Contemporary
Scripture in Each Other's Words
From: "Sterling D. Allan" <sterlingda@greaterthings.com>
Sent: Monday, November 22, 1999 10:39 AM
Subject: Scriptures
In this day of massive information and communication sharing, a person might tend to feel
reticent about not spending as much time in the scriptures as he or she used to.
But if we remember what "scripture" really is, we will realize that many of these
discussions we are having are "scripture," and that participating in them could easily
be construed as "reading the scriptures." What's more, we are not just reading, we
are creating, we are receiving the revelations, we are sharing the insights, we are part of the
birthing of a new word of God.
We live in the day when all the inhabitants of Zion are becoming prophets, sharing their word
of the Lord one with another.
I find myself enjoying reading the posts that come across the various discussion groups to
which I'm subscribed just as inspirational as sitting down to the four standard works of the
Bible, Book of Mormon, D&C, PGP. These official cannon works certainly are not replaced
by the discussions taking place, but they are enhanced tremendously.
We have accounts of prophetic visions. We have accounts of healings. We have
admonitions to repentance. We have expositions of doctrine. We have heavenly
visitations.
I would place these discussions in the category of "greater things," inasmuch as they
represent a greater revelation that moves us forward in our quest for Zion and the fullness of
God.
So we should not feel the least bit "guilty" about spending less time in the
"standard" works and more time in such discussions, for they are an extension of the
scriptures. We are coming into that to which the scriptures point us.
Would to God that all were prophets.
We're doing it.
Sterling
Time to
Heal Hearts and Minds
From: "Jenkin" <stardancer@sisna.com>
Sent: Friday, November 19, 1999 7:15 PM
Subject: Time to heal hearts and minds
It has been very interesting for me to follow your powerful and influential exchange towards each
other that has been maintained by virtue of persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness and
love unfeigned. By kindness and pure knowledge that has greatly enlarged my soul without
hypocrisy and without guile -- (D&C 121: 41-to the end)
I had an interesting experience a few years ago that I thought that I would share with you
all. I found myself being directed by the Lord to join a council of patriarchs here in
Manti. All of us were outcasts from the LDS religion and found solace in each others company
as we continued our struggle to understand the Lord's will concerning us. We gathered
together on a regular basis and prayed together, we taught each other, we shared personal
revelations with each other and we created a wonderful vehicle to continue the spiritual
path. There was very little talk of jurisdiction, except from one member.
It became very apparent after a while that there was a faction within our group that had
personal agenda that superceded the will of the Lord, although I'm positive that they would tell
you that their will was the Lord's will. Talk and attitude and countenance changed and I
found myself sitting together with a group of what I had originally thought of as my
brothers. One Sunday we were praying together and by Tuesday 1/2 the council was joined in
opposition against the other half. We spent 6 weeks engaged in the principles of the gospel
that are espoused in the first paragraph of this letter to know avail. Our brothers came
with letters of resignation, disfellowshipped themselves from us and went and organized themselves
into a church. The rest of us were left to seek the Lord and His will concerning us.
We were told that continuing as a council was not His will for us and that He had lessons for each
of us to learn on separate paths.
This experience I count as one of the most valuable lessons in my life. It has helped me
to understand the principles of righteousness and how they are to be integrated into our
lives. It is upon these principles that the priesthood functions. It will be upon
these principles that Zion will be established. It is vital to understand that truth is
relative in the sphere in which it exists and that each of us are in our own paradigm shifting
program that we designed for ourselves before we came here.
As we continue to understand that each of us are at different stages of progression regardless
of jurisdiction, the aspects of love and compassion can become our greatest tools in dealing with
each other, and working with each other. Remember that it took Enoch 300+ years to build His
Zion. I don't think that he had what we have to deal with. Let's be friends and
support and uplift one another as we progress ourselves. It is the religion of spirit, or
revelation here that we are endeavoring to perpetuate, that the Master taught. It is
becoming rightful Sons and getting to that point in our lives where He claims us as such. As
we are lead to claim Him our Father we get closer to having Him claim us as His sons. Let's
do this together, brethren. Zion cannot be built unless we are together and understand what
unity of heart and unity of faith is all about. When we come together we then begin to
understand how truth will set us free, politically, economically and spiritually.
They all have to be considered but let us remember that we all at different stages of
understanding and development and progression within the paradigms of the fullness of
gospel. Let us love each other, and be patient with each other, long- suffering, speaking
with kindness and gentleness and meekness. This I know is how the Lord will strengthen us, the
weak things of this world. As we become as Christ in our character and our nature we will
not be able to keep the people from coming and wanting to be a part of the Master's fold. If
we build it they will come.
Let us be concerned about taking care of each other. About each other's welfare.
Let us spend all of our waking hours using the power of our thought and words to bring healing
into this world and to each other. Let us pray for each other and invoke the powers of
heaven to be upon us that the work of gathering and building Zion can go forth. Let us use
the power invested in each of us to lead our families to Christ and to His ways. Let us not
judge each other but seek to understand each other and where we are in our discovery of the truth
that we are being lead to. Let us fall in love with each other and then there will be no
force on earth or in heaven that could ever come between us to stop the work that we doing to
bring Heaven and Earth together. LET US BEGIN TO REMEMBER WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE HAVE COME
HERE TO DO.
This is my solemn prayer for each of us and that it may become our children's desire as well.
With all my heart in love
Ray Jenkin
