#19 February 2, 2022
Growth Thru Justice and Mercy
Genesis 1:27 And I, God, said unto mine Only Begotten, which was with me from the beginning, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and it was so.
In our last meeting we discovered just how much humanity depends on this one verse from Genesis to describe the true nature of God. In our haste to know God, humanity attempts to build God in the image of man. Our ignorance causes us cling to God's justice and ignored His mercy. God gave us Christ that we might realize that the true nature of God is both justice and mercy. If we are to receive the godliness we seek we must accept God's justice for the truth it is that we might recognize His mercy for the truth it brings. This is the wisdom and growth that will guide us the path we walk to His Kingdom.
Alma 19:97 And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.
All that believe in God recognize the necessity of justice as an important aspect of godliness, but the churches of the world fail to recognize mercy as anything more a hope born of weakness. They refuse to accept God's mercy as a necessary part in understanding His full nature. To point this out I offer a portion of the High Priest Alma's discussion on justice and mercy because in a very simple effective way it exposes us to the true nature of God and why it is so important to our growth in the fullness of truth.
Alma 19:103-104
19:103 And if there was no law given if men sinned, what could justice do, or mercy either: for they would have no claim upon the creature.
19:104 But there is a law given and a punishment affixed, and repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth: otherwise, justice claimeth the creature, and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.
When justice becomes the judgment many consider it to be, all suffer in this life on earth. We learn a hardness of heart that causes us to face the world wearing a cover of righteousness regardless of what we feel in our heart. We attempt to hide from God ignoring the mercy He offers and our need for it. Such is the way of a people who refuse to grow in God's mercy and are forever bound by tradition and ritual. Doubt and fear bind them to a judgmental attitude that never grows and is forever sorrowful. They become filled with a prideful attitude that that divides the people according to man's interpretation of God's laws. Within this system we live blind to the fullness of God's love and the truth of His nature. All of those outside of this system never receive a true testimony of a loving Father at work in the life of His children. They see instead a gathering of people bound to rituals and traditions that create pride instead of compassion, fear and judgment instead of charity.
Alma 19:105-107
19:105 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead: and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God;
19:106 And thus they are restored into his presence; to be judged according to their works; according to the law and justice; for behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.
19:107 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God.
But on the other hand, when mercy by itself, is given free reign, the freewill of man rules, and the ways of man become more important than the ways of God. Doctrines are distorted and in many cases priestcrafts separate the priesthood from the people and oneness is destroyed. The very foundations of righteousness are thrown away and the end is chaos. God is no longer God and His believers suffer.
Author's note: We will step aside from our discussion of godliness to open our minds to the word "priestcrafts". The word "priestcrafts" is a word not commonly used or understood in the churches of the world. It has great bearing on our understanding of godliness. Roughly defined it tells of man's use of Priesthood callings for personal gain and secular power, which is a situation that runs rampant in the world today. The stigma of priestcrafts is a plain and precious truth robbed from man for ages. The Book of Mormon returned to us the word in its fullness.
2 Nephi 11:106 He commandeth that there shall be no priestcrafts; for, behold, priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain, and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.
Though the word was lost the concept has been present and usable by man for ages, but too often it has been either misunderstood or blatantly ignored. Priestcrafts as used by man under the tutelage of the adversary are a stumbling block in our full understanding of godliness in the world today. Many will contend that the following passage is meant for Priesthood only. I contend that the concept it brings to our covenant labor is a wisdom needed by all, to be used by all.
1Peter 5:1-3
5:1 The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed;
5:2 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
I offer here clarity to a word we were denied and a concept that has been obscured. Let it open your mind to the challenge we face in bringing godliness to ourselves then to the world. Now, let us return to our discussion. FRED
Alma19:107 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God.
When mercy by itself, is given free reign, the freewill of man rules, and the ways of man become more important than the ways of God. Doctrines are distorted and in many cases priestcrafts separate the priesthood from the people and oneness is destroyed. The very foundations of righteousness are thrown away and the end is chaos. God is no longer God and His believers suffer.
2 Timothy 3:1-5
3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good.
3:4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof; from such turn away.
By this comparison of justice and mercy, we see that only balance between the two conforms to true godliness. In the Kingdom of God justice is needed if mercy is to be recognized and utilized. In the fullness of God's ways, mercy is needed or we will forever be without hope. Our agency will be useless for we will be without a choice to make. If the godliness we profess is to be true and complete it must contain all that is God. Only then will the seeds of righteousness planted grow to become the bountiful harvest they are meant to be. We must allow the full righteousness of God to rule our hearts if we seek to bring the joy of God to the hearts of the world. This in its plain and precious essence is godliness within our covenant labor.
Alma 19:97 And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.
At its best godliness not only possesses the wisdom of God, but also uses it in a manner that sanctifies both God and His purpose.
Jacob 3:14-16
3:14 Wherefore, brethren, seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand.
3:15 For behold, ye yourselves know, that he counseleth in wisdom, and in justice, and in great mercy, over all his works;
3:16 Wherefore, beloved brethren, be reconciled unto him, through the atonement of Christ, his only begotten Son.
Understand the nature of the wisdom we seek. It is growth in the ways of God. Yes, wisdom is growth and growth is wisdom. Everything in God's kingdom must grow. The instant growth ceases death begins. God's pattern for this is abundant in the temporal world. The fields of harvest grow, produce fruit, and die to be planted afresh in the spring. Even temporal man follows this cycle of birth and growth to maturity. When maturity is reached and temporal growth stops the degradation of old age begins, eventually ending in temporal death. This is the way of growth in the temporal world.
In man's spiritual self, growth is the essence of strength and the continued ability to labor effectively with God for His purpose. Unlike growth in the temporal realm there is no measure of maturity that negates the need for more growth. Our choice alone determines when we will cease growing, but we must be aware that as in the temporal world, when growth ends death begins.
2 Nephi 12:35-38
12:35 Wo be unto him that shall say, We have received the word of God, and we need no more of the word of God, for we have enough.
12:36 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little:
12:37 And blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn wisdom;
12:38 For unto him that receiveth, I will give more: and from them that shall say, We have enough, shall be taken away even that which they have.
The spirit is eternal but to spend that eternity in the abundance of a life in God, the spirit of man must be forever growing, conforming to the ways of God and reaching out to others that they might share with them the grace they have received. This growth begins with the baptisms of covenant and continues forever. This is wisdom and wisdom is life. In this, our growth is God's joy. This joy turns to sorrow when His children lose the nurture of the true fellowship we call the Church. Whether the Church ignoring the people or the people ignoring the Church is the cause for that loss, only godliness within a righteous, informed, and diligent fellowship can restore God's joy.
DC 83:3c Therefore, in the ordinances thereof the power of godliness is manifest; and without the ordinances thereof, and the authority of the priesthood, the power of godliness is not manifest unto men in the flesh; for without this, no man can see the face of God, even the Father, and live.
This verse gives us true understanding of the danger of priestcrafts to our growth in godliness. In the ways of God a shepherd leads his flock to that, which nourishes and sustains them. God's Priesthood as God's Shepherds must open the hearts of the people to the fullness of all that God offers them. Each in their various talents is there to feed the people with the abundance of grace that is their covenant labor. As the baker is there to offer temporal bread and a butcher to offer temporal meat to staunch the temporal hunger we suffer, Priesthood are to offer the bread of life and the meat of truth to fulfill the spiritual needs of the people. The fullness of God's truth must be offered by Priesthood, received by the people, and accepted for the life changing truth it is. It then must be allowed to grow within the lives of all who accept covenant. In this godliness becomes real and has a temporal face the whole world can see and recognize. We must strive for godliness to grow within the hearts of the people, for growth is life and life is joy. We must allow our fellowships to become ones that promote the idea of proper Priesthood authority and the ability to properly use that authority that all might come to a full understanding of God, the ways of God, and the purpose of God. These fellowships will be the foundation of which the Church of Christ in the world today will be built.
2 Nephi 1:115 Adam fell, that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.
Godliness is further skewed when we allow the loving wisdom of God to become unyielding judgment. Remember, it is not the fear of judgment we offer that plants the seeds of righteousness, which will become the Kingdom of God. It is the wisdom of humility and willing obedience that causes others to grow and become acceptable members of the fellowship we call The Church.
2 Timothy 1:7-10
1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love, and of a sound mind.
1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner; but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began;
1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel;
The wisdom of God seeks to overthrow a worldly mindset of judgment, and replace it with an attitude of redemption and willing labor within this purpose. This is the wisdom of godliness. For, wisdom is growth, and growth is life.
Grow in the godliness of justice, mercy, and truth.
FRED
Create With me Our Testimony of God at Work in the World of Man.