The 9th Article of Faith in our day.

      "We believe that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that He will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God." This is one of the article statements of faith for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints which helps to set it apart from other Christian religions. Within this doctrine are a few very important presuppositions that most people read, although some of the deeper meanings and implications tend to fly over many of our heads. 

    Now I wish to focus on one particular implication, and expound upon it further.

    'God will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.' Let's look at this from the perspective of a member of the church living in 1968. Ten years before the blacks had received the priesthood. 

      Before I go further, allow me to properly articulate a profound truth. God the Father always intended for all worthy men to receive the priesthood. However, due to the weaknesses of men, we as a people were not ready before 1978 to properly receive such a profound revelation. 

      Now going back to being a member in 1968. What if at that time you felt the church ought to have let black men hold the priesthood, but it wasn't allowed. Would that change your opinion of the church? I personally know a good man who joined, received the priesthood even married in the temple, only to realize soon after that blacks weren't allowed to hold the priesthood at the time of his joining the church, and as a consequence he immediately left the church because of that. 

      Would we have done the same? Do we believe that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is The Lords organized medium on earth to teach his gospel to the children of men? If yes, would we stay members in spite of something we feel is wrong or misguided? If the Gospel of Christ was true both in 1968 and 1978, and we believe it's true today; how would it effect our actions? Even if we feel there are things that aren't great or even flawed within the church? It doesn't change the fact that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. 

      Do you feel that some things within the church need to change? Please note, that asking this question isn't meant to question the leadership, nor the direction the church is going. It's merely a question to provoke thought. Because before 1978, over 40 years ago, black men were not allowed to hold the priesthood. But as we place ourselves back in those shoes would we feel that they ought to have had the priesthood before then? However, due to the churches position at the time, would your faith be shaken by this fact, causing you to leave the church, believing that the institution of the church was not true or just?

      Are there things in the church that we see presently that we do not agree with?

      Are we as a people not prepared enough to receive that revelation? 

      What do we do? 

      How do we help move the needle to prepare and encourage members to be the positive change in the world around us? How do we do that without mingling our opinions that we pick up in the world with scripture? I don't have all the answers. I'm still searching and asking. Now I ask you the reader, how can you be the change that needs to be present in the culture today? And how do we enable others to do the same?

Offense When It Wasn't Intended.

To paraphrase something I heard from Mr. Monte Holm, it's stupid to take offense when offense was never intended. If someone is speaking hard things for you to swallow because you are afraid that they're speaking the truth, but you know they truly care about you, remember, if they truly did not care, then they would not have said anything to begin with. So in sharing their feelings and/or opinions with you, they are showing that they do care, regardless of how imperfectly they expressed so initially. So do not take offense, or go out of your way seeking to be offended, when offense was never intended.

Prayer and Agency

If the Father knows all, even the things we are about to ask before we ever ask them, then why do we need to pray if he already knows the desires of our hearts? It's because God respects our agency, and will not impose anything upon us, save in rare and/or extreme circumstances for our protection. Prayer gives The Father the opportunity, and permission, to enter into our lives so that He may bless us, according to His will, with opportunities to grow, to be comforted in times of trial, to enable us to serve and aid others, and so much more.

Truth, Lies and Gossip

Walter Scott wrote many years ago, "Oh what tangled web we weave, when at first, we practice to deceive." Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth when speaking with others... The only exception to this rule is when the truth will damage another person's reputation through gossip... Unless [you are] sharing with someone who is in a position [of authority] to resolve a conflict [with the individual you are speaking about, then] it's best not to share what [you] know, [so remain] silent instead. Not sharing what [you] know [about another that] will cause damage to [them]... enables [you] to protect others while ensuring that [you do] not lie.
Taken from the book: Resolved by Orrin Woodward. [Bracketts paraphrased by me.]

Courage and Descipleship

Being courageous and a true disciple of Christ, does not mean that you're going to live your life without fear or pain. On the contrary, being courageous and a disciple of Christ means that you have something far more important you choose to stand for; your purpose. Having such a purpose gives you the ability to resist giving in to the fear and pain while, eventually, rising above it. After all, it is only in the presence of fear and pain that true courage and discipleship can be exercised, but without a greater sense of purpose, how can you see beyond your pain and your fears? If you proclaim to be a disciple of Christ, and your objectives aren't important enough for you to push past the pain and your fears, then you're never going to succeed in reaching your fullest potential that you long for and that the Lord desires for you too.