(NOTE: This is speculation on the scriptures. I invite your corrections. The footnote numbers at the bottom of this entry do not export to this URL. I don't know why not. If anyone would like a .pdf version with the footnotes numbered in the text, email me. JBS)
In the name of God, the Beneficent , the Merciful
Inscribed at the beginning of every chapter of the Quran
Our Muslim brothers and sisters certainly have this part right.
For the past several days I have followed a train of thought and scriptures that led me to even greater appreciation for the sweetness of the fruit of the tree of life, and for personal balance and peace.
Over the past months, I have been impressed with how the Plan of Salvation provides perfectly for the greatest eternal happiness of every one of God’s children – using “children” in its broadest sense as all of the intelligences whom our Father clothed in spirit bodies. Although Perdition & Sons are, by definition, “Loss”, even they are successes. There are no failures. Each of us proves ourself. I prove what I really love, whether good or evil, truth or lies, light or darkness. Then God honorably, mercifully assigns each to a kingdom which is most beneficial and enjoyable for each and all.
19th century Marcel Proust once said, “Tell me what you love, and I'll tell you who you are.” I am convinced that what we innately love determines what we will believe. The word believe comes from the ancient root words ambhi – thoroughly and leubh – love. In German the leubh root became liebe, love. We believe what we thoroughly love. My beliefs reveal the deepest core of my soul – what I love. My actions both reveal and reinforce that unchanging core. I often write the term beliebe in the margins of my scriptures where I see the word believe.
So, when we have proven ourselves, our deepest cores, to ourselves and the universe, then our Father graciously allows us to “enjoy that which [we] are willing to receive.” If one is willing to be one in him, God goes so far as to invite that one to share His throne and all that He has. Astounding! Even Perdition & Sons “enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.” Joy even for them! What a Plan.
However, another verse says “it had been better for [Sons of Perdition] never to have been born.” How can these scriptures both be true?
I can see the joy part: these predators who love darkness will be free to prey on each other without goody-two-shoes heirs of salvation preaching at them all the time. A thrilling dog-eat-dog place, competition for everything, opportunity unlimited for those who excel in management of the creature. You wrap your chains around others, using them as human resources, sifting them as wheat, taking what you want and throwing the rest away, and you laugh.
But why would it be better for them not to have participated in God’s Plan? Well, certainly, on this world and in the pre-existence, our heavenly Father’s will is done, not theirs. There was preaching there, there is here. There were and are controls. Satan could abuse Job no further than he was allowed – and likewise I’m sure it is with all of us. The latter-day scriptures tell us that if we choose not to listen to Satan, he is bound. This binding is both a natural reduction in honor/power to Satan , and the protective grace of God. Ironically, the predators who think they have it all under control are the most tightly controlled. Even before Father chose us and gave us spirit bodies, peer pressure alone would have created some constraints on the Losers’ predatory behaviour. There has always been grace, safety and respite. I suspect, though, that in Outer Darkness the dogs are let loose. In “their place” the law of the jungle is the only law; the biggest, meanest dog rules, and faced with this “Moses began to fear exceedingly; and as he began to fear, he saw the bitterness of hell”. Lucifer’s plan could have made that bitterness permanent for all of us. It fills me with joy and gratitude to think of being saved from such a hell. Anything else is salvation in a kingdom of glory.
Under the Great Plan of Happiness, Perdition & Sons are the only ones on whom the second death (separation from God) shall have any power. Where God (meaning, I think, His priesthood) is, they have no power to go. Although God himself points out the exit from hell, namely repentance, He states unequivocally that those who do not believe are damned – they will not repent and “shall not have forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come.”
Yesterday I saw a clear delineation between Perdition & Sons (the wicked) and heirs of salvation. It is, not surprisingly, based on what one loves.
Perdition & Sons (the wicked) love darkness – they sift (thrash/thresh) others as wheat
Telestial souls love to lie – the avoidance of responsibility, something for nothing.
Terrestrial souls love peace and comfort, are honorable but not valiant
Celestial souls love God with all their heart, might, mind and strength, and love the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ; they love light and truth; they love the world and give themselves for it; they are valiant in the testimony of Jesus Christ and strive to do all that they do in His holy name (balanced service), praying with all the energy of heart for more love.
Therefore, what? “Treat people as they are.” Invite all to come unto Christ, but don’t be upset when all do not do so. Many won’t. Accept their agency with holy balance. Proving the world is the goal – not converting the world. Pray more earnestly for charity and faith in God’s beneficence and mercy, omniscience and power. It’s His church, not yours. Oh, be wise, what can I say more?
FOOTNOTES: (for a .pdf version of this entry, which has footnote numbers in the body and below, email me. This URL won't take my .doc file or .pdf as attachments.)
- Beneficent: 1. Characterized by or performing acts of kindness or charity. 2. Producing benefit; beneficial.
Moses 5:8
1 Nephi 11:22
Heb 12:9; Abr 3:22; Richard G. Scott, How to Live Well amid Increasing Evil Ensign, May 2004, “He clothed your intelligence with spirit and made it possible for you to enjoy the wonder of a physical body.”
TG, God, Omniscience of
Abr 3:24-26; 2 Tim 4:8; Mos 5:16; D&C 76:103; 29:45; Jn 3:19
Innate: 1. Possessed at birth; inborn. 2. Possessed as an essential characteristic; inherent. 3. Of or produced by the mind rather than learned through experience: an innate knowledge of right and wrong.
Be-witched, thoroughly witched; be-numbed, thoroughly numbed; etc.
Jbs/…SoulRevelation.doc
Rev 3:21; D&C 84:38; Jn 17:20-23; “Never mind the world nor what they can say or do, for they can only do what the Lord permits them. … We will send out the gospel to them, and continue to advocate the principles of truth, and to organize ourselves according to the order of God, and seek to be one—for if we are not one we are not the Lord’s and never can be, worlds without end. Hear it, you Latter-day Saints! And do not be figuring for yourselves and for your own aggrandizement; but feel to say in your hearts, “What can I do to help to build Zion. I am here, and everything that I have got is upon the altar, and I am prepared to do the will of God no matter what it may be, or where it sends me, to the ends of the earth or not.” But we are not doing that yet; we are too much after our own affairs and drinking into the spirit of the world, and yielding and catering to that feeling and influence. Now, while we wish the world well and would desire to promote their happiness, we cannot be governed by their practices nor be under their influences. God is the Lord our God; he is to be our king and law-giver, and he must rule over us.” 6 Teachings of Presidents of the Church: John Taylor, Ch. 7
D&C 88:32
D&C 76:
Alma 30:17
2 Ne 28:19; Alma 37:15; 3 Ne 18:18; Moses 7:26
Job 1:12; 2:6; D&C 122:9
D&C 43:31; 101:28; 1 Ne 22:26; Cannon, G.Q. Gospel Truth, 1:86–87; Smith, Joseph Fielding, Church History and Modern Revelation, 1:192
D&C 29:36; Cannon, G.Q. Gospel Truth, 1:86–87; Smith, Joseph Fielding, Ch. Hist. and Modern Revel’n, 1:192
Grace (Bible Dict.): The main idea of the word is divine means of help or strength, given through the bounteous mercy and love of Jesus Christ.
Moses 1:20
Moses 1:20; D&C 88:24; 76:88, 89r
D&C 76:36-38; 29:5; Alma 11:40-41
D&C 29:44; 84:41; Mark 16:16; Jn 3:16-19; 2 Thes 2:10-12
D&C 29:44, 45; Lk 22:31; D&C 35:13
D&C 76:1032 Tim 4:2; Lectures on Faith 6:9; 2 Ne 26:24; D&C 76:79
Deut 6:5; Matt 22:36-40; Lectures on Faith 6:9; D&C 93:36, 37; Jn 3:16; 2 Ne 26:23, 24; Mni 7:46-48; 2 Tim 4:2; 2 Ne 26:24; D&C 76:79; Mni 7:48; TG, Love;
