Together Again

Blog #93 October 4, 2024

Over the past couple of months I attempted to define my relationship with God. In the process I found myself drifting away from Him, which is most disturbing because it interfered with my studies, my writing, and my ministry in general. It finally occurred to me to define something one has to step back and look fully at what you're attempting to define. In other words by viewing my relationship with God, I had ceased living it. If I can attempt to add clarity: it's kind of like trying to hear what you're saying instead of saying it, which is the epitome of stupidity. In this revelation I found the answer I needed. If I am to labor with God and be one with Him, I must join Him in that state of existence that glorifies Him the most.

DC 90:6a The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth; and light and truth forsaketh that evil one.

My relationship with God is receiving the instruction He offers, and leaving behind who I was in favor of who I can be in God.

Proverbs12:1 Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge; but he that hateth reproof is brutish.

The ways of the world teach us that instruction creates intelligence, but the scriptures argue that point.

Genesis 7:39 The Lord said unto Enoch, Behold, these thy brethren, they are the workmanship of mine own hands, and I gave unto them their intelligence in the day that I created them.

If we are to hold this up as truth, then we must define instruction in a way that fits the will of God and the Kingdom we seek. To gain that definition, we must understand fully all that God created us to be. Then we must seek out His intended place for us in the Kingdom.

DC 90:5a-5d
90:5a Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.
90:5b All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also, otherwise there is no existence.
90:5c Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man, because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.
90:5d And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation, for man is spirit.

God’s grace gave us intelligence, but for it to be true to its design, intelligence must include the ability to choose. In ignorance, neither intelligence nor free will has the ability to appreciate purpose. Instruction then must be the grace of God that gives intelligence the ability to choose, and a choice to make. In possession of both, we become able to see and recognize purpose. In Eden, we were given instruction and through it, we were given the chance to use our agency to trust God and choose His purpose as our own. We chose instead to turn away from God's wisdom and promote a purpose of our own design. Understand a great truth of God that can bring us wisdom: In possession of both intelligence and instruction, we can choose to rebel.

Genesis 2:19-22
2:19 And I, the Lord God, commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat;
2:20 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it;
2:21 Nevertheless, thou mayest choose for thyself, for it is given unto thee; but remember that I forbid it;
2:22 For in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Through instruction, we use intelligence and free will to gain both knowledge and purpose; and we grow. This then is the true nature of instruction. It comes to us to stimulate and encourage growth. Our ability to choose allows us to use instruction to determine when we will grow, how we will grow, and the direction of our life within that growth. It is our choice whether to grow towards God or away from Him. Either direction by definition is growth.

Adam and Eve chose to grow by turning away from God and denying the truth of God's instruction. In this they grew. They grew to realize the mistake they had made. They grew in their awareness of their responsibility before God. In that awareness and by the justice of God it brought to their lives, they grew in their respect for obedience to God. By adhering to that respect they grew to trust the word of God. In that trust, God was able to reach out to them with a plan He had for redeeming mankind from the ravages of bad choices.

Genesis 4:6-9
4:6 And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord. And after many days, an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying, Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him, I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
4:7 And then the angel spake, saying, This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth;
4:8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest, in the name of the Son. And thou shalt repent, and call upon God, in the name of the Son for evermore.
4:9 And in that day, the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying, I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning,
henceforth and forever; that, as thou hast fallen, thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.

Through their trust in God, Adam and Eve were offered God's plan for the redemption of mankind through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit. First comes belief in the justice of God and acceptance of His mercy through personal repentance and baptism of water by one of God given authority.

Genesis 6:62-63
6:62 Even so ye must be born again, into the kingdom of heaven, of water, and of the Spirit, and be cleansed by blood, even the blood of mine Only Begotten; that ye may be sanctified from all sin; and enjoy the words of eternal life in this world, and eternal life in the world to come; even immortal glory.
6:63 For, by the water ye keep the commandment; by the Spirit ye are justified; and by the blood ye are sanctified.

Then comes the baptism of fire. Through a "laying on of hands" by those of God given authority, God's Spirit within us is quickened. The Spirit then becomes our holy connection to the source of all instruction and all motivation, God.

Genesis 6:64 Therefore it is given to abide in you, the record of heaven, the Comforter, the peaceable things of immortal glory, the truth of all things, that which quickeneth all things which maketh alive all things, that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice and judgment.

In this instruction Adam and Eve grew to realize that God's Spirit is the only valid means by which they could overcome their rebellion and return to the fullness of God's light and truth. God's grace is the source of all we seek to achieve. To receive that grace our labor must include the wisdom of willing obedience to God offered instruction. In this we grow to be both in God and of God.

DC 131:1b-1c
131:1b Before the hour of breaking the fast came, I was blessed by the presence of the Holy Spirit resting upon me in quiet assurance and in power.
131:1c In the still small voice which giveth light and understanding to the intelligence of man, exalting the soul and sanctifying the spirit, there came unto me the directing voice of Him whose work we are engaged in.

In this testimony by Joseph Smith III, we are again exposed to that source for all growth as we strive to return to God and His ways. It is wisdom that we seek the Spirit. God desires that we choose to accept what is offered, but the choice is ours.

Psalms 25:12 What man is he that feareth the Lord? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose.

As in the beginning, we are each day faced with the ability to choose and a choice to make. In study we arm ourselves with the knowledge to make the right choice. In prayer we allow ourselves to be close to the spiritual source of love and support we need. In fellowship with the people of God we open our lives to all that God promises and reach out to gather to us all whom God seeks.

Alma 16:9 For thus saith the scripture, Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.

This then is my relationship with God to learn, to choose, to grow.

Fred.