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.

Ones and Zeros: Part Two

Where There is Light

In our first post in this series, we talked about the two forces of power and no power, to show a balance. Light and darkness, or an opposition in all things, which causes growth. In this post, the source of these two forces will be looked at more closely, namely, Christ as the light, and Satan as the dark.

We know that every good thing comes from Christ, so everything righteous, edifying and godly, is from Him, whether or not we as individuals acknowledge this. Whether it’s the fact that we have this earth life time (our probationary state to prove ourselves), or something specific, such as an answered prayer, it’s all from Him. Even the sustainment of our lives is from Him.

The backdrop of all of this then, would be that opposition, or dark, is a necessary part of God’s plan. We need to have both light and dark, to have balance and a proper order. A way to move forward and grow. Christ is the One, and Satan is the Zero. As the scripture states:

41 …for there is One God and One Shepherd over all the earth. 1 Nephi 13:41

It is with the atonement that we have the workings between both righteousness and sin. Our agency is defined, only as the ability to do good. It is not simply choice, but the ability to choose good out of our choices. Lucifer has put himself in a position where he cannot do good. Therefore he has no agency. He fought against it, therefore, he got what he wanted. Satan may not have agency, but he does have choice. He chooses how he carries or his plans every moment.

To have happiness and exquisite joy, we must choose good, and repent of our sins. It is not just that we repent to become like our Savior, but it is in the repentance process, that we become like Him.

As Christ has said, “…sufficient is the evil to the day thereof…” We must not look for evil or excuse sin, but acknowledge Christ in all things. We must strive to become better, and give ourselves to the Lord in completeness, so that we can become one in Him, even as He is One with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

We must accept and live Christ’s gospel, and all of the ordinances, priesthood power, and truths found therein. Then, we can be ready to enter into the Heaven Christ has prepared for us, even the Celestial kingdom.

Shane

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The Great Atonement, our Part: Part Two

Seek To Know The Savior & Understand His Atonement

The biggest half of accessing the atonement comes first, as we faithfully study the Lord, his commandments, and all things pertaining to faith, hope, trust, charity, purity and repentance. In essence, the gospel. As we do this, we are already using the atonement in this regard, to heal, and make changes in our lives, hearts and minds. Then will come part B.

First, let me explain to you that it is the Holy Ghost, which administers every bit of the atonement in our lives, to our souls and bodies. When you have the Holy Spirit with you, granted as a gift from God, which He disposes of in degrees at His discretion, depending on the heed which we give to Him, you can have His presence stronger.

You can also have the Holy Spirit even stronger, and as a constant companion, if you are baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, becoming a recipient of The Gift of the Holy Ghost. This bestowal is different than just having the Holy Ghost.

When you have The Gift of the Holy Ghost, this gift being a stronger presence of the Holy Ghost, giving you greater power to obey the Father in ways that would not be possible without this, to prompting you in some manner, whether in the form of testifying of Christ and His truths, or personally teaching you of a truth you need to know to heal, or reminding you of Christ and His loving ways and comfort, or even having the words of Christ come to you, helping you to avoid sin, you can have this form of heavenly aid always by your side. The key is to obtain this gift through the proper channels, and then to obey every prompting and personal commandment the Holy Spirit provides you to the best of your ability. Utilizing this revelatory aid from heaven, is a source of great strength and healing.

God will use the atonement and the Holy Ghost to help you have a higher path, brought about in your thoughts and feelings, through the enabling power of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and thus He will assist you to have a higher, more elevated level of thinking and feeling, which will provide healing, and better outcomes in your life.

I will now explain the subject of this post in what follows, as it relates to the experience of accessing the atonement, in the case of addiction.

There are many factors in line with addiction recovery, and many people’s experiences with it are different. Each proves to be a special, unique and specific road, wherein the Lord walks down each path individually with the individual.

Each person has specific needs, circumstances and trials, which need to be addressed. One thing is for sure though, even as a person is supposed to enter into daily personal prayer, scripture study and regular Temple attendance, as a member of Christ’s church, having such unique blessings and opportunities, utilizing their knowledge of the gospel, they can access the atonement more and become better. Yet even so doing, one thing is still missing – Part B.

One needs to personally invite the Savior Jesus Christ into their personal lives to help them. He needs to be their guide, and allowed to be the maker of all the calls and decisions in their lives, through the Holy Ghost, in their trusting, faith fulfilling pathway of recovery. Let Him in to do the work of preparing the way, and follow His lead in what he needs from/and for you, with Him.

We need to be aware of Him, in, and as a part of our lives, cognizant of the relations and interactions we are having with Him. To become truly converted through living with and for Him. In this there is real life, the way God wants all His children to live, with He as our true constant King and guiding destiny.

Shane

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Faith, the Creative Element

Our Good Influence, Plus Faith & Priesthood

As we are literal children of our Heavenly Father and Mother, we too, as their children, can grow up to be like them. As such, we are Gods in the making, with their power and ability within us. As such, we, through their power and our faith and worthiness, can create things to be.

In our world, we see through our body’s physical eyes, the earthly things which are around us. Scripture tells us, all physical things are both physical and spiritual. The scripture states:

5 …all things were created spiritually before they were on earth. Moses 3:5

This means that every physical thing has its spiritual self, inside itself. However, there are spiritual things around us too, which must be considered.

This is where faith comes in. As stated before, everything is created spiritually before it is physically created. This means that through faith, word and deed, we can spiritually create things to be, through exercising our knowledge in Christ, and His will for our lives, under the direction of the Holy Spirit, and under the sanction of heaven, and it will be physically manifested.

Generally speaking, I can have faith in Christ that I will be successful in school, living according to his plan and will for my life, outlined in the words and works of the prophets, and implement through the direction and power of the Holy Spirit, my studies and all aspects of my life. I will then do as God directs and have success, according to the nature and ways of God and His desires.

As I trust in God and His help and aid, it is then created and realized, through the process of faith and action to achieve that goal. For faith, is righteous belief, put into action. Or in other words, creation.

Shane

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The Brimstone and Burning Defined: Part One

What We Need To Understand

This post is not about fear or indignation. It is about insight and education, as to the definition of “eternal damnation,” and “fire and brimstone,” as referred to in the Bible and Book of Mormon.

In The Doctrine and Covenants, which is additional scripture found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (sometimes called the Mormon Church), we find an interesting passage, which gives insight about the nature and experience of what it means to suffer for one’s own sins in the next life, if not repented of through Jesus Christ, having first been given fair chances to do so, and yet refusing to.

In The Doctrine and Covenants 19:16-19 we read:

16 For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent.

17 But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;

18 Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink—

19 Nevertheless, glory be to the Father, and I partook and finished my preparations unto the children of men.

Now, it is written of, and further explained in The Doctrine and Covenants, what endless/eternal torment/damnation means. See below in, The Doctrine and Covenants 19:6-12

6 Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment.

7 Again, it is written eternal damnation, wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory.

8 Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine apostles.

9 I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest.

10 For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore…

11 Eternal punishment is God’s punishment.

12 Endless punishment is God’s punishment.

In summing up the above stated scripture, the punishment itself is not endless, or never-ending, but rather, it is describing the type of punishment given to be from God who is endless, therefore, it’s Endless’ punishment.

Shane

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Our Bodies Acclimate to the Good and Evil We Do

Get Into The Zone

There is an account in Holy writ, where a man named Zeezrom, a corrupt lawyer and judge, has used his worldly knowledge and educated use of the language, to pervert the laws and blind and corrupt the people of his ancient city.

There comes to this city a man of God, prophet and High Priest over the land, who, at returning a second time after being commanded to do so, having first been rejected and thrown out, is taken in and cared for by another man from this city. The prophet’s name is Alma, and the merciful caretaker is Amulek.

After a time of Alma ministering to Amulek and his household, Amulek agrees to preach with him to the people of his city. At this time they go before the people, and Alma begins to preach the word of God with the scriptures through the Holy Spirit.

All of the evil lawyers, judges and leaders of the people are the first to accuse the two men sent from God. They are the ones who had caused such evil deeds to be sown in the hearts of the people, through their lying and deceiving words.

After a bunch of accusations, Alma and Amulek having confounded the evil designs of those who lay in wait to deceive and destroy, expounding the scriptures and teaching true doctrine, one of the lawyers named Zeezrom begins to feel a piercing in his heart. The Holy Spirit bears witness to him that these men are from God and are speaking the truth.

With this breakthrough, Zeezrom begins to plead with the people saying:

 7 …Behold, I am guilty, and these men are spotless before God. Alma 14:7

Slowly, after many of the people began to believe the words of Alma and Amulek, there commenced a great martyrdom of those who believed, being thrown into the fire.

Other believers were thrown out and stoned. Those who survived, took refuge in the land of Sidom, among whom was Zeezrom, who was by now utterly convinced.

I now quote from Alma 15:3 in The Book of Mormon:

3 …Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat.

This burning heat is a fever that became so bad, that he lay sick and could not recover, being very low. Sometime later, after Alma and Amulek had been spared and delivered out of prison by God, Zeezrom found that they were in Sidom. At his request, they immediately came to him where he lay ill.

This is where the subject of this post comes into play. Zeezrom had, over the course of his poor and evil choices, set his mind on the evil and deceit he had subscribed to. With those changes of evil upon his soul, it also took effect on his physical body. Little by little, bit by bit, as he had thought of, and done wrong from one thing to the next, his mind and heart had become blind, dark, hard and corrupt.

At this point in time, when we find him in Sidom, he has had a spiritual change of heart and mind. This change had happened so fast, because of the bearing of pure testimony and doctrine, coupled with the fact that Alma and Amulek were given to know the thoughts and intents of Zeezrom’s heart, while he was yet contending against them. Zeezrom’s change of spiritual heart and mind had come so quickly, that his body did not have time to re-acclimate, to the polarization of good and righteousness.

The outcome of this, was a burning fever upon him, for his body was in contrast to his spirit, good vs. evil. His body had been acclimatized to evil. The outcome of this then, comes from Alma 15:5-11

5 …[Alma and Amulek] went immediately, obeying the message which [Zeezrom] had sent unto them; and they went in unto the house unto Zeezrom; and they found him upon his bed, sick, being very low with a burning fever; and his mind also was exceedingly sore because of his iniquities; and when he saw them he stretched forth his hand, and besought them that they would heal him.

 6 And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation?

 7 And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught.

 8 And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed.

 9 And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words.

 10 And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in Christ.

 11 And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrom leaped upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was done to the great astonishment of all the people; and the knowledge of this went forth throughout all the land of Sidom.

Yes, God always does provide a way for the sinner to repent, and be made whole. Often times it’s the small, everyday changes for good that we do, which allow us to repent, become better, and as we do so, our bodies will acclimate and change accordingly to the good we do. We will change, so we don’t desire evil in our spirits or our bodies anymore. We have the choice to make every moment. Acclimate our bodies for good or bad, health or sickness.

Shane

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A Type and Shadow of Things That Never Change

Turn Not Unto The Right, Nor The Left

One of the great comparisons in life I like to look at, are the power of God, and the influence (false) “power” of Satan. For example, let’s look at the power and energy of light as we know it. For as the semblance of everything denotes there is a God, and as in each thing there is a blueprint, or example of God, we too can take a look at, and study the concept of God, seeing Him and His power in all things.

In light is the essence and matter of all the colors in the color spectrum which we have in our planet’s sphere. So when light is shining on an object, the only color that the object does not “absorb,” is then reflected back to the eye, and it appears as that color. It is the object then, which determines which color not to, “accept,” which is then seen by our eyes, and then interpreted back by our brain, to what the color’s representation is.

One of the great comparisons in life I like to look at, are the power of God, and the influence (false) “power” of Satan. For example, let’s look at the power and energy of light as we know it. For as the semblance of everything denotes there is a God, and as in each thing there is a blueprint, or example of God, we too can take a look at, and study the concept of God, seeing Him and His power in all things.

In light is the essence and matter of all the colors in the color spectrum which we have in our planet’s sphere. So when light is shining on an object, the only color that the object does not “absorb,” is then reflected back to the eye, and it appears as that color. It is the object then, which determines which color not to, “accept,” which is then seen by our eyes, and then interpreted back by our brain, to what the color’s representation is.

When light is broken

When light is broken down, you can see that it’s combined complexities, consist of all the colors of the rainbow in one. The result is, a brilliant and ennobling pure white light. Every color combined in and through the power of God, creates and gives order and structure to the world we know around us.

Let’s look at the adversary’s false, or self said, “power,” which he tries to use to convince others he has. He can only take of the things which God has created, and try to use them for harm, or against that for which they were intended or created. He cannot create anything.

For example, let’s use a metaphor, to illustrate in these physical terms. Satan will take of the products of God’s creations, such as in this case an artist’s paint.

He will take of the pigments of each color, in an attempt to deceive and counterfeit God’s efforts, by trying to manipulate them in a way to cause something, or the paint to become something pleasing, good or desirable. However, he cannot deliver, nor does He ever want to. By very nature of the way Satan uses and abuses what God has created for his own cunning design, he cannot ever deliver, the “promised” result.

Satan is not capable one bit of telling the truth, and he can do no good thing. He will take of the colors, put them all together, and get black.

Only God can create, put His colors together, whether in light, paint, shading or creation, and get a bright and glorious manifestation, in which life, warmth, peace and meaning are all given. Let’s look to God in all things, and acknowledge Him in all we see.

Shane

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The Great Atonement, our Part: Part One

I Know My Savior Lives!

Many people have often born strong witness of the power of the atonement in their lives, with adding somewhere in that declaration that, “I don’t know how it works, I only know that it does.”

Recently, I had an impression and inspirational understanding of how it does work. I will start off by saying that the Lord did experience everything with us, so this means He’s with you right now. He is with everyone and their thoughts, feelings, experiences and acts you are having and doing right now, every moment, in every way. He is even more aware of you and your surroundings and circumstances than you are, because He is perfect, and resurrected, making him free from the earthly veil we bear. He is nurturing the good, and subjugating the bad.

When in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus Christ experienced our life as Him going through it. In other words, as though He were us. Of course, when He went through it (our life), He expended and sent forth every good and righteous expression and spiritual acts of gifts and atonement into our lives unto the fullness.

This means that we can come unto Him, tap into what He experienced in our lives, and utilize what he gave us, turning it into what He would have us be, our rescue and resurrection, and anything and everything righteous, good, glorious and true, which He gives us. In our experiences, He takes from us all ill, and gives and adds to us His will. This is because He became as us in His atonement, making us as one with Him, as we choose to repent and live righteously.

Some would ask, “What does it mean to come unto Him?” Well, let me just say one thing, prayer and scripture study is one thing which will bring us closer to Him, and help us be where He is.

As I think of this, I am led to deeply desire to make every acting effort to make use of His powerful love and enabling atonement, which enlightens and resurrects life in us, through which He extends to each of us through His loving sacrifice, the power to change and be awesome.

As we think of our lives and the use of the atonement of our Savior in it, we need to remember this, that we have every power and gift extended and granted unto us, through His expression of great and loving sacrifice, both of mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, social, and in every other way, of being wrought out through His atonement, that we need to, and must take merit and use of all of it, for this is its purpose.

We must not waste such a painfully, high costing sacrifice on our behalf. Nor should we waste our days keeping this blessing to ourselves. We must share this gift with our neighbors, for truly even Christ, bled from every pore, to save us even as a moth to the fire, unto an exalted being by His side.

It is in this, that we can come to know our Savior, that He is with us. You can even say that as He went through His atoning sacrifice, He came to know us, and now that we are living our lives searching for Him and using His atonement, we are coming to know Him.

He has already come through our lives, with the remedies, cure and victories for our every need, both in time and in eternity. Some things will be overcome in the next life, but all things for sure, for the faithful followers of Christ, who passionately use His loving atoning sacrificing gifts, to thrive and endure. The atonement is not just for mortal bounds, but for our eternal progression as well.

What is the secret of/or to life? To learn how to, and readily and actively use the atonement in our lives to the fullest.

This is the only true success and measure of a man, in his personal, family and all other aspects of his life. To be a man as He, a godly man. So how do we learn to use the atonement? This will be explained more next in, The Great Atonement, Our Part: Part Two.

The atonement makes it possible for us to mentally seek a higher plain in us, to grow in spiritual maturity, and to change our natures, and the desires of our hearts and minds.

From lust to love, indecency to decency, degradation to nobility. It comes about by our using our God given agency, to yield ourselves, body and spirit, heart and mind, to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, putting off the natural man, or physical body, and use our agency to make good, correct choices. Bringing our souls more in line with the truth and love, guided by the Holy Spirit, thus becoming more righteous and pleasing unto God our Father, where He can also help us more.

It is truthfully the atonement that allows and gives us our agency, for without it, we could not choose good, for there would be no influence of good in us to act with. We would literally both spiritually and physically be dead. Our very existence as fallen man, is because of the atonement. Every time something nice is done, it is performed through the atonement, whether a person realizes, or acknowledges it or not.

Even the adversary, who at this point is not capable of doing anything good, is kept alive through the atonement. He has put himself in a position where he cannot, and will not do anything good. Thus, because of this arrangement, and him fulfilling his role in our progression, he too is given some mercies in the fact alone, that he is kept alive through the mercy and grace of Christ and His atonement, and will eventually be given a second chance in an eternal life in the way distant future.

Following the Spirit and making good choices over time and every time, changes our natures to become more sanctified and pure. This is what it means to actively use our Lord’s atonement. To use the power He has given us, by being with us every step of the way, He has provided the only way, Him. This is the great cause and call then to all, to be the living recipients of the Son of God, and His fruits of His own atoning sacrifice.

Look for more in Part Two

Shane

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Missionary Work: Part One

We’ll Bring The World His Truth!

I have thought much about my life and the influence I have to make a difference in the world and the lives around me, particularly in the field of spreading the good news of the gospel.

I have at times been frustrated at how life in general can feel as though I’m being encroached upon by the actions of others, not doing what they ought, and how that makes me feel, in reference to my own spiritual equilibrium.

As I have battled that war, and have won, I want to share some inspirational points which may help you get through these challenges, and better serve the Lord.

I find myself in the natural flow and current of the atonement, where stuff that used to drag me down, doesn’t bother me anymore, because I am over it now. I live with the guidance of the Holy Spirit in my life, and act out of Heavenly Father’s will as a daily experience.

I feel Him in me, and I in He. This came with some significant course corrections and realignment, as well as adjustments. I feel I’m doing much better, and this because of the gift of repentance and change.

This message is on the grounds of how to get to the place I’ve found of doing God’s will, from where I was before, when I was a victim, being acted upon rather than acting. I’m now playing my role as a good and faithful servant of the Lord, sharing and spreading his good news.

I have often been drawn in life, to the analogy of the lobsters trying to fight their way out of a boiling hot water pot. As they fight frantically for a way to stop the pain, there are some who look up for higher solutions. Time and time again we see how the lower creatures pull down on the ones trying to escape over the top and side of the burning pit, making it much harder for any chance of escape.

I see this as a true principle in life. Yes, many people present themselves in opposition to progress anytime someone decides to reach for a higher plain. History has repeated itself in this way many times, and I have seen this much in my own life.

I am free, and can stand up, and do as God wants, because that’s what He has created me for. As a person continues to progress and move up from one thing to another, the ability to do more and better things increases, as does the speed and capacity to do so.

The thought which inspired this post is this:

To see the sin around us, as opportunities to serve, love and give light and help to others.

Wow, what a game changer! As this post’s focus is on missionary work, what better way to utilize ourselves than as ministers of need? So, with this in mind, know that there is a way to get from point ‘A,’ (I want to share my testimony and knowledge of the gospel), to point ‘B,’ (I am sharing my influence and testimony through service, as well as teaching others the gospel).

In teaching the gospel, the Lord has commanded:

11 Seek not to declare my word, but first seek to obtain my word, and then shall your tongue be loosed; then, if you desire, you shall have my Spirit and my word, yea, the power of God unto the convincing of men. D&C 11: 21

This pertains to living the word, for without living the word, you will not have God’s Spirit. Having the word changes us internally, to desire to live worthily and keep His commandments. However, if we hold on to our sins, or seek to excuse them, we will not have the Holy Spirit with us, and will be deceived, even in our learning of the gospel.

A huge part of desiring to share the gospel, and our success in doing so, is our faithful diligence in living it. We cannot have our bodies full of light and glory, if our eyes are not singly fixed upon our Savior, who is our divine light and perfect exemplar.

My deepest and innermost desire in sharing this post with you, is to plead with you to come, come unto Christ, and be perfected in Him. Be one who battles above the other “lobsters.” Be one who acknowledges the frailties of men, but then gets right up there and says, “Just because everyone else is doing it, doesn’t mean it’s correct or right. I choose to follow God.” And then go out there and do it!

Please do not rationalize desensitizing media, or worldly hobbies that take you away from God and off your life’s path to Him. Yes, everyone else may do it, but when Noah was told not to participate, but to save himself and family, he did! You should too. Remember who you are. You come from the Holiest of all Gods, the Most High God line. Come, and know Him, and know why you are here.

32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. Alma 34:32

And now I ask, what will you do with your time? How will you work out your eternity? What will you anchor your heart to or set your heart upon, that it may lead you to God? For remember:

12 …where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Luke 12:34

If your treasures are stored up in heaven, there will your heart be, and your salvation and reward too. If your treasures are of and upon the world, there is your heart, and your reward, namely death, hell and misery, for these are the fruits of a fallen, unrepentant heart.

If you want to abide in the presence of God the Father, then right here and now, live with Him in your life, do His will, and follow His path. You will find His way, which is the only way, even Christ, the truth, life and light.

The prophets and scriptures teach us how to live and what is real; about truth and the spiritual realms and what faith is.

For there are things existing, which though we do not currently see with our mortal carnal eyes, are just as real and substantial as a broken chair, or an umbrella right before our eyes. Our task then is to learn how to navigate through these spiritual realities, through learning and understanding the truth as it is, and applying it in all these circumstances and avenues. Each and every day, come closer and closer to God, as we find out who we are, and what roles we play.

What a blessing to have the fullness of the restored gospel, where Jesus Christ Himself reigns at the head, and a prophet upon the earth in our day to administer on His behalf. For these things I am ever grateful, and will always be Heavenly Father’s loving child.

Shane

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Miraculous Happenings

Meeting With The Savior

Note: This is an excerpt from my current project “Transcendence – Mind Insights – My Story, My Road: An Intimate Perspective of Mind Disorders”, an autobiography I am excited to bring to fruition.

At this point in my writing, I will now add in spiritual experiences I’ve had which I feel are exponentially important to the subject of interest at hand. These I will enter in, as this is the first attempt I’ve ever made to write them out. I will also portray the truthfulness of these experiences, for had these experiences not been true, and given to me by the Holy Spirit and spiritual nature of them, I would have long forgotten them, after these many years which have since transpired from the time I received them.

As I have mentioned somewhat of the difficulties which I have faced with my mental illnesses, I have not as yet mentioned the reality of the gross hold which the adversary did once have on me. Although I have always been a good person at heart, and never intentionally evil, despite the fact of all the abuse, turmoil and pressure upon my soul, I was further wrought upon by the influence of evil spirits, to the fact they had more power over me due to my mental illnesses. If I have not as yet made myself clear of the unfair advantage evil can have on persons with mental illness, I will do so here.

First I will need to go into some true doctrines taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are this: We lived before we came here as spirit children of our Heavenly Father. We knew and loved Him, and He us. He presented a plan that would send us here to earth, to provide us with physical bodies, which would also be a part of our test. We are to be stewards of our bodies, and learn to take care of them and make correct choices, thus keeping the commandments of God. Heavenly Father knew that we would need to have these earthly experiences, to enable us to become more like Him, and gain the reward of all that He is and has. For this is His desire, work and glory, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of mankind.

As part of this plan we would need to forget about our prior life with Him, and learn to walk by faith. All of this to create the proper battle ground, to achieve the very best in who we are, and who we are to become. This forgetting is referred to as having a veil placed over our minds and hearts, to cover that part of our memory, so that we cannot remember living with God, so that we may learn to have faith, walk in obedience, and be worthy of our reward in heaven. I believe that this veil has two parts. The first is to veil the memories we had from living with our Father in Heaven, so that we would need to again learn to know Him, and the second, to veil the feelings we had with Him there too.

Now, I will explain the portion of evil that the adversary had over me. It is true that there is a portion of the veil which is thinner, or less in force, for people with mental illness. It is the portion of the veil which covers over how we can feel, with what we had with Heavenly Father in the pre-earth life. Satan fully knows this, and has jumped right in to take full advantage of this. This state of having a thinner veil in this manner is really a condition of being able to feel spiritual things stronger. Either heaven’s presence, or the devil’s presence.

With people who become mentally ill, it is usually because of some abuse they’ve suffered in life, or drugs, or other factors related to genes passed down to them, and/or environment stressors. I will not attempt to discuss this subject in any detail here, because there is so much to know, but it will be discussed in another part of my book.

Because of the situations of how and why people become mentally ill, Satan already has some form of darkness to hang over their heads, and he goes full force and all out, to stop these individuals from any progression they may have, if they were to realize their ability to turn things around, and become closer to God through this same spiritual condition.

With this in mind, know that it is truly a miracle that can happen for anyone and everyone, who has a mental illness, to go from the death, hell and misery of mental illness, into having the ability to experience the life, love and power of feeling closer to God through this means, as previously discussed. As for me, it is a great and treasured privilege I possess, to be able to have a closer, more perfect way of accessing the powers of the Lord God and heaven, through this thinner portion of the veil.

It is now time to tell you of the first experience I had of a spiritual nature, which you might not have understood or appreciated, had I not first instructed you concerning the nature of these things. It was at this time in my life, when I had evil doing all it could to overpower me, for there are three levels at which evil can influence us. The first is darkness and temptation, as all are viable to. The second, being what is called possessed by a demon or devil, as was recorded in different places in the Holy Bible, where the devils had a measure of physical and mental control over the individuals. The third, is what is in-between these two. This third, or middle area, is the category I fell into. I know for a fact, that had I been evil in my core, I would have been possessed, for it was their attempt to suffocate and hamper me down, until they could find means to possess me. It was my good heart and intentions which prevented this from happening.

In this state of me fighting the evil which sought to ultimately possess me and bring me to destruction, I fought moment to moment, with no time for rest or respite. A time in which it was the devil’s desire to fight me into a place where I would succumb to the evil being pushed upon me, so that they, or he, could have total possession of my body, with me still inside it.

I fought, and fought, and fought, but oh how hard it was, when at every turn, they would suffocate and influence me toward evil stuff, poisonous to my soul, as well as my family’s.

It was during this difficult time in our lives, when I was seeing an LDS counselor, who was in the middle of getting his practitioners license. He had been a convert to the church, and had experienced many great and wonderful things concerning the church, with spiritual experiences and feelings. He had been giving firesides, which is a term for describing an event in which a person or persons would have the opportunity to go to various Wards and Stakes, to share their story, experiences, and testimony. He was well loved and highly respected.

It was at this time period, that I was in a session with him, and with the evil spirits interfering with my very soul, it was evident that not much progress was being made. At this point in the session, the room then got very quiet, even in a manner which silenced the adversary which was upon me. This good brother then commenced, in a noticeably difference of tone and spirit, said to me, “Now, let’s try something different. I want to try an experiment with you. Let’s just play a game and say that you can go anywhere you want to. If you want to go to the right, move you hand to the right, and you can go as far to the right as you want.” And he motioned to me with his hand. He then continued, “If you want to go to the left, move your hand to the left, and you can go as far to the left as you want.” He then said, “If you want to go up…,” and as soon as he said this, I moved my hand up.

As soon as I had done so, I literally left my body and went up, up, up into space, where it looked darker, as it would look being above the earth from space, intermittently dotted with the stars of heaven. Once at a certain place, I stopped, and there I saw the Lord Jesus Christ appear about 10 feet away from me. I don’t know if there was anything significant about the space we met, but He was not facing me, but was facing sideways, even to my right. It was there that something very significant and spiritual happened.

At this time, I need to teach another doctrine taught in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, so that you can understand what I’m about to say. In the restored gospel of Jesus Christ, we are taught that we have always existed as intelligences, and also that we were born as the literal children of our Heavenly Father. This means that our intelligent spirits, were then clothed upon through birth from our Heavenly parents, with an added dimension. This was that our intelligences were then added upon with the ability to feel, have emotions, and to give and receive love.

Interesting to know as well, is that both parts of our spirits, the knowledge or intelligence, and the emotional or feelings parts, are both in the image of God, even as we now look. For as the scriptures state, we were formed (our physical bodies) in the image of God. Our identify is our spirits, with the ability to learn and feel emotion, now clothed in a physical body, all in the image of God. For He is our literal Father. All three parts of us together are referred to as the soul. We are now living with the veil of our bodies, to help us be tested and prepared to live with God again.

Now, for the experience. At this time, as I saw the Lord ahead of me, a part of my spirit separated from me, and went and stood before the Lord. I could not see any form or part of this other part of me, but I knew that it was in the shape of a man, because the Lord reached around and embraced it, and in the same motion, kissed this other spirit half of me on the face, three times on each cheek. I then became aware that this other part of me, was the feelings part, and it began to converse with the Lord. The Lord told it, that He would grant me a gift, any gift I would ask. I was then aware that this part of me asked the Lord for protection from the evil which so easily had influence in me, that they could no longer enter in to torment me. The Lord granted.

This emotion part of me then came back to me, the Lord left, and again united, I moved my hand down, so that I began to come back down to where my body was. It was at this time that a curious phenomenon occurred. As I now had my hand moved down, moving back down to again enter into my body from space, my body’s hand was still moved up as previously, to have me go up. As I rejoined with my body, the strangest feeling happened regarding my hand. It was as if I was moving my hand down when it was already down, for my spiritual hand was already down, and my body’s hand was up. This felt so strange, and it puzzled me to a great degree.

When I again was in the presence of the councilor, he continued on as he was, and then he suggested to me that we say a prayer. He asked if I would have him or I say the prayer. I said him. We then closed our eyes, and he began. It wasn’t long into the prayer when he suddenly stopped, looked up and said, to me, “Shane, do you know that there is fire all around you?” I said, “No.” He said, “Yes, that’s why I stopped praying.”

Then as he continued, I kept sensing something off to my left which was troubling to me. The councilor prompted me and said, “Don’t worry, they are angry, but they can’t hurt you.” I then ignored these evil spirits, and they went away, now having no more power to be in me, or even around me as powerfully as before. With this gift which I gladly received, my recovery was now on a more even battleground, and I was able to begin to make some real progress.

Shane

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Truth or Gay?

The Biggest Challenge: Do I, or Do I not?

I was recently graced by the presence of a young man in a situation where we had the opportunity to have a pretty unusually personal conversation.

While in the interest of getting to know each other, he happened to confide in me of a challenge he faces, that of homosexuality. This young man had been doing his best to live a faithful life, even serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, when his companion had stolen a peak at his journal, and discovered this about him. After meeting with his mission president, he was sent home.

After this, he felt very frustrated and confused. We talked about this same church’s doctrine, of the reality of him having an eternal and divine nature, which includes gender. We have always existed, and have always been either male, or female.

I told him that his spirit, who he really is, has always been male. I helped him understand that this particular trial was not him, but was his fallen body. I exorted him to not let his body defeat him in the choices he makes, but to ultimately overcome in the end, and be victorious.

I told him that through the Lord, all things are possible, and that through the atoning experience and grace of Christ, He could either change the nature of his body, or, if not the Lord’s will, he could choose to live in a way worthy of the acceptance of Christ’s commandments.

He may not have immediate, or even mortal relief, but the Lord wouldn’t abandon him. He could teach others about what true charity is, and use his God given trial for good. This that he could then in the glorious resurrection, victoriously face the Lord and say, “I’ve been faithful with the burden blessing I was given, and I’m ready to be made whole.” Then worship the Lord in sanctified holiness.

I also told him of the realities of the true desires of his heart, that of family, which could only be his if Christ was the course he ultimately chose. I gave him proper praise for choosing to not act on his bodily trials, and I hope I made a good difference for him.

It was nice to meet this strong individual, and I hope the counsel I felt to give was appropriate. God speed my friend.

Shane

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