Driving home from Fresno tonight I enjoyed the golden glow of the sunset as I flew down the I-5 at 70 mph. Benjamin commented on how the sun was hiding behind the clouds, and I thought to myself how we were able to enjoy the bright rays shooting out and the intense golden light, as well as the beautiful soft pink color around the clouds, because the sun was hiding. A few moments later the sun was lower in the sky and the intensity of the light dimmed and the clouds moved, revealing a dark orange sun. My mind was on the blessings of the restored gospel, as I was listening to Boyd K. Packer conference talk “The Only True and Living Church” and as I admired the golds and pinks in the sky I felt so thankful for the beautiful glow and intense rays of the light of truth that we have in Christ’s church, in its fullness, with himself at the head. I thought of how we learn line upon line, and are only able to see some of the rays, shining through, but not gaze upon the sun in its brilliance and glory, and comprehend everything now. And in the Lord’s timing, if we desire to and are patient and faithful, we will be able to see and comprehend it all.
“And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.” John 1:5
“When the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fullness of my gospel; but they receive it not, for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men” (D&C 45:28-29)
I have been troubled lately by the apathetic attitude that plagues people today. In my missionary efforts I continue to come up against the same wall: the belief that there is no need for a restoration of Christ’s church, and that the idea of one true church is not only unnecessary, but offensive. I hear the arguments
“All churches are good; all are right...One is just as good as another and it doesn’t matter which one we belong to"
"or, if we belong to any."
"God loves us all the same”
“Whatever brings you closer to God, or brings you to be happy; do whatever you feel is right or true for you.”
“There is no one right way.”
"Find your truth."
Instead of find the truth. While there is truth in the statement that God does love us all the same, and that all churches or whatever brings you closer to God is good), there is (one) truth; one right way. By the definition of truth there can't be two truths.
God is not the author of confusion. He is happy with the efforts of his precious children in many churches to draw near to Him, but He is at the head of only one church. Why would he have several churches with conflicting teachings? Different religions, even Christian churches, have opposing views on doctrines, even substantial disagreements on foundational beliefs such as the Godhead, or the core issue of salvation: some believe baptism to be essential, others optional. Some believe baptism by immersion is required; others that sprinkling or pouring is satisfactory. There are other current issues of great disagreement among Christians, such as abortion, or same gender attraction… Does the Lord remain mute on these critical issues?
For the entire 4000 years of biblical history, God spoke to his people through prophets. Where are the prophets today? Does God love us as much today as he loved his children in biblical times? Do we need Him as much today as people needed Him anciently? Does God have the same power today that He did in the past? In Hebrews 13:8 it says that “God is the same yesterday, today, and of forever.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson said to the Divinity School at Harvard: “The need was never greater for revelation than now. The doctrine of inspiration is lost; miracles, prophecy…exist as ancient history…Men have come to speak of revelation as something long ago given and done, as if God were dead…It is the office of a true teacher to show us that God is, not was; the He speaketh, not spake.”
In spite of the evident need for modern-day revelation through prophets, most Christian churches believe that revelation ended with the Bible. The Baptists, Lutherans, and the Roman Catholics all say that revelation ceased with the time of Christ’s apostles; that all necessary instruction has been given, therefore there is no need for modern prophecy.
The preacher Jonathan Edwards said “It seems to me an unreasonable thing to suppose that there should be a God that has so much concern for us and yet that he should never speak…that there should be no word from Him.”
God was so intense and specific with his instructions all throughout the Bible. The belief that God is now, in modern times, vague in his instructions, and all-accepting of his children’s behavior, sitting back on His throne in the heavens, encouraging them to do whatever they think makes them happy, is a lie, that comes from the enemy of truth. If it didn’t really matter, God wouldn’t have given commandments or made covenants with his people; he wouldn’t have communicated through prophets, ever.
In the early 1800s in Joseph Smith’s fifteenth year, there was a great revival of religion, which extended to all the denominations of Christians in the surrounding country in which his family resided. Many of the worlds people becoming concerned about the salvation of their souls came forward and presented themselves as seekers after religion. Most of them were desirous of uniting with some church, but were not decided as to the particular faith which they would adopt. A dispute arose among the various leading church members and there was great contention. Josephs mind became considerably troubled with regard to religion. He said “My mind was called up to serious reflection and great uneasiness; but though my feelings were deep, still I kept myself aloof from all those parties, though I attended their several meetings as often as occasion would permit. In time my mind became somewhat partial to the Methodist sect, and I felt some desire to be united with them, but so great were the confusion and strife among the different denominations that it was impossible for a person young as I was to come to any certain conclusion who was right and who was wrong. In the midst of this war of words and tumult of opinion, I often said to myself, What is to be done? Who, of all these parties, are right? Or are they all wrong together? If any of them be right, which is it? And how shall I know it?”
Any soul has the right, indeed the obligation, to make an appeal through prayer for the answer to this question: Is there a true church?
But it is a different kind of problem in society today than the contention that prevailed in Joseph Smith’s youth. No one seems to care which church is right, or believes that there is any “right”.
To be honest, I get that perspective. Without an understanding that God works through physical acts of ordinances and covenants to elevate his children and prepare them for the next world, it truly wouldn't matter what church you attend and choose to worship in. It could be on a mountain top where you worship and feel close to God. It could be in the good works you do in the community, helping the poor.
But there is a connection between heaven and earth. Finding that connection gives everything meaning, including death. Missing it makes everything meaningless, including life.
The ultimate connection between heaven and earth is found in his temples where sacred covenants are made and instruction and power from heaven is given. Covenant connection is God's ultimate purpose with his children. He started it from the days of Adam and continues it still. It is the key to the greatest peace and joy in this world, and exaltation in the next world.
In his own words He said "For this is my work and my glory: to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" and he also revealed to a prophet that "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy."
I am the oldest of twelve. My parents first had 5 girls in a row, and the 6th was a boy. Their precious son, Stephen Grant. Stephen was a beautiful soul. He felt things very deeply. But he had questions about God's plan and as a young adult he became bitter and cynical about the ugliness and unfairness of life.
He had unanswered questions, unanswered prayers; he was frustrated. He even came to the point that he criticized and questioned God, saying things like 'Any God that allows this kind of suffering isn’t a God I want to worship'. His perspective was foggy. But he had a heart of gold; a tenderness and kindness and honesty that was special. He just struggled. Very seriously. He stopped being active in the church. He married at 24, separated at 25. He had anger and some depression.
And then one day his struggle ended. At least on earth. In 2016, a week before Christmas, he was killed by a drunk driver. This was a devastating time for us, for my family. I collapsed to the floor sobbing when my mom called to tell me, and I remember thinking how much her voice sounded just like my grandma’s voice. Like a dejavu feeling. Grandma went through the same thing when her 25 year old son Greg, my mom’s older brother, was killed in a car accident. It felt surreal. It is so difficult to have someone ripped away like that, but as I watched my heartbroken mother stand at the trial of the man who killed Stephen, and publicly forgive him with tears streaming down her face, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for our knowledge of the plan of salvation, because only this understanding can bring comfort in situations like this. Only the power of the holy ghost can fill your heart with true peace, to trust God, to trust his plan of happiness, even when your current happiness is ripped away from you.
Having an eternal perspective of life and a covenant connection with God makes all the difference.
It’s not just a belief in God that brings you this comfort and peace - but specifically a knowledge of His plan of salvation, and a strengthening power that comes from a covenant relationship with Him; covenants that bind families together for eternity, beyond this life. These binding covenants and strength and power to bless our lives are available in the temple.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church that has the doctrine of a pre-existence, that there was war in heaven, that we fought against Lucifer’s plan of controlled, forced salvation for God’s children, and for the freedom to choose, a plan of salvation through the sacrifice and power of Jesus Christ, to come to earth and experience mortality.
We knew and accepted the risks before coming here.
Each of us chose to follow Jesus Christ, we trusted he would make it possible, would make it alright in the end; that it would be a perfectly fair plan of justice and mercy.
We’re also the only church that teaches that Adam and Eve partaking of the fruit and turning everything in that paradise garden of eden into this fallen state was part of the plan, and was a good thing, a necessary thing. There must be opposition in this world.
We’re the only church that teaches that there’s a time after we die but before resurrection in the spirit world where the gospel is preached, missionary work, the work of salvation continues there, and that those who accept the doctrine of Christ and want to make covenants to progress can receive baptism, the holy ghost, and make higher covenants including the everlasting covenant of marriage, can do that, through people on earth who perform the ordinances for them in temples.
This is why family history work is so important to us; seeking out our ancestors to make sure their temple work is performed; that they have the choice to accept these ordinances of salvation. Jesus said that baptism by immersion, for example, is a requirement to enter heaven. But what about all of the people who have died without baptism, who haven't even heard of Jesus Christ? God provides a way for his work to be done. He never gives a commandment that cannot be accomplished.
We’re the only church that teaches the doctrine of three degrees of heavenly glory instead of just heaven and hell, for God’s extremely diverse children. Two shows recently have caught my attention about this - the Disney movie “Soul” and the tv show “The Good Place”. In Soul, they indicate that everyone lived before earth and developed their talents, skills, interests, and personalities there, and brought that with them to earth, and further developed and progressed here before ascending to the afterlife.
In “The Good Place” they indicate that there has to be different levels of heaven, for all the different types of humans and their different circumstances that led them to make different choices - that just a good place (heaven) and a bad place (hell) just doesn’t make sense. I found both of these fascinating, because of course I agree, and have known these concepts my whole life, but the majority of God’s children don’t accept these concepts as truth, as reality, and really haven’t even thought about it.
In God’s plan every soul is given the opportunity to progress, to eventually live a higher law and receive the highest degree of glory and happiness possible. We are heirs to all the Father hath. If we are willing to abide by every law and direction that he gives, and if we have faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ, we can come to where he is and receive what he has; joint-heirs with Christ, as Paul says.
We will be judged perfectly and receive what we are willing to receive; no more no less.
If my brother had been converted to this truth, if he had this eternal perspective, it would have helped him to not have so much confusion and bitterness toward God. Instead he would have trusted him, been patient, and understood that suffering and pain and loneliness and all these negative things we experience here are not punishments or neglect from God but in his wisdom they are part of the journey. Because that’s simply the way things are in this fallen mortal world. And because God gives everyone their agency. So decisions that people make effect others, positively or negatively. He allows everyone their freedom and the consequences that naturally follow, even if it pains him to watch. Do you guys ever think about that? How our Heavenly Father feels sad watching his children suffer? There is a precious scripture account that shows his empathy, that he’s not just this indifferent God who is so distant from his children on earth, but he’s right there, crying with us. In Moses 7, Enoch bore record that "the God of heaven looked upon the residue of the people, and he wept" and Enoch asked "How is it that thou canst weep, seeing thou art holy, from all eternity to all eternity?" and the Lord said unto Enoch "Behold, they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their knowledge, in the day I created them; and in the Garden of Eden gave I unto man his agency; and unto thy brethren have I said and also given commandment that they should love one another, and that they should choose me, their Father; but behold, they are without affection, and they hate their own blood...Misery shall be their doom; wherefore, should not the whole heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer?"
Our Father in Heaven has a plan for His children. Progression and becoming as He is, is the whole purpose. Faith, trusting in His word, and being tested here in this life, with suffering and opposition, is the only way.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only church on earth that believes in current, ongoing revelation. It is the only one that claims to be a restoration of Christ’s original church, not a reformation (as is claimed by all other Christian denominations), and that it is currently led by the resurrected living Christ, through a prophet and apostles. It is the only one to declare that the priesthood keys and authority have been restored to the earth, after they were lost from the earth with the death of Christ’s original apostles, and that this priesthood, the power of God given to men to act for Him on earth, is a real power, not only to conduct the affairs of his church in an orderly way, and to preform ordinances with authority, but to bless people as Christ did, giving blessings through faith for our health, comfort, guidance, and even miraculous healing.
It is the only church to have another volume of scripture, to be companion with the bible as an additional witness that Jesus is the Christ; an additional witness that God speaks to his children in more than one nation and commands his servants to testify of him and write their testimonies.