The Good Grouped with the Bad
Howdy, Howdy -
Here we are celebrating the passing of another week. I hope that you are all well on this fine Sabbath Day. Have you made it a delight? How? If not, what are you going to do to make next Sunday a Delight?
The past couple weeks I have been referencing those that will be part of the telestial kingdom. As I have broken it down over these past few weeks, I have come to realize how vast this kingdom is. It is as vast as the stars in the heavens. I also realized how easy it is to clump the verses describing this kingdom all in to one group and easily blow it off by justifying that I am not one of those types of people. However, my perception has changed.
Last week I was pondering D&C 76:99-101. I referred back to verse 98 as the kingdom is introduced as varying in glory as each star differs from another. I would refer you back to last week's post for more information.
That being said, this week I have been pondering D&C 76:102-106. I would like to note that these verses do not describe all those that will be in the telestial kingdom, but some. Last week's verses described others. As I pondered over and over again I came to realize just how many individual ways there are to separate ourselves from the presence of our Father in Heaven. Some are dark, but others are not. This week was describing the dark.
"...Last of all, ..." yep these are the last part within those grouped as telestial.
"...Last of all, these all are they who will not be gathered with the saints, to be caught up into the church of the First born, and received into the cloud..."
This week we are learning of those who do not really attach themselves to a group or individual. They do not claim to seek good in any way, shape, or form; whereas those described last week seem to try and do good. They follow or justify some individual, group, or act that they perform that would appear to be good, but not fully.
As described in verse 102, "...these are they who will not be gathered..." They appear to be in open rebellion, but grouped with those who are not completely rebellious. As we read the next verses, think about whether you would want to be part of this group.
"...These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie."
"...These are they who suffer the wrath of God on the earth."
"...These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire."
"...These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fulness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work;..."
Pretty dark isn't it? As I read these verses, I began to think of Dark Star or Matter. In the world of science, we often refer to them as "Black Holes". It is a place in space that sucks life from all that is around it. Their forces are strong and difficult to pull from, but not impossible.
As I pondered these individuals, I thought of individuals who have no desire to follow Christ. They have chosen not to accept Him, follow Him, seek Him, or humbly offer themselves to Him. Note the small group of words in verse 103. "...whosoever loves and makes..." They have not guilt of doing what they do. They have no desire to change what they are doing or have done.
I cannot imagine living in such darkness. I hope and pray that none of you can either. However, I also noted that these individuals are grouped with a vast group of others who seek to do some good. I found myself trying to find that small fine line that separates all of them from those who are in the terrestial kingdom or even that of the celestial.
It all comes down to one word, Christ. The difference is that these do not want to have anything to do with Christ. They may or may not seek good men, good things, or as described in these verses, dark things. Yet not of them point to Christ. And because they don't they find themselves far from Him.
In the most recent conference, we were promised over and over again that great glory and mercy await us if we will do one thing on a daily basis - seek Christ. We are encouraged to actively and consistently make Him a part of our daily lives. I add my testimony to those of our modern day prophets. Please make Christ a daily part of your lives. I promise you joy, glory, and mercy as you do.
Our week -
How can I summarize? We worked. Yep, that is what the week was filled with. It was another one of those weeks where the Queen worked must different times that the rest of us. We were here, but on different time zones almost. I cherished all the moments were were in the same zone. Those moments seem to be focused on the upcoming holidays, vacations for next year, and trying to know where we will be days, weeks, months, and years from now.
The Professor did her best to divide her time equally and appropriately. She had another chapter due. That has been a little stressful. She also learned when she will have to defend this compilation of chapters. When she was not stressing on the chapters, she was grading paper, planning parties, and dealing with the adult counter parts of her students.
We saw small glimpses of Tall Man this week, but none of Ehl-Bo. We hope they are well. It sounds like they are busy.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins checked in a couple of times. Current studies seem to be all consuming right now. It is always a juggling act. We have been happy to be the sounding board, voice of council, and bond of love.
Among the challenges of life, there have been some rays of light. We heard of some good rankings with the district that can lead to potential good things - fingers crossed.
We were blessed to have a few hours with SnackPack. Our little Belnap made a sacred covenant with the love of is life this week. SnackPack was honored to be the "Best Man". It sounds like they had some fun serving, tossing sharp objects, and supporting and sustaining one another. When that was not happening, he was in class, doing homework, or just plain working.
Yep, that is our week. Hope yours had been amazing.
Love you all...
Here we are celebrating the passing of another week. I hope that you are all well on this fine Sabbath Day. Have you made it a delight? How? If not, what are you going to do to make next Sunday a Delight?
The past couple weeks I have been referencing those that will be part of the telestial kingdom. As I have broken it down over these past few weeks, I have come to realize how vast this kingdom is. It is as vast as the stars in the heavens. I also realized how easy it is to clump the verses describing this kingdom all in to one group and easily blow it off by justifying that I am not one of those types of people. However, my perception has changed.
Last week I was pondering D&C 76:99-101. I referred back to verse 98 as the kingdom is introduced as varying in glory as each star differs from another. I would refer you back to last week's post for more information.
That being said, this week I have been pondering D&C 76:102-106. I would like to note that these verses do not describe all those that will be in the telestial kingdom, but some. Last week's verses described others. As I pondered over and over again I came to realize just how many individual ways there are to separate ourselves from the presence of our Father in Heaven. Some are dark, but others are not. This week was describing the dark.
"...Last of all, ..." yep these are the last part within those grouped as telestial.
"...Last of all, these all are they who will not be gathered with the saints, to be caught up into the church of the First born, and received into the cloud..."
This week we are learning of those who do not really attach themselves to a group or individual. They do not claim to seek good in any way, shape, or form; whereas those described last week seem to try and do good. They follow or justify some individual, group, or act that they perform that would appear to be good, but not fully.
As described in verse 102, "...these are they who will not be gathered..." They appear to be in open rebellion, but grouped with those who are not completely rebellious. As we read the next verses, think about whether you would want to be part of this group.
"...These are they who are liars, and sorcerers, and adulterers, and whoremongers, and whosoever loves and makes a lie."
"...These are they who suffer the wrath of God on the earth."
"...These are they who suffer the vengeance of eternal fire."
"...These are they who are cast down to hell and suffer the wrath of Almighty God, until the fulness of times, when Christ shall have subdued all enemies under his feet, and shall have perfected his work;..."
Pretty dark isn't it? As I read these verses, I began to think of Dark Star or Matter. In the world of science, we often refer to them as "Black Holes". It is a place in space that sucks life from all that is around it. Their forces are strong and difficult to pull from, but not impossible.
As I pondered these individuals, I thought of individuals who have no desire to follow Christ. They have chosen not to accept Him, follow Him, seek Him, or humbly offer themselves to Him. Note the small group of words in verse 103. "...whosoever loves and makes..." They have not guilt of doing what they do. They have no desire to change what they are doing or have done.
I cannot imagine living in such darkness. I hope and pray that none of you can either. However, I also noted that these individuals are grouped with a vast group of others who seek to do some good. I found myself trying to find that small fine line that separates all of them from those who are in the terrestial kingdom or even that of the celestial.
It all comes down to one word, Christ. The difference is that these do not want to have anything to do with Christ. They may or may not seek good men, good things, or as described in these verses, dark things. Yet not of them point to Christ. And because they don't they find themselves far from Him.
In the most recent conference, we were promised over and over again that great glory and mercy await us if we will do one thing on a daily basis - seek Christ. We are encouraged to actively and consistently make Him a part of our daily lives. I add my testimony to those of our modern day prophets. Please make Christ a daily part of your lives. I promise you joy, glory, and mercy as you do.
Our week -
How can I summarize? We worked. Yep, that is what the week was filled with. It was another one of those weeks where the Queen worked must different times that the rest of us. We were here, but on different time zones almost. I cherished all the moments were were in the same zone. Those moments seem to be focused on the upcoming holidays, vacations for next year, and trying to know where we will be days, weeks, months, and years from now.
The Professor did her best to divide her time equally and appropriately. She had another chapter due. That has been a little stressful. She also learned when she will have to defend this compilation of chapters. When she was not stressing on the chapters, she was grading paper, planning parties, and dealing with the adult counter parts of her students.
We saw small glimpses of Tall Man this week, but none of Ehl-Bo. We hope they are well. It sounds like they are busy.
Puddin and Lady Hawkins checked in a couple of times. Current studies seem to be all consuming right now. It is always a juggling act. We have been happy to be the sounding board, voice of council, and bond of love.
Among the challenges of life, there have been some rays of light. We heard of some good rankings with the district that can lead to potential good things - fingers crossed.
We were blessed to have a few hours with SnackPack. Our little Belnap made a sacred covenant with the love of is life this week. SnackPack was honored to be the "Best Man". It sounds like they had some fun serving, tossing sharp objects, and supporting and sustaining one another. When that was not happening, he was in class, doing homework, or just plain working.
Yep, that is our week. Hope yours had been amazing.
Love you all...
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