the sin as well. We are purified through the cleansing fire of the Holy Ghost, both spiritually and physically, and made new and whole, being fully restored from the damage we suffered, from the sin we abused ourselves and others in. Therefore, we are also commanded to forgive all people, so we too can be forgiven. In this there comes a change of mind and heart, which change will also give us a fresh view about God, ourselves, and the world around us. It includes constantly turning away from sin, and turning to God for everyday forgiveness.

Repentance is motivated by a love for God, a deep desire to be clean, and a sincere desire to obey all His commandments.

Baptism, is the first saving ordinance of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and must be preceded by faith and repentance. It is necessary to be prepared and ready for baptism, to exercise proper faith in Jesus Christ, repentance, and understand the covenants we will make at baptism.

Baptism symbolizes the old man of sin being buried in a watery grave, and the new man in Christ coming forth, or resurrecting unto a new creature alive in Him.

Baptism is only made sanctifying and efficacious for our physical as well as spiritual bodies, when it is performed by the proper priesthood authority, under the direction of those who hold the proper priesthood keys, for as we must all again accept our Savior in the flesh, as we once did in the spirit before being born in the flesh, we thus have the privilege of purifying our physical bodies as well.

Baptism is our physical and spiritual manifestation, that we are willing to take upon us the name of Jesus Christ and follow Him. The ordinance of baptism is the first of a two part requirement to enter God’s kingdom or church on earth.

Receiving The Gift of the Holy Ghost is the second requirement, and is a reception wherein as we receive Him (The Holy Ghost), we can then be purged and healed both physically and spiritually.

Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost is a higher reception of the Holy Ghost, more so than having just the presence of the Holy Ghost, and is made available to the Lord’s people. It is one of the prerequisites for the recipient to gain entrance into the Lord’s kingdom. Through the Gift of the Holy Ghost, we can supplicate God for other spiritual gifts we need, to repent, and overcome all our weaknesses. Through the Gift of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit can also be a continual companion, and give us an even stronger and growing influence of God and His Son Jesus Christ in our lives.

Through this gift, we can have full access to the atonement, along with having all the other saving ordinances of the gospel made available to us.

In short, these steps in becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints are amazing, and just the beginning. We can all receive these blessings and more, which come from taking these first few steps.

Shane

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Grace, Salvation & Judgement: Part One

There is Peace in Understanding

The true reality about grace and our salvation, is that we indeed need to act in righteousness, yet this is only accomplished in the first place, by the means and use of grace. We can do no good thing without Christ through His atonement, even if we don’t acknowledge Him as the source. Grace is a fruit of His atonement.

Judgement applies to all, yet with different backgrounds, there are also different parameters. Those who have the law of Christ, and know and understand the principles of life in Christ and faith, are expected to live so. Those who do not have the law or know Christ, will eventually be presented with the gospel at some point or another, either in this life or the next. They will then be judged fairly with what they did know and have, according to their time as man or woman in the flesh.

We will all have fair opportunity to act in accordance to the law, with our understanding of it. All will eventually be given the opportunity to accept the gospel and required ordinances therein, such as baptism, confirmation, and the other priesthood ordinances, including a marriage sealed for all eternity. 

These will be made available for everyone who so chooses. Those who never had the opportunity to acquire these saving ordinances for themselves in this life, will have them done by someone else through proxy, usually through a descendant of the person, who takes their genealogical information to the Houses of the Lord, known as Holy Temples, to do their work. For example, I could be baptized in the Temple for a great grandfather of mine, who was never a member of Christ’s church, but was taught the gospel in the after life, and can now accept the baptismal ordinance I performed through proxy.

This method of proxy on behalf of someone else is not new to Christianity, for even the atonement itself is an act of proxy, wherein the Lord took our sins for us, and gave us His life and salvation in return.

Shane

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Melchizedek Priesthood: The Correct Pronunciation

Sounds Have Value – Even in every fallen language

There is priesthood in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. It is the Lord’s priesthood. The lower or lesser priesthood is called the Aaronic Priesthood, after the Levitical order. The higher priesthood is called:

The Melchizedek Priesthood

This priesthood is named after the same Melchizedek who was the king of Salem (Jerusalem), who was referred to as The King of Righteous, or Peace. This priesthood is named such, so as to avoid the too repetitious use of the name of the Son, “The Holy priesthood after the order of the Son of God.”

Most people in the church and world miss-pronounce it. It is actually pronounced:

Mel(k) – iz – eh – deck

Shane

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Adam, Eve and Us: Part Two

A Look Into The Grand Plan

Note: A lesson as is geared towards younger children.

Adam & Eve are our first parents. They were created by God in a state similar to how children like you are, except that they looked like grown up adults.

They lived in a beautiful garden called after the name of our mother earth: Eden.

They were very pure, and also very smart like adults can be, but they didn’t understand that there was such a thing as bad. They were innocent.

God told them about a tree called The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, and told them that they shall not eat of it, and that in the day they do, they shalt surely die. God had created this perfect garden, with opposition, but being a Godly being, He could not allow Adam and Eve to partake of it, without punishment.

God wanted to introduce them to a way in which they could learn and become like Him. This could only happen if they were to know what bad was, and experience it as an opposite to good.

Eve thought and thought, and was even tempted by an unwise evil spirit, Satan, and his followers, who had fallen out of the presence of Heavenly Father, for rebelling against Him. They were sent to earth to tempt mankind to do wrong, but Adam and Eve could do no wrong, until it was introduced to them, in the form of knowledge, and disobedience to a godly commandment.

Adam never would have eaten the fruit, which fruit was called a fig, out of obedience, except that God had also commanded Adam and Eve to stay together. For God had told them, that they would be cast out of the garden, if they were to eat of the fruit. Eve was very thoughtful, and realized that they would need something to change for them, if they were to become more like their Heavenly Father. So one day, she did partake of the fruit, and then Adam then partook also, so that he could stay with His wife Eve, as Heavenly Father had commanded them to do.

Their bodies soon changed after they partook of the fruit, which was not good for them, and they began to die. However, because they didn’t fully understand their actions, it was called a transgression, rather than a sin, and this is why they were allowed a probationary state, and not instant spiritual and physical death, because of the promised atonement.

With this change, also came time. An extension of life, in which each entity, element, and intelligence, would exist, and then hand pass off it’s life’s existence into the next one. Think of it as a second, living, and then passing on it’s life’s existence to the next second of time, with a handshake. We are living within these moments, because of the willingness of our Father’s creations, to do and obey Him and His Son in this way.

Once Adam and Eve were knowingly introduced to this plan of Happiness, in which they would understand from their experiences the difference between good and bad, they then had to work their best, to always do what is good, for this is what will help us all to be happy. In this way, they could appreciate good, and understand it better.

Let’s consider a song that will help us understand that we are here from God, to also learn from our experiences, as Adam and Eve did.

I am a child of God,
And he has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home,
With parents kind and dear.

[Chorus]
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me,
Help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do,
To live with him someday.

I Am a Child of God (Page 301, LDS Hymnal)

Adam and Eve were introduced to the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil, by a bad spirit whose name is Lucifer, who sought to destroy mankind through sin.

Soon after Eve and Adam partook of the fruit, their bodies started to fall unto death through this unhealthy fruit, and their spirits also, for disobeying their Heavenly Father, whom they knew and loved. The atonement literally is what kept them, and us, alive, both spiritually and physically.

With this change, their spirits now had to fight to do good things, for their bodies now wanted and craved things that were not right or healthy.

This dying of their bodies, and disobeying of our Father, is what is called The Fall, which happened during the earth’s Fall season of existence, and caused Adam and Eve to no longer have their spirits and bodies in harmony. Meaning, that before the fall, what their spirits perceived and thought, is what their bodies also experienced.

From that time forth, their bodies would want to do bad. Adam and Eve would also naturally see and comprehend things through their body’s natural senses, thoughts and feelings, and would now have to fight for their spirits to be the ones in control.

This condition is what is known as having a veil placed over our spirits, so that we don’t remember our pre-earth life with God, His presence, or what His love feels like. Our bodies have become our veil.

As children, we can have a better understanding and love for God, but as we grow older, we need to rekindle that love and affection from and for God, by learning of His great love for us, merciful plan to live with Him again, and return to having our spiritual hearts and minds as our understandings in life, similar to as Adam and Eve did before their bodies fell, except that we now have the opportunity to understand opposition, just as Adam and Eve did, once they had partaken of the fruit.

We can choose to become better and better like God every day, like Adam and Eve did, and understand that good is the opposite of bad, and we can choose the good because we love God and happiness. It is because of the atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ, that we can do this good. This is what is called agency, or, the ability to do good, even when we are fallen.

The light of Christ, which is also a fruit of the atonement, is a gift, and is what helps us to naturally hate evil. Or, in other words, have a natural righteous enmity (or hatred) toward evil. This, so that we can naturally learn to repent through our mistakes, and do good.

We are out of the presence of God, and will all die physically, just as was said by Heavenly Father, but Jesus Christ, will make us all alive again, through His own resurrection. Because of the atonement and resurrection, we can all be made whole spiritually and physically, this time having the ability to eternally progress like unto our Father in Heaven, because of our earthly experiences.

As we always repent, and follow our Savior Jesus Christ, by keeping His commandments, we can be happy, and have joy, and ultimately become like our Savior, and Father in Heaven, who is our true spiritual Father. This will happen long after we have been resurrected, and living with Them, for they will personally teach us to know, and be like Them.

Jesus is the Christ. He is the Great Mediator and Head of The Plan of Salvation for the children of our beloved Father in Heaven. They cherish us. We are here because of Them. We will return, because of Christ. We will one day be like Him, because of Him. What blessings our redeemer is to us all. May we honor Him, and love Him, by always remembering Him, and keeping His commandments. I know we can all do this, and I bare my testimony that we will all do this, and return in glory, to be an eternal family with our Father in Heaven, forever. Truly Jesus Christ is not some backup plan, He is the plan, as in, He is the Great I AM. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Shane

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Freedom For Religion

Our Country Shall Not Fail

As in the days of our founding forefathers, we must take steps to provide and create for an existence and safeguard of religious freedom. “We do ordain and establish… a more perfect union… ‘[for the establishment and safeguard of our society’s leaven and wellbeing. In other words, for religious freedom.]’

Shane R. Brown

Families are strengthened by the principles taught in religious institutions, and individuals are taught skills and practices they need to be successful and profitable in their contributions for the good of society.

We have from our forefathers the protection of religious freedom, where such blessings and morals are taught and strengthen the families and homes in society. Were this right to be taken from our nation, or any, other things very devastating would soon take its place. For where there is need, it can either be filled with something righteous, healthy, good and glorious, or eaten away by means of lust, hatred, intolerance, etc.

When we fight the war for religious freedom, as religion promotes freedom, we also fight the war for freedom. History would illustrate this in it’s chronicles, and a clear, sober minded individual would also ascertain this wisdom.

May we be educated in our pursuit of excellence, and honor our God, who grants us laws and protections, which safeguard us from our very own upheaval, as a people and a nation.

Shane

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Calming the Storm: Part One

There Is But One God

The Lord boarded the ship with the Twelve apostles on their way to minister and preach. The apostles were new to their call, learning much from the Lord about who He was, and what His church should be made of.

It was easy for them to have disputes common among them, about the words Jesus taught to them in private, intimate gatherings with Him. Often, the Father would use object lessons to help them with their learning, as Jesus did His part to minister and teach them.

On this occasion, as they sailed to the shore of their destination, Jesus, weary from His constant travels and travails over His learning disciples, lay down for a brief respite. It wasn’t long however, before His disciples disputed among themselves, concerning the many teachings they were receiving, most of which we do not have in the sacred Bible text. Teachings difficult to understand, without the proper worthy aid of the Holy Spirit.

As the disputes turned to anger and contention one with another, the Father used a lesson of urgency, to enlighten the duly called twelve apostles, who were to be charged to take the gospel to all the world.

Their actions and tempers were not appropriate, and were then reflected in the actions and tempest of the climate around them. As apostles they were not to behave this way. When they finally gathered their wits about them, by way of need, and feeling guilty about their unruly quarreling, they awoke the Lord, whom they knew was their only source of help for anything.

It was at this time, that the Lord, following through with the Father’s lesson, told them, “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”

These words reflect the message they were to learn. “Ye can only understand His words by obedient faith.” Shane R. Brown

The words spoken by our Lord in love and chastisement, were meant to encourage and refine His disciples, with His perfect love and understanding.

Shane

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Walking With The Savior

Finding Strength In The Master

For the Past Two Months I have been unemployed. As I have stretched myself through this learning and growing experience, I came across a video by Elder D. Todd Christofferson, an apostle of the Lord in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. In this, I came to know that there is a reason for this particular time and season in my life.

It is not just a test of my trust and faith, to learn to rely more on the Lord, but my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, has set up this time, to have us experience this effect of Him drawing me in, closer, and healing me while I partake of His presence and being. In this I have grown, and I am now prepared for a new look at life with a new and becoming job. One that will be a place where I can minister to others, and be His influence for them.

As I fully experience my life with my Lord, He takes the world out of me, and gives me His eternal world and kingdom in return. I can take my place as His special son, and become His sacred steward for what He would have for me.

As I prepare in this manner, for the job He has for me, I will be the man He makes of me, even to be as He. I bear my testimony, that as I embrace and access the fullness of the atonement of our Savior, in my relationship with Him, I will become closer to becoming more like Him.

Shane

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Religion & Science: A Conversation

A Fictitious Exchange In The Spirit of Giving

A scientist at a dinosaur dig site was approached by a young man of 30 years of age. The young man begins to ask the scientist questions about the dig site, the dinosaur species and science in general. The young man then said:

Young Man: Is this science your religion?

Scientist: Pardon me? Religion? No, this is science. My views are not closed in by religion.

Young Man: But Sir, according to the definition, religion is a set of beliefs, attached to a specific field. Is this not so?

Scientist: I suppose, but with science, I work with evidence, to answer questions and find truth about the earth and the universe.

Young Man: Yes, but according to definition, can it not also be said that science is your religion?

Scientist: No, I don’t believe so. Religion keeps man in ignorance.

Young Man: Well, let me ask you this question. If I were a foolish youth, who looked at you and your work and said, “You weren’t there millions of years ago. How in the world can you know anything about the dinosaurs? This is utter nonsense!” And when you tried to explain such things to me such as the proof, and the scientific method, along with other truths and research, and I denied and walked away saying, “This is all far fetched!” What would you say?

Scientist: I would say that you are not open minded and foolish, but you can’t get rid of the evidence.

Young Man: Great response! Now this is a religion, a system of beliefs, wherein you can research, ask questions and get results.

Scientist: When you put it that way, than I’d say yes. But there is still a difference between the two.

Young Man: OK. So it is with other types of religion. We may look at them and say, “How superstitious! This is far fetched!” But still, you can’t get rid of the evidence. The only difference between your religion of science, and the foolish youth, is that he scoffed at science, and you scoff at religion. You may think you are being open minded, but when you deny looking into the reasoning, methods and steps of religion, just as the foolish man didn’t want to explore, or even listen to your religion of science, you are just as close minded as he. We can all be a little more open minded. Let’s try to be so, whatever the field of religion.

Science and true religion work together, as long as both are correct. For some however, even evidence isn’t enough.

Shane

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