Charity, or The Pure Love of Christ vs. Fear

We are told that perfect love casteth out all fear. (1 John 4:18).  There are two forces at work in our lives. The first, love. Love comes from our Father in Heaven. He loved us, and in His love for us, He sent His son to attone for our sins, that His purposes in us might be fulfilled, which is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. The greatest exemplar of this pure love, on this earth has been our Savior Jesus Christ, who not only wanted to do the will of His father, because He loved Him, but because He loved us. As natural men on this earth, we feel often times entitled to be loved, or in other words many of our actions are in hopes of having it returned to us. We can never hope to repay our Savior or our Father in Heaven for all that we have, which they knew and understood, yet they have and continue to give without expecting anything in return. The greatest example of this to me, was reading the intercessory prayer. John 17. I recommend everyone read this to feel Christ's love for all of us, but the verse that has always stuck out to me has been verse 26. He says: And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.
Christ wants us, sinners, beggars, weakness filled mortals, natural men and women, full of carnal desires and passions, idol worshippers, liars, deceivers, and all manner of other sins,  to feel the love that He, the only begotten of the father, He who hath no sin, received from His father. He wants us all to be joint heirs with Him. We have done nothing to deserve to receive all this and will never be able to do enough, yet this is what He wants for us. It is beautiful!

Now the second force at work in our lives is fear. Satan is the author of fear. He is a liar and will tell us anything that keeps us from feeling the love that Heavenly Father has for us. He will tell us things that bring fear into our lives. Fear creates: pride, anger, jealousies, anxiety, depression, impatience, greed, chaos and confusion. These things keep us from feeling loved and from loving others. This is what has created the wars in the world. This is also what stops us from being in the presence of our Savior Jesus Christ.

We have got to start looking at the motives for what we do, within our hearts. When I watch my children to keep them from getting hurt, is it out of fear? Do I stop my children from progressing and moving forward, because I am afraid of the choices they will make? Can I allow others, whom I love to make mistakes, even when I feel they may be wrong? Can I trust in the Lord's love for me, as well as my friends and family, to do His work with them? I am not advocating that we not watch our children to know what they are doing or where they are at. I am not advocating that we don't share our feelings with our friends and families, but we can only do so much, before we move into control, manipulation, compulsion, and anger with those we love. When someone says, if you would only listen to me, you would be much happier, it is false. They are moving in fear and manipulation. When a man says stay with the brethren and you won't be led astray, you can guarantee that you already are. Any man or woman who says to just do what they say, without question, should be mistrusted with their intentions.

There is only one we can trust, only one who can lead us perfectly. That is Christ.

I am starting to see how fear is moving me every day. Recognizing, beyond my own normal panic and anxiety how fear plays a role in my life. Tonight, I bought a drink at the store. I had my kids with me, so I shared with them. I took two sips and passed it around. I had six kids with me so, I started getting nervous that I wouldn't have anymore, since usually my kids end up finishing anything before I get any. I asked them to pass it to me. I started guzzling it down. I told my husband that if I didn't drink it right then and there that I wouldn't get any, and he said, "so you're moving in fear?" I was so shocked that something so insignificant could create even the smallest amount of fear and therefore, in guzzling the drink I didn't get to enjoy it. So I asked my husband, " Okay, so we are aware that I moved in fear, so how do I change that thinking?" He said, "Gratitude, be thankful for what you do have." So basically, be grateful that I had the opportunity to have at least two sips and that my children were able to share with me, and that they would have been able to learn to share with each other and learn to be thankful for what they had. This breeds love. Love for each other, love for our Father in Heaven, and love for our Savior Jesus Christ. I have realized in just my experience tonight, just how fear affects and permeates itself into everything we think and do. It is definitely worth taking a double look into the choices we make. Without charity, we are nothing. We can attain all the promises of heaven, but without love for God, ourselves, or our neighbors, we are nothing, they mean nothing.

Love or fear, these are our choices. What will we choose. We are coming into a time where fear will come upon every man, if it is not already. Will we choose to have courage, faith and trust in the Lord to provide, protect, and bring peace to our hearts, or will we go out and try to take it by force? I choose courage and faith. Let's learn this while things are easy, so that when things are hard, it will be easier to achieve. I am so grateful that God gave me these insights to share. I have come to see just how deep my unbelief goes. I pray that I can cast it off, that I may regain His presence. Much love to all. Thank you for allowing me to share.
1 Corinthians 13:1-13; Moroni 7

Where are we going?

      When Joseph restored the church, through the power of God, he was given a revelation as to the organization of the church.
(D&C 20) Joseph was also given the doctrine of the church.  Repentance, Baptism,  Receiving the Holy Ghost and sacrament.  This is the same that was given to Nephi, in chapters 31 and 32. As Nephi ends his speaking he states 32:6 Behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and there will be no more doctrine given until after he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh. And when he shall manifest himself unto you in the flesh, the things which he shall say unto you shall ye observe to do.

       In section 21 of Doctrine and Covenants in verses 4-9
4 Wherefore, meaning the church, thou shalt give heed unto all his words and commandments which he shall give unto you as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me;
5 For his word ye shall receive, as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.
6 For by doing these things the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name’s glory.
7 For thus saith the Lord God: Him have I inspired to move the cause of Zion in mighty power for good, and his diligence I know, and his prayers I have heard.
8 Yea, his weeping for Zion I have seen, and I will cause that he shall mourn for her no longer; for his days of rejoicing are come unto the remission of his sins, and the manifestations of my blessings upon his works.
9 For, behold, I will bless all those who labor in my vineyard with a mighty blessing, and they shall believe on his words, which are given him through me by the Comforter, which manifesteth that Jesus was crucified by sinful men for the sins of the world, yea, for the remission of sins unto the contrite heart.

        Many in the church have taken this to mean every president of the church from the time Joseph died.  This is a false belief created by traditions of men.  God is speaking directly to the church, concerning Joseph. As far as I am concerned there has been no such revelation, since Joseph. I will let you readers, be the judges of that. Study it out in your mind and in your heart, then ask God. Go to Him.

        Here is something Joseph taught that I have yet to hear in the church.  It correlates with 2 Nephi 32.
  "The other Comforter spoken of is a subject of great interest, and perhaps understood by few of this generation. After a person has faith in Christ, repents of his sins, and is baptized for the remission of his sins and receives the Holy Ghost, (by the laying on of hands), which is the first Comforter, then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted. When the Lord has thoroughly proved him, and finds that the man is determined to serve Him at all hazards, then the man will find his calling and his election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter, which the Lord hath promised the Saints, as is recorded in the testimony of St. John, in the 14th chapter, from the 12th to the 27th verses.

 John 14:16-18
    16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.

 25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 Now what is this other Comforter? It is no more nor less than the Lord Jesus Christ Himself; and this is the sum and substance of the whole matter; that when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visions--Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn." ( TPJS page 150)

      Can we not see? "and this is the state and place the ancient Saints arrived at when they had such glorious visions--Isaiah, Ezekiel, John upon the Isle of Patmos, St. Paul in the three heavens, and all the Saints who held communion with the general assembly and Church of the Firstborn."  We want to be members of the church of the Firstborn, we want to hold communion with the general assembly, so why are we not learning m how to do this?  Why are we being told that these h things only happen to prophets? If God is no respecter of persons, then why are we being taught this?  Joseph Smith said,  concerning God being a respecter of persons, "23 But it is also necessary that men should have an idea that he is no respecter of persons; for with the idea of all the other excellencies in his character, and this one wanting, men could not exercise faith in him, because if he were a respecter of persons, they could not tell what their privileges were, nor how far they were authorized to exercise faith in him, or whether they were authorized to do it at all, but all must be confusion; but no sooner are the minds of men made acquainted with the truth on this point, that he is no respector of persons, than they see that they have au-thority by faith to lay hold on eternal life the richest boon of heaven, because God is no respecter of persons, and that every man in every nation has an equal privilege."Lectures on Faith Lecture 3:23

      God has provided a way for us to sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Will we heed His words? Will we seek after Him until we receive Him. What are the desires of our hearts? If He gives us the desires of our hearts, then why not set our hearts on Him and receiving  His presence? We all have the same privelege. 

       I am not the first to share this, nor will I be the last. I am not perfect in writing and I pray that my words will be understood and the intents of my heart seen. I have no malice to the church, we only need open our eyes, awake and arise. He is waiting, will we hearken? Joseph was trying to build Zion. His desires were for Zion and all he taught was for Zion. Will we build it, will we be a part of it? Now is the time. Let us wait no longer. Let us prepare a place of God, a people of God. In humility to my Savior and with a desire to do His will. Amen


Some scriptures of interest:  D&C 132:21-24; D&C 107:18-19; 1 Nephi 10:11; Ether 12:30-31; Moroni 10:4-8; D&C 5:16; D&C 107:21-22; D&C 107:65; D&C 107:81-84; Daniel 11; Ezekiel 13; 1 Kings 13