Seven Woes of Zion

Therefore, wo be unto him that is at ease in Zion!  Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well! Yea, wo be unto him that hearkeneth unto the precepts of men, and denieth the power of God, and the gift of the Holy Ghost!  Yea, wo be unto him that saith: We have received, and we need no more!  And in fine, wo unto all those who tremble, and are angry because of the truth of God!

Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 28:24-28

Wo unto him that is at ease in Zion

Who works not, neither toils nor labors

Not counted upon nor relied upon

To serve or care for his neighbors

Wo be unto him that crieth: All is well

Who misleads, deceives and distorts

With words of wellbeing, easy to sell

To all whose vanity he courts

Wo to him that hearken unto the precepts of men

While denying words of a prophet and seer

Unsaintly, natural men, who take delight in sin

Who hide when the Light of Truth is near

Wo to him that denieth God’s power

Believing himself to be the end of the law

And who will tremble, shake and cower

Before the Judge of Power and Awe

Wo to him that denieth the gift of the Holy Ghost

Denying the Holy Counselor and Guide

Mouthing a foolish and prideful boast

Leading to darken places, with no place to hide

Wo be unto him that saith we need no more

Crying we’ve had enough of God’s word

Then, heaven's rain of truths no longer pour

And once-spiritual eyes are blinded and blurred

Wo unto those who are angry about God’s truth

Angry about things as they really are, or are to be

For one day the unrepentant will accept the proof

When at last their tongues confess and they bow the knee

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

The Keeper of the Gate

O then, my beloved brethren, come unto the Lord, the Holy One. Remember that his paths are righteous. Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel; and he employeth no servant there; and there is none other way save it be by the gate; for he cannot be deceived, for the Lord God is his name.

42  And whoso knocketh, to him will he open; and the wise, and the learned, and they that are rich, who are puffed up because of their learning, and their wisdom, and their riches—yea, they are they whom he despiseth; and save they shall cast these things away, and consider themselves fools before God, and down in the depths of humility, he will not open unto them.

Book of Mormon; 2 Nephi 9:41-42

A sacred path before us lies

Heavenward to a promised abode

Running narrow before our eyes

With a gate at the end of the road

Its entrance is solitary and spare

There’s only one Keeper of the Gate

And Christ employs no servant there

Only He, Chief Judge and Magistrate

To him that knocketh the Redeemer will open

Except fools vaunting riches and learning

Whose hearts are puffed up and unbroken

With minds darkened and Spirits not burning

There’s no escape nor can we be reprieved

From passing through the Holy One’s gate

Where He who judges cannot be deceived

Nor justice and mercy deny our fate

Are we prepared for the Keeper of the Gate

When asked for tokens, will we be mystified

Will our life be found true and straight

Judged as holy, pure and sanctified

Now is the day of our salvation

To work and strive while mortal

As the Keeper waits at His station

For our passage through His portal

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

 Enemy of My Soul

Last week we considered “The Things of My Soul.”  This week we encounter the “Enemy of My Soul.”  This enemy seeks residence in the darker recesses of thought, feeling, and action.  Parasitic in its approach, it feeds on our less-than-worthy character traits – our sins of omission and commission, our unnecessary worries, our preoccupations with self, and a dozen other elements of personality that define our baser selves. The remedy as noted in this week’s homily suggests that we subdue and then impose a bill of divorcement, a personal eviction notice that will “give place no more for the enemy of my soul.”

Enemy of My Soul

Awake, my soul! No longer droop in sin. Rejoice, O my heart, and give place no more for the enemy of my soul.  Do not anger again because of mine enemies. Do not slacken my strength because of mine afflictions. Rejoice, O my heart, and cry unto the Lord, and say: O Lord, I will praise thee forever; yea, my soul will rejoice in thee, my God, and the rock of my salvation. O Lord, wilt thou redeem my soul? Wilt thou deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies? Wilt thou make me that I may shake at the appearance of sin?

Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 4:26-31

Awake, my soul and rejoice my heart

As I subdue the enemy of my soul

O Lord, may thy power impart

Strength to make me whole

I know the enemy of my soul

He is my natural man

Unrepentant, sinful and cold

Hopeless, shiftless, and sifted as sand

Make me shake at the appearance of sin

Stirred by the strength of my convictions

May I conquer my demons within

And never yield to mine afflictions

Thou art the rock of my salvation

The hope of a divine liberation

From sin to an exalted station

Fulfilling the measure of my creation

Yea, I’ll cry unto the Lord for redemption
                                       Acclaim and honor and praise his role                                       

As Author and Finisher of my salvation

And Victor over the enemy of my soul

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

 The Things of My Soul

There is a place of solitude - a sacred center in the center of our soul.  Therein is a scroll upon which the Holy Spirit and often ourselves figuratively write things of eternal importance.  It is there that we go when considering the things of our soul.  From this sacred wellspring comes inspiration and light to guide our way, and fire to kindle a flame in our darker moments.  

From this sacred center comes the music that causes our soul to sing praises to God and the Lamb.  From this sacred center, prophets, moved by the Holy Spirit, have received revelation regarding the truths we find in scripture.   As we study God’s word, their power and majesty is imprinted upon our souls, both the pleasant and the painful are recorded there for our profit and learning. 

This week’s meditative verse from the Book of Mormon reflects upon the things of our soul.

The Things of My Soul

And upon these I write the things of my soul, and many of the scriptures which are engraven upon the plates of brass. For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them, and writeth them for the learning and the profit of my children. Behold, my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord; and my heart pondereth continually upon the things which I have seen and heard.

Book of Mormon, 2 Nephi 4:15-16

Upon the plates of brass

He wrote the things of his soul

Stories and doctrines to pass

To generations yet untold

Things for hearts discerning 

 In which we take delight

Recorded for profit and learning

Giving our soul its light

Upon life’s scroll I also write

The things of my soul

Things true and light and bright

Things dark and bitter and cold

The pages of past days are complete

They list deeds both good and bad

My future scroll is a blank sheet

With words and deeds to add

There’s many a thing to write

Before the scroll is ended

 Love, and hope, and faith to cite

And how with life I contended

As I write the things of my soul

May they bring solace for those who read

That truth and wisdom may unfold

As I share my faith and creed

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Past Feeling...................

There is a place somewhere just beyond the edge of emotional capacity.  It is a habitation devoid of joy, peace, contentment, and love.  It is the destination of those whose lives have been filled with the emptiness that results from yielding to base desires, and works of darkness. Having spent their days seeking emotional fulfillment through base and carnal activities, their capacity for light and righteousness becomes almost nil.  This week’s meditative verse from the Book of Mormon describes that dark-some place of misery known as “Past Feeling.”

Past Feeling

Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God. Ye have seen an angel, and he spake unto you; yea, ye have heard his voice from time to time; and he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words; wherefore, he has spoken unto you like unto the voice of thunder, which did cause the earth to shake as if it were to divide asunder.

Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 17:45

“O Laman, O Lemuel,

A still small voice or voice of thunder

We question which do you hear

A voice to shake and divide asunder

Or a still voice small and clear”

“Swift to do iniquity, and slow to serve the Lord

Past feeling and to angels’ voices numbed

Your angry words and deeds record

That to Satan’s will you have succumbed”

“O My Brothers,

You saw an Angel and heard his voice

But it never left its mark

Hatred and rebellion became your choice

As to another voice you did hark”.

“O My Children,

May you never get past feeling

May you always feel God’s word

May your prayers fly beyond the ceiling

That His blessings may be conferred”

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Getting Us into the Temple – Getting the Temple into Us

(Parts 1 & 2)

Getting Us into the Temple – Part 1

Joel H. Johnson was a lumberman in Mill Creek Canyon, Salt Lake City, Utah.  He spent his time sawing lumber and delivering it to the tithing office. As he made his wagon trips up and down the steep canyon, he often saw the flag --- the standard of Old Glory, that had been planted on Ensign Peak. In 1850, inspired by this vision, he wrote: 

2. For God remembers still

His promise made of old

That He on Zion's hill

Truth's standard would unfold!

 

3. His house shall there be reared

His glory to display

And people shall be heard

In distant lands to say

We'll now go up and serve the Lord,

Obey His truth, and learn His word

 

In Old Testament and New Testament times, and now in our day, the temple is a sacred place, set apart from the world where sacred instruction followed by making sacred covenants to God through sacred ordinances are conducted.  These covenants, celebrated by these ordinances are not only instructive and inspirational, they are necessary for us if we are to be true heirs to Our Heavenly Father and live with Him in the eternities. This has been so in all generations of time.  It is interesting to note that in almost all cultures the concept and practice of temple worship was present – even when misunderstood, misapplied, or practiced in even evil and unhallowed ways.   In today’s modern world, neither Protestant nor Catholic theology embrace the priesthood authority or divine mandate to worship and conduct ordinances in a temple.  A few other religions accept temple worship, but it is far from the pattern set by Heaven Father.

 In true temple worship we are figuratively transported to where God dwells.  We are propelled through the six creative periods concluding with Adam and Eve’s spirits being placed in their new physical bodies.  We figuratively participate with Adam and Eve as they are “taught from on high.” What they experience --- we experience --- what they covenant --- we covenant --- what blessings they are promised --- we are promised.  As you will notice from the Old and New Testaments, and from modern revelation, the exact nature of this instruction and ordinances are not discussed – reserved only for those who come to the temple and who have qualified themselves through worthiness to enter and participate. The temple and its ordinances are available to all Church members who prepare themselves and meet key standards of worthiness. Again, we emphasize, Church membership alone is only the first step on the pathway to exaltation – the ability and capacity to live the kind of life God lives.

 A few years ago when I lived in Alpine, Utah I wanted to go to the Temple – only 10 minutes away.  Halfway there, they were putting in a huge pipe across the road just past the high school.  The road was closed and barricaded. So, I turned east toward Cedar Hills then down to the Manila turn off.  Halfway down that road, I ran into another road construction barrier.  While not completely closed, the long line of cars persuaded me to find another route by turning even further south toward Pleasant Grove, and then backtrack north to the Temple.  Would you believe it? --- I ran into yet another road closure stopping me from going to the Temple. 

 By now, I’m thinking, “Somebody doesn’t want me in the Temple today!”  On the fourth route to the Temple, I made it --- not to the session I planned, however.  I had other appointments later in the evening, so once there I rushed to get ready; I rushed to the Chapel, thankful that a session was just starting. 

Now, here comes the confession --- As I proceeded through the session, I found myself looking at my watch (which I should have left in the locker room), wondering how the temple endowment could be more efficient.  I could easily see ways to reduce the nearly 1 hour 45 minute session to an hour and fifteen minutes.  My mind drifted as I thought about other things too.  I’m afraid that I wasn’t too attentive to the grand and wonderful things that surrounded me there.  

Later, it became clear, that not only had I encountered barriers in getting into the Temple that day, but that I had created barriers in letting the Temple get into me.  Truman Madsen said it this way.  “We often talk of “going through the Temple”, but rarely do we refer to the “Temple going through us.” 

There may be some members of the Church who have encountered personal barriers in getting into the temple.  Unlike road construction barriers, these barriers to temple attendance are usually self-created.  They may include postponement of becoming worthy, distance to the temple, anger against God, his leaders, ourselves, or our judgement of others who feign righteousness and enter the Temple unworthily, waiting for a reluctant spouse, waiting for a period of mental, emotional, or spiritual turmoil to subside, so that we can “better feel the spirit.”  For others, there is no particular reason, other than “it hasn’t been convenient.”

Which one of the barriers is standing in your way today?  I testify that there is no barrier so big, no chasm so deep or wide, no veil so thick that can keep you from receiving the heavenly embrace of Our Father in Heaven that is felt in temple worship.  The personal price required to remove your barriers may be considered high, but it is small in comparison to the blessings that await.  Is today the day that you will say, like one convert said upon his conversion, “I will give away all my sins to know thee. . .” (Alma 22:18)

May we consider giving away our sins, our pride, our distractions, our complacency, our procrastination, our protestations, our fears --- whatever it is that is keeping us from getting into the Temple?  There are those in the Church who love you and will help you. There is the Father and His Son --- our Brother Jesus, who await you in that Heavenly embrace. 

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Getting Us Into the Temple – Getting the Temple Into Us – Part 2

“Getting the Temple Into Us”

Last week’s meditation discussed the need and the necessity of doing whatever is necessary to “get ourselves into the temple,” or as we sometimes say, “go through the temple.” This week, in part 2, we discuss “getting the temple into us,” or we might say “get the temple to go through us.” 
When the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored in the 19^th century, the Lord revealed the following,  (Doctrine and Covenants Section 88:119) Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing; and establish a house, even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order, a house of God.  In every age since the days of Adam, this has been the clarion call of God to His people.  It was so then. It is so now.  If the temple (meaning its ordinances and covenants)  is to “get into us” --- if the temple is to “go through us”, rather than us just going through the temple, then we must understand and apply this revelation. 

The temple is a house of prayer.  Melvin J. Ballard once said, “When you have problems, look at them, deliberate, make a tentative decision.  And then pray, and you will receive impressions confirming or repudiating your decision.  And if you do not get your answer, I’ll tell you where to go.  Go to the temple.  While there, in the silent moments, in a place where you are entitled to revelation, the answer will come.”    Temple worship is prayerful. 

The temple is a house of fasting.   The scriptures teach us that prayer, when combined with fasting can “loose the bands of wickedness, undo the heavy burdens, free the oppressed, and break every yoke” (Isaiah 58: 6).  Temple worship sometimes requires us to fine tune our spiritual awareness through both prayer and fasting.

The temple is a house of learning.  In the temple we learn about the things that have the most worth – eternally important things.  We learn about God --- we learn about how to change ourselves to become like Him --- we learn what it means to be truly obedient to God’s will.  We learn that sacrifice is an important part of God’s laws, that the consecration of our time, talents, and all we have should be focused on Him and His kingdom.  We learn that the laws and ordinances of the gospel are given to us to bless ourselves, our families, and those not of our faith.  And, we learn that the sacred powers of procreation and all behaviors associated with them are to be used only in the bounds of virtue and chastity as set by the Lord.   With each law learned, a covenant is made to live it, and a blessing is pronounced.  This learning, offered in simple language and in a straightforward manner, unfolds to the learner in ever-increasing power and layers of meaning as one returns again and again to the temple to probe the breadth and depth of understanding. 

The temple is a house of glory.   The Bible Dictionary speaks of glory as having to do with a divine presence. The temple can be a house of glory for us personally when we worship in such a way that our physical being is brought into harmony with the spirit.  When we bring our physical self under subjection of the Spirit, we experience sanctification and our light of Christ becomes less restrained --- in other words, we experience truly the Glory of the Lord.  President Snow said, “that is the only way that the knowledge locked in our spirit can become part of this flesh.”  In this manner in the temple --- in this House of glory --- we obtain knowledge, glory, and power to overcome this world and prepare for the next.

 Thus, like no other place, the temple is the place where earth and heaven meet and in its covenants and the ordinances thereof we find our true divine identity and divine destiny.  It is my prayer that we may get into the temple --- and then, most importantly, may the temple get into us.  May we go through the temple and may the temple go through us.

For God remembers still

His promise made of old

That he on Zion's hill

Truth's standard would unfold!

Her light should there attract the gaze

Of all the world in latter days.

 His house shall there be reared,

His glory to display,

And people shall be heard

In distant lands to say:

We'll now go up and serve the Lord,

Obey his truth, and learn his word.

 For there we shall be taught

The law that will go forth,

With truth and wisdom fraught,

To govern all the earth.

Forever there his ways we'll tread,

And save ourselves with all our dead.

LDS Hymns

Text: Joel H. Johnson, 1802-1882

Music: Ebenezer Beesley, 1840-1906

I testify that God is our Father --- Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer.  We can come to know them and thus know our true selves through frequent and regular temple worship.

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

Opposition in All Things

I have come to appreciate the fact that there is resistance in every breath and in every movement as we push and pull against the law of gravity, and also against less subtle laws that push and pull our thoughts, feelings, and actions.
The Lord calls this general concept of resistance the Law of Opposition.  We face it every day – it is in all things.  By successfully mastering the Law of Opposition we grow, progress, and receive more and more power to govern our lives.  When we are unsuccessful, we regress and lose power to govern our lives.
This week’s meditative verse reflects upon the Law of Opposition and its affect upon our lives.

Opposition in All Things

 

For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things. If not so, my first-born in the wilderness, righteousness could not be brought to pass, neither wickedness, neither holiness nor misery, neither good nor bad. Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one; wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead, having no life neither death, nor corruption nor incorruption, happiness nor misery, neither sense nor insensibility.

2 Nephi 2:11

 

For it must needs be

An opposition in all things

Within this doctrine is found the key

From which choice and accountability springs

 

Not much would come to fruition

Neither life nor death, neither good nor bad

If we had neither agency nor opposition

There’d be no reason to be happy or sad

 

As we make our daily choices

About what to believe and how to act

We hear whispered and subtle voices

That discourage, divert and distract

 

How do we deal with opposition

When it rises and blocks our way

Does it stifle our drive and ambition

Or prompt us to seize the day

 

Opposition, conflict and resistance

Are fundamental to the Agentive Plan

 For with our persistence and God’s assistance

We can finish the work that Adam and Eve began

 

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

"Be Ye Transformed"

In a world where political correctness dictates that we accept ourselves and everyone else as they are, we dare to suggest that "status quo living" is equivalent to driving a car without a motor - never getting anywhere.  Ah! You ask, "But where do we need to go?  Isn't everyone's path different and separate?"  To which we reply with a resounding "YES!  Our paths are each unique, but we have not been left alone to wander aimlessly through life. As the poet Robert Frost reminded us, all paths lead somewhere.  Ultimately as we choose and create our path through the world, it will lead everyone of us to a hallowed spot and a hallowed moment where every knee shall bow (willingly or not) and every tongue confess (willingly or not) that Jesus is the Christ! 

How quickly we are able to get on that path, or if we wander and stumble through dark and troublesome trails in getting there, depends on what light we carry with us and the roadmap that we are following.  We, ourselves, and life around us changes - transforms everyday.  In that sense the status quo life does not exist - we are each transforming - changing each day.

The questions before us are, "What are we transforming - changing into?"  "What is the driving force or standards of behavior that are fueling our transformation?"  "Where is our map taking us?"  "How much light do we have?"

This week our meditative essay takes up the Apostle Paul's trumpeted call to "Be Ye Transformed!"

"BE YE TRANSFORMED"

This message is not for the faint-hearted.  It asks the probing question, “Are my thoughts, feelings, and actions being changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ?”

As you and I grew up we developed certain traits or habits of behavior learned from our parents, friends, and experiences.  Some of these traits helped us progress through life, some hindered our progress.  Those negative traits that hindered may have lingered because we (1) don’t recognize them as negative traits, (2) don’t know how to change them, (3) or don’t have the willpower to change them. These self-defeating traits may imperceptibly begin to influence us as they become ingrained in our thoughts, feelings, and actions. Or, they are ever-present in the words and actions of those with whom we associate in person or in social media.  Over time, they can become part of who we are and how we define ourselves.

Behaviors that were once thought of as inappropriate are becoming the accepted norm and are thus ever-present.  These include crude and offensive language and actions, dress or language that does not reverence the human body. It includes music and media that trivialize marriage, sexuality, and sacred things in general.

These days the politically correct attitude is that we are to accept ourselves and everyone else as we or they are. There is an element of truth to that – after all, “we are who we are.”  However, even though we are a product of our unalterable past, for today and tomorrow, there are no limitations on changing self-defeating beliefs, emotions, or actions.

The Apostle Paul stated it clearly.  Romans 12:1-2 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

If we take that doctrine seriously, then our status quo lives are not fully acceptable.  Personal change and progress are required in God’s plan for us. And applying true concepts will set us free from behaviors that hold us prisoner. Below is a partial list of what God has prescribed to help us transform ourselves in ways that will help us become more like Him. They include behaviors that will improve:

1.   Our physical health and well-being.

2.   Our intimate relationships known as the law of chastity. This governs how we think, feel, and act as it pertains to our bodies, intimate relationships, modest dress, more refined language, and related godly behaviors. As we discipline and bridal these things, our capacity for true love and happiness increases.

3.   Our relationship with Deity such as worshipful reverence of sacred things. It includes finding and applying divine patterns of behavior in sacred scripture, covenants and ordinances - especially those of the temple.

4.   Our capacity to be like Heavenly Father and Christ such as serving others faithfully and diligently in our callings and assignments – taking upon us “the mind of Christ.” (1Corinthians 2) Consider what would He think, feel, say, or do?

5.   The productive use of our time, language, and dress. It includes gaining more knowledge and education, engaging productive employment, budgeting our resources for greater self-reliance, and improving and bringing order to our personal lives.

6.   Our relationships as we become less self-focused and more other-people focused. Looking at life through other people’s eyes and perspectives. Once we learn that skill, we may graduate to the skill of viewing others as Heavenly Father views them.

If the gospel is not helping us make such changes then perhaps we need to look more closely at our priorities and how we are applying the gospel.

We may ask, “What does ‘a living sacrifice’ mean?”  In this sense, it means to remove old self-defeating behaviors from our lives. Such sacrifices are hard, but God will help – it’s what parents do.

What is meant by present a body that is “holy” unto God?  As we put our old self-defeating behaviors on God’s alter of sacrifice and go through the discomfort and pain of putting away old behaviors, we become more holy by allowing the Light of Christ to come into the void left by the absence of our old negative ways – thus bece become more holy.

Helpful spiritual tools include meaningful prayer, purposeful scripture study, church and temple worship, proper observance of the Sabbath, and serving others daily.  Helpful temporal tools include engaging friends, books, media and situations that uplift and inspire us to be better and do better.

There is no illness to body or soul, or no situation which prevents us from making these changes in our behavior.  It is the purpose of this life to make transformations to our personalities. If this is not our first priority, then it makes little difference what our other priorities are.

So, the question is, “When do we seriously begin to make these changes?”  The time, it seems, is never convenient.  But the time-table points to NOW, before, as the Lord says, “it is everlastingly too late.”  Helaman 13:38 “But behold, your days of probation are past; ye have procrastinated the day of your salvation until it is everlastingly too late….” That day will come to each and all of us.

“How do we begin?” we ask. Consider descending a foot or so downward upon our knees and prayerfully re-commit our whole soul to Heavenly Father, and apply the Atonement of Christ Jesus, who has ALREADY paid the price of our shortcomings and sins if we abandon them and confess and ask. 

Our last question asks, “What does Paul mean by our ‘acceptable and reasonable service?’”  It is the divine order of things that children grow up and take on the attributes of their parents.  It is no different with our Heavenly Parents. They also feel it “acceptable and reasonable” that each of their children come to this earth-school and through learning, through some pain, some suffering, some hard-knocks, and some grand and glorious experiences have the opportunity to transform themselves into more divine beings – like their Divine Parents. This is the purpose of our existence – the purpose of finding God, finding His priesthood power and authority, finding His covenants and ordinances, indeed, finding His gospel – and then being transformed by them.  Although we go about our work each day and perform our necessary daily tasks, this process of transforming ourselves should be our first and most important task.

Therefore, may we strive to be better than yesterday, improve ourselves today, and prepare for an even better tomorrow.  

Larry Doyle Crenshaw