Devices of the Devil

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com             

We live in a day when stories in the daily news headlines vie for which is the most awful and terrible.  With few stories that portray us humans as kind and generous and honest, we can easily be persuaded that there is diminishing  good in the world. Certainly, stories that show us at our best rarely make news or reach the headlines.

 Such observations have been foretold millennia before. 

“20 For behold, at that day shall he (Satan) rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good.

21 And others will he pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, that they will say: All is well in Zion; yea, Zion prospereth, all is well—and thus the devil cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell.

22 And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, from whence there is no deliverance.

23 Yea, they are grasped with death, and hell; and death, and hell, and the devil, and all that have been seized therewith must stand before the throne of God, and be judged according to their works, from whence they must go into the place prepared for them, even a lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment.

24 Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion” (Book of Mormon - 2 Nephi 28:20-24)

These revelatory and instructive words would suggest that we be vigilant and not “be at ease” with all that is going on around us.  It would suggest, as this week’s Meditation counsels that we ensure that,  “We avoid the snares and deceitful devices of the Devil.“ Proactively we must see that “truth is asserted and proclaimed by voices strong, full of faith and humble.”

Devices of the Devil

Now, it was for the sole purpose to get gain, because they (Judges) received their wages according to their employ, therefore, they did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might get money according to the suits which were brought before them; therefore they did stir up the people against Alma and Amulek.  And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good…

 Book of Mormon   Alma 11:20-21

Those were terrible days and times

When they who governed and ruled

Allowed and even committed crimes

Upon people whose souls were fooled

 Experts in trickery and deception

In the Devil’s schemes and devices

Subverting good without exception

Evil for hire at affordable prices

Trickery, perjury, mockery, and lies

All Satan’s devices and schemes

A mask of piety is his disguise

Deceit reigns and nothing is what it seems

Beware of these devious devices of deceit

Be strong of mind and heart and will

Discern right from wrong and how to meet

 God’s expectations and His covenants fulfill.

For the Devil’s devices crumble

When truth is asserted and proclaimed

By voices strong, full of faith and humble

Crushing his head and leaving him maimed

May we avoid the Devil and his devices

And be safe from his traps and snares

As he tempts, seduces, and entices

May God be our protector and we His heirs

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Song of Redeeming Love

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com

There are sacred sanctifying moments wherein we experience the lifting and removal of a heavy burden from our lives.  It matters not the nature of the burden, whether it be the weight of sin, the pain and suffering of disease, recovery from financial pressures, or reclaiming the loss of a damaged relationship.  

In these moments, not only is the burden lifted, but with the lifting, we too are lifted up, filled with the Spirit – sometimes to overflowing.  In such moments we feel to sing what others have called the “Song of Redeeming Love.”  In such moments of personal salvation we often feel an overwhelming desire for the welfare of others.  We want them to feel what we feel, to experience what we experience.  We want them to “sing” the chorus with us.

These redemptive experiences change our heart, expand our mind, and enlarge our soul.  Our senses are magnified and multiplied so that we feel more deeply and our thoughts are lifted upward toward God.  Would that these occasions might be more frequent, more constant, and last longer.

In truth, the music is always playing.  It is of celestial origin.  It is only when we attune ourselves through the atonement that we can hear the music and feel inclined to give voice to redemption’s song.  In this sense, the “a-tone-ment” becomes a process by which we attune ourselves to hear redemptive tones and lend our voice to the “Song of Redeeming Love.”  We do so because we become willing to attune our heart, mind, and soul so that they resonate to the celestial tones of faith, repentance, covenant living, and the voice of the Spirit.

This week’s meditation encourages us to get ourselves in tune with the message of God’s word and receive God’s redeeming grace that we may all sing together the “Song of Redeeming Love.”

Song of Redeeming Love

And now behold, I say unto you, my brethren, if ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now? Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever…. Chapter 26: 12-14 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?   Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.

Book of Mormon   Alma 5:26; 26:12-14

With a mighty change of heart

We sing the song of redeeming love

   Ready, willing and eager to impart

Glory and praise to God above

The power of His word in us

Gives hope and reason to rejoice

When in Him we place our trust

We give redemption’s song a voice

In His strength we can do every thing

Even mighty miracles can be wrought

When the song of redeeming love we sing

His blood redeems and we are bought

Let us the bonds of sin’s captivity sever

For Christ has loosed the chains of hell

May we sing His redeeming song forever

And in His kingdom forever dwell

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Wages

By Larry D. Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com

Over the years I’ve had many interviews with youth who would argue that they were or wanted to be free from the influence or control of others. Often parents or teachers would be mentioned. I’ve had similar conversations with adults who, likewise felt they were independent of everyone and that they directed the course of their own lives.

Upon closer examination of their goals, plans, and motivations, we would ultimately discover that they were nearly always under the influence of some set of beliefs obtained from others. Such beliefs were absorbed from or being dictated by popular culture, influential friends, or the individual was simply rebelling and moving purposefully in the opposite direction of what they were being told or counseled to do.

In short, it seems that we are ALWAYS being led, motivated, prompted, and influenced by a set of beliefs we have learned and accepted from others.  The question is, “From whom have we obtained our beliefs and which set of “voices” do we listen to or obey?”

This week’s meditation couches the discussion in terms of employment and the wages we receive from those we “listeth to obey.”  The question is, “From whom do we receive wages?”  Which voices do we listeth to obey – those to the right, or left, or front or behind?  For there are always voices calling to us – trying to enlist us – influence us – and some voices are even trying to seduce and capture us. Our meditation suggests that one of the purposes of this life is to learn to recognize and bend our will to the voice of the Spirit- a still and peaceful and enlightening voice that will lead us in the way of truth.  May the Lord be the voice whom we listeth to obey.

Wages

And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one.  For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey, and this according to the words of the spirit of prophecy; therefore let it be according to the truth….

Book of Mormon   Alma 3:26-27

“How much do you earn?” is oft a query

Of those nosey and meddlesome of mind

But there may be a more vital inquiry

When asking questions of this kind

“From whom do you receive your wages?”

May be more probing and concerning

When heaven's angels and prophet-sages

Ask, "From whom are you earning?"

By whom am I engaged and assisted?

Who is my benefactor and employer?

In whose cause am I recruited and enlisted?

Is the Holy Spirit or a nether-spirit my payer?

We receive wages for our toil and labor

From the employer we listeth to obey

Misery to suffer or happiness to savor

Are the wages our employer will pay

Such wages are earned by everyone

Of him whom we worship and listeth to obey

Whether Satan’s minions or God’s Begotten Son

Depends on to whom we listen and to whom we pray

May we work for wages pure and holy

May such an income be our righteous reward

Whether our station be high or lowly

May our true employer be the Lord

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Liberal to All

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight@blogspot.com

Anyone care to join me in declaring independence from the current media-defined, almost useless, meaningless, confusing, and extremely divisive political labels of liberal and conservative?

These labels and their philosophical underpinnings of liberalism and conservatism are so culturally diluted, semantically convoluted, and politically polluted as to consign them to that ever-growing heap of words, terms, and concepts that have changed or been hi-jacked over the years as to make them useless and at worse, misleading. It was not always so.

At my last count there were about eight or ten philosophical variations for each of these terms, such as conservative liberalism, libertarian conservatism, fiscal conservatism, social conservatism, social liberalism, radical liberalism, progressive conservatism, religious conservatism, and the list goes on. It is almost like looking at an ideological pizza menu and ordering only the political or socio-economic ingredients that you like. In the current political climate, the terms divide political parties, platforms, legislative bodies, and nations-at-large.

For Christians wanting to align themselves with God’s sovereignty and His divine ideology, the worldly concepts of liberalism and conservatism are wholly inadequate. For example, we are to “liberally” consecrate our time and money to assist the poor and needy. We also want to “conservatively” promote the old principles of industry, self-reliance, and the value work for every person. For years our government leaders have battled and debated how to provide for the poor and needy - usually finding themselves fortified and secure in one end or the other of the liberal – conservative continuum. Unfortunately, the means and methods of providing care have often ranged from the punitive to the unprincipled. In the process liberalism and conservatism have become banners under which politicians fight endless battles which, even if one side or the other wins, the poor and the needy ultimately lose.

It would appear that God’s economy requires work, service, sacrifice, consecration, and “an eye singled to His glory.” Someday, when we as children of Our Heavenly Father, have truly consecrated ourselves we will arrive at a station where, “every man (will be) equal according to his family, according to his circumstances and his wants and needs.” D&C 51:3 This condition will move us toward a celestial economy where unity prevails and all are blessed according to “family, circumstances, wants, and needs.” Such was the status of the City of Enoch where we learn, “And the Lord called his people Zion, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them.” Moses 7:18

This week’s meditation comes to us from a day long ago when words were less convoluted. It encourages us to be “Liberal to All” and thus fulfill the Law of Christ wherein the Apostle Paul tells us, “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” Galatians 6:2. Such was likely the motivation of the “Good (and obviously Liberal) Samaritan.”

Liberal to All

And when the priests left their labor to impart the word of God unto the people, the people also left their labors to hear the word of God. And when the priest had imparted unto them the word of God they all returned again diligently unto their labors; and the priest, not esteeming himself above his hearers, for the preacher was no better than the hearer, neither was the teacher any better than the learner; and thus they were all equal, and they did all labor, every man according to his strength…. And thus, in their prosperous circumstances, they did not send away any who were naked, or that were hungry, or that were athirst, or that were sick, or that had not been nourished; and they did not set their hearts upon riches; therefore they were liberal to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, whether out of the church or in the church, having no respect to persons as to those who stood in need.

Book of Mormon    Alma 1:26, 30

Liberal, a word oft used and much abused

But here, meaning free or freely given

A term with goodness and power suffused

To those kind, generous and Spirit-driven

With no deference to people

As to souls who stand in need

All are treated alike and equal

According to this liberal creed

Both old and young, both bond and free

Male or female, out of the Church or in

Liberal to all, without a price, without a fee

Liberal always – not just now and then

The teacher is no better than the learner

Nor the shepherd-pastor above his sheep

Refined stalwart souls, stronger and firmer

In the faith with sacred covenants to keep

May we be liberal to all according to this creed

Purveyors of service to our fellow man

Offering succor and solace in word and deed

Like unto the Good and Liberal Samaritan

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Priestcraft

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.blogspot.com

Growing up in the rural South, I frequently found myself sitting in a church pew, listening to a preacher talk about Jesus, the bible, hell, heaven, salvation and then, a lot more about hell.  It seemed to me, at the time, that we were all going there – hell, that is, according to the preacher.  He would describe that place in great detail and then tell me what I needed to do in order not to go there.  Being a young boy easily subject to sunburns, I determined early that the "fires of hell" would not be good for my delicate skin.   Unfortunately, my vision of heaven was much more sketchy other than the standard "streets paved of gold and a land flowing with milk and honey."  That was a lot to take in for a young boy – sounded rather sticky and strange to me - but better than the alternative.

Inevitably, the deacons would come down the aisles and pass the “plate.”  I always felt bad that I didn’t have any spare change – just my quarter that was devoted to next Saturday’s movie at the Alhambra Theater.  The Alhambra weekly movie was always worth more to me in entertainment value than the preacher – but not by too much.  Whether it was a Sunday service, a revival, a funeral, or other preaching service, I came to value the value of “the word” from the mouths of these Godly servants.

Even today, I enjoy the occasional radio or TV sermon.  I have my favorites.  Unfortunately, it seems much has changed from my childhood experiences.  Today, almost all of the televised preachers (not all – but most), leave me feeling like they want to entertain me.  The simple message of salvation delivered simply but powerfully has been replaced by expensively produced televised religiously-oriented variety shows.  The call to “come forth” and confess Jesus has been replaced by the call to “pay up.”  After all, I guess the TV producers, directors, the orchestra, the cameras, the overseas marketing, the preacher’s clothes, cars, mansions, and private plane do add up.

I now belong to a church that has no “paid ministry.”  Ministers and pastors (of which I am one) serve without pay.  The Church, its buildings and materials, are funded as scripturally ordained by the tithes of the people – 10% of one’s annual increase.  The poor are provided for by the work of the members and the offerings that come from the Law of the Fast, spoken of in Isaiah 58. 

In this week’s meditative verse we find that “Priestcraft” – preaching for money, power, and glory – is not a new institution.  I still enjoy those few preachers of various faiths, who preach the word of God humbly, sincerely, insightfully, and with power – and not for their “gain.”  But they are becoming an extinct species.  I will miss them when they are finally gone and we are only left with religious entertainers,  for as this week’s verse proclaims, “When doctrine is preached for a pence, both doctrine and people are cheated.”

Priestcraft

  But Alma said unto him: Behold, this is the first time that priestcraft has been introduced among this people. And behold, thou art not only guilty of priestcraft, but hast endeavored to enforce it by the sword; and were priestcraft to be enforced among this people it would prove their entire destruction…And it came to pass that they took him; and his name was Nehor; and they carried him upon the top of the hill Manti, and there … he suffered an ignominious death…Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the spreading of priestcraft through the land; for there were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches and honor.

Book of Mormon    Alma 1:12-16

When doctrine is preached for a pence

Both doctrine and people are cheated

Ministry surrenders to dollars and cents

And spiritual growth is defeated

Some preachers are misinformed but sincere

Lacking key eternal truths and Godly power

Neither fortune nor fame do they revere

Only to minister, pastor and empower

But when false clerics and preachers perform

They preach for glory, status, honor and riches

Unholy homilies that neither redeem nor reform

Devoid of doctrine that saves and enriches

When people love what is popular and vain

They will pay well to hear it preached

Sermons to mollify, soothe and sustain

Behavior they do not want impeached

Priestcraft prospers and thrives today

Among preachers popular and renowned

Upon the spiritually sensitive they prey

Trumpets blaring but with an uncertain sound

Larry Doyle Crenshaw