The Tenth Will Get You
| "We should gather all the good and true principles in the
world and treasure them up." |
|
-- Joseph Smith, Jr. (DHC, Vol.5, p.517) |
|
J.J.'s Post | Feedback
| Sterling's Epilogue
| P.S. | See also
J.J.'s Post 740: "The Tenth
Will Get You"
The following message was posted to the Keys of Knowledge e-mail discussion
group. To read the archive version, CLICK
HERE
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From: J.J. Dewey
Date: 3 Feb 2000 21:38:39 -0000
Subject: [keys-l] The Tenth Will Get You
[. . .] As we know there is a lot of concern for those who are into structured
religion that material or teachings out and away from their accepted criteria
may be the work of the devil, Satan, Dark Brothers etc. A basic line with such
thinking is this: "The old devil is a tricky son-of-a-gun. He will
present 9 things that are true and then get you with the one lie slipped in
there somewhere that will deceive you." Now it is possible that the one
lie out of 10 idea may mislead those who make judgment based on feeling only
and do not use their minds and spirits, but one thing that is overlooked is that with each
passing age we have a higher quality of disciple.
Why is it that the true disciple can read teachings part true and part
untrue yet still come away with the truth?
Why is it that he can read teachings that are only 10% true and come away
with the truth?
Why is it that he does not need to fear the tricky devil pulling the wool
over his eyes? Why is it that there is no book he is not willing to read and
no teacher he is not willing to hear (provided they do not bore him to death)?
Why is it that "to the pure all things are pure"?
|
Feedback
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 6:31 PM
Subject: [keys-l] Re: The Tenth Will Get You
[...] Still pondering about 'why' it is so, but I know it is so.
Love
Jennifer
"How delightful is the company of generous people, who overlook
trifles and keep their minds instinctively fixed on whatever is good and
positive in the world about them.
"People of small calibre are always carping. They are bent on
showing their own superiority, their knowledge or prowess or good breeding.
But magnanimous people have no vanity, they have no jealousy, and they feed
on the true and the solid wherever they find it. And, what is more,
they find it everywhere"
-- Source Unknown
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 6:43 PM
Subject: [keys-l] Re: The Tenth Will Get You
JJ,
Thank you for your questions. To me they were statements.
Does that mean your questions were rhetorical? Of course, you are an
artist with the language.
> Why is it that the true disciple can read teachings part true and part
> untrue yet still come away with the truth?
>
> Why is it that he can read teachings that are only 10% true and come away
> with the truth?
>
> Why is it that he does not need to fear the tricky devil pulling the wool
> over his eyes? Why is it that there is no book he is not willing to
read
> and no teacher he is not willing to hear (provided they do not bore him
to
> death)?
>
> Why is it that "to the pure all things are pure."
This explains perfectly why many are afraid of what they call [______ fill in
the blank]; actually, they are afraid of themselves and their inability to
discern. Therefore they sling mud at what they don not understand.
Disciplehood is a process. I can remember when I used to be very
religious and very critical of everything that didn't fit in the structure.
Now, just about anybody can roll me over and rub my belly.
Love,
Craig
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 6:57 PM
Subject: [keys-l] Re: The Tenth Will Get You
> Why is it that the true disciple can read teachings part true and part
> untrue yet still come away with the truth?
> Why is it that "to the pure all things are pure."
Because the true seeker is constantly using soul contact to measure everything
he/she takes in. Whatever doesn't resonate is rejected or at least 'put
on the shelf'. There is thus no fear at being 'deceived' because the
inner direction is established and strong and trusted.
Love and Light,
Margaret
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 7:30 PM
Subject: [keys-l] Re: The Tenth Will Get You
: Why is it that the true disciple can read teachings part true and part
: untrue yet still come away with the truth?
they have an inner sense of it. And they're not afraid of
searching anywhere. Actually, the more outlaw the better,
then it turns the other way round. Being outlaw becomes
looking in unlikely places like institutions etc...
It is always unconventional.
: Why is it that he can read teachings that are only 10% true and come away
: with the truth?
It rings;-) It's intuitive. past lives, just a reminding.
It's also soul contact.
: Why is it that "to the pure all things are pure."
Because the unpure only bothers who has unpureness inside to resonate with.
Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 7:58 PM
Subject: [keys-l] Re: The Tenth Will Get You
A true disciple has the quality of what has been termed 'divine indifference'
- an ability to be detached from one's beliefs, opinions, outcomes etc.
She is one who is an observer of her own life and who has little or no
emotional attachment to or identification with any teachings offered by
mankind for she knows that such attachments are of the lower nature and
therefore, at best, transitory and at worst, unreliable.
She knows the truth is intuitively received so she works to transcend the
barriers to truth presented by the lower nature, such as strong mental and
emotional attachments and reactions.
When a person learns to listen through the soul rather than exclusively
through the mind and/or emotions, she herself is given the sword of truth
which can cut through any teaching to reveal that which is useful. She
is not afraid to read anything or listen to anyone because she already
possesses the truth about truth in her heart - that all truth comes from God
via her soul.
She is a person who knows the truth and the truth has set her free. It
has also purified her heart.
Love
Glenys
PS Margaret - I think JJ's cryptic title relates to the fact that some people
claim that we shouldn't listen to people who may be in error - even
fractionally - because it's the error that will 'stumble' us (the ten percent
of the message which is wrong), despite the fact that the other ninety percent
of the message contains truth.
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2000 8:03 AM
Subject: [keys-l] [Fwd: Re: The Tenth]
I wholeheartedly agree with Margaret also. It also hails back to my
upbringing. At 15 I read a statement by Joseph Smith that said
"truth is truth wherever you find it." That was pretty much
open season on the world of knowledge for me. I often thought about
pulling out nuggets of truth from the various sources and "Mormonizing"
it for my more timid friends who couldn't handle the dross mixed in with the
gold. Soul contact is the answer for sure! Susan
Epilogue Comment by
Sterling
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2000 4:37 PM
Subject: To the Pure All Things Are Pure
Hello,
I want to express something that has been on my heart for several days now.
I want to say that I was deeply touched by J.J.'s post "The Tenth Will
Get You," and many of the responses which this elicited. He basically
said that the reason a disciple of Christ doesn't fret that Satan throw in one
lie with nine truths is that the disciple knows he is free to run all things
by his soul to see whether or not it is true. He embraces the truth and leaves
the lie behind. I have posted J.J's message along with several of the
responses to [this page] and have linked to it from my website's home
page from the lead phrase after the header which reads, "Every one
who seeks truth will find it."
To the pure, all things are pure. Truth can be found anywhere, even if
there is only 1% to glean from a given source.
It is the "follow the prophet" mentality that requires that our
teachers be very close to perfect before we will set them before us as a
teacher. "Suffer no man to be your teacher except he be a man of God,
walking in his ways and keeping his commandments." In this case, the
"teacher" is kind of like that "prophet" figure. It is
someone we revere so much that we take the words from their mouth as if God
himself had spoken them.
However, while such a gift to believe on another's words might suit someone
on a lower level of progression, in order to grow into our full potential, we
must each learn to stand on our own. In that case, God is our teacher and
everything else is but a catalyst for our learning, including the devil
himself. We just take what we learn from him, turn it 180 degrees, and embrace
the newfound truth. The devil is not our teacher in that case, he is the
catalyst. God is able to turn all things to good to those who believe in him
and who hearken to his voice.
I already knew this -- obviously, for I have been bucking the system for
many years now, being my own person, following what I believe to be true, with
no person coming between me and God. However, the reason J.J.'s post and the
responses effected me so is that it gave me words to use for those who might
be coming across my work. I don't have to feel like they will think that just
because I post something that I agree with it 100%. Rather I post it because I
feel there is something worth noting, and that the person is free to discern
the truth for himself. For the most part, I will try to point out what I
believe to be good about it, and what I believe to be in error. But obviously
I can't do that with every last thing. Ultimately each individual needs to
weigh the truth for himself.
I still feel it an imperative obligation I owe God and my fellowmen to
represent truth the best I can. I use the word "obligation" not in a
negative way, for this is a responsibility that comes with receiving truth --
a responsibility I gladly embrace as I know it is requisite in increasing joy
and fulfillment for myself and those who I might be instrumental in helping
along.
Anyway, I still have strong reservations about many of J.J.'s key beliefs;
and I still feel that there are significant deceptions in those beliefs. But
rather than say I will have nothing more to do with J.J., or those who hang
out with him, I realize that there is yet much I might be able to glean from
what he teaches, for I perceive that he also has some very amazing things to
impart.
So for now, I choose to remain subscribed to the "keys of
knowledge" list where I can receive J.J.'s posts as they come through,
along with the comments that other individuals proffer; and I intend to
continue to voice my approval, disapproval of key points as I feel moved to do
so.
May we all grow in light and truth, drawing ever close to God and our own
birthright destiny to become as he/she is in fullness.
"Those who seek truth will find it."
Sincerely,
Sterling D. Allan
Feedback
to Sterling's Comment
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2000 11:34 AM
Subject: God behind all things
Sterling. Laura forwarded me your message titled "to the pure all
things are pure". I found it very insightful. Yes, perhaps we must be
more thankful for all things that come to us, even those things that we
perceive as undesirable. A wise God is behind all things and all things are
for our good. No, that does not justify men's evil as good. Rather, the evil
is used for a good purpose (by God) in cleansing us from our own imperfections
and giving us life and wisdom. Even Lucifer may say things that, at a deep
level, are profound when understood fully, although Lucifer (or Satan, etc)
does not comprehend them himself nor means them to be taken that way. Behind
Lucifer stands an omnipresent and omniscient God, although Lucifer is
completely unaware of this.
Personally, I think that man is only to follow God and that is the end goal
of it all. Of course, if we choose instead to follow JJ, Brigham, Joseph,
Harmston, Hinckley, etc., etc. that it will turn out for our good in the end
too because of the wisdom one will learn by experience. For many, it will not
be a pleasant trip, but it will be valuable to have as experience because
wisdom will ultimately come of it.
Anyway, perhaps that is one of the keys to the puzzle of the endowment
being so profound, yet obtained from men who had so much evil in their hearts.
As you know, I see Brigham as a less-than-Godly man who one might even call
"Lucifarian". Yet, in Brigham's teachings is profound truth. Did
Brigham comprehend these truths? I tend to think not. Yet, they are there
because a wise and omnipresent God has placed them there.
Perhaps we must see the source of things in order to put things in
perspective. If there is wisdom in JJ's teachings, one perhaps should see them
coming from their true source (God) rather than thinking they come from a man.
Your posts uplift me. I see someone who is honestly seeking and someone who
is honest and unpretentious. It is discouraging when one is faced so often
with those who are into their own self-promotion and self-righteousness rather
than God-promotion. Man is not the source and we should never say that he is.
Jesus taught the same. Best of luck to you in your continued journey.
Randall
P.S. We
Must First be "Pure"
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 9:05 AM
Subject: [keys-l] Re: Antichrist
Only the "pure in heart" can truly do good. If you pour say 10
percent poison in pure water it contaminates the whole pool. So until one is
100% pure in heart they cannot bring forth good fruit that is why there is no
Zion society etc. We are all evil based on this. The physical stuff we do is
just superficial. It the symbolism of the temple as us we go there go to into
different rooms of increasing light till we pierce the veil and become one
with the source of all light till then our pools are all contaminated, all
tables full of vomit, all have gone astray, the priest and the prophet etc.
(Isaiah 28). All the so called good fruit is meaningless unless we have the
pure love of Christ or charity as spoken of im Moroni 7: 44-end and 1st Cor.
13 none of it counts as good fruit. The 80/20 rule sounds good to the carnal
mind but it's a lie. This is rejected immediately because it makes us all feel
as if we are no good but it is our nothingness before God we are supposed to
acknowledge. Till then journey is to pierce the veil and stop being distracted
by patting ourselves on the back at all the good were supposedly doing. For as
Christ said why call ye me (or yourself or any other) good when there is none
good but your father in heaven?
Love Blayne
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 9:30 AM
Subject: [keys-l] Re: Antichrist
The fruit is determined by the seed. When the seed or intent is pure or we
have experienced soul contact then the fruit is good and not vomit. Because I
have not achieved the pure love of Christ I cannot do this 100% of the time
but I can do it sometimes. So while I agree with you to a point, that we need
to be striving for the ultimate, it will not stop me from those blissful
moments when I CAN achieve this. Because I can't always do it does not negate
when I do; that is growth, progression, line upon line etc etc. Your
description is too black or white for me and too discouraging. I choose to
believe I can help another along their path in spite of my relative
imperfections.
Susan
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 11:49 AM
Subject: Re: [keys-l] Re: Antichrist
"susan carter" <crtrfam@manti.com> writes
"Because I can't always do it does not negate when I do; that
is growth, progression, line upon line etc etc. Your description is
too black or white for me and too discouraging. I choose to believe I can
help another along their path in spite of my relative imperfections."
That is the beauty of the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we abide in the
vine, He abides in us, and though we may not be perfect, he is, and his purity
overshadows our imperfection. There is no need to feel inadequate when God is
with us. It is when we deviate from that indwelling that our purity wanes, but
there really is no excuse for such departures, for the only requisite for
abiding in the vine is pressing forward as a little child, feasting upon the
words of Christ -- a requirement that any can meet no matter what their
circumstances.
Sterling
Sent: Monday, February 14, 2000 11:00 AM
Subject: [keys-l] Rolling Waters
Blayne writes:
"If you pour say 10 percent poison in pure water it contaminates the
whole pool. So until one is 100% pure in heart they cannot bring forth good
fruit that is why there is no Zion society etc. We are all evil based on
this."
This would be true if we are in a stagnate condition as still water is, but
remember the words of the scripture: "How long can rolling waters remain
impure?" D&C 121:33
If there is an attempt to pollute a working disciple the impurities will be
washed away with good works, love and the cleansing activity of the Holy
Spirit.
It is a false principle to wait until you attain purity in the still test
tube before the building of the kingdom of God is attempted. Purity is a
natural thing when one becomes a point of moving loving force within the fiery
will of God.
See also:
