I got an email from a young person about her peers. She explained her concerns, including, in part, the following: “It breaks my heart to know what emotions and thoughts my friend experiences, because I’ve had a taste of them. Other friends and loved ones I know deal with depression, anxiety, loneliness, feelings of worthlessness, suicidal thoughts, and PTSD- some of them under 18.”

I responded to her as follows:

I plan to speak about some of this in the upcoming March Conference. Not directly, but generally to try to help people see there is a great fog of lies surrounding us continually. There is a vision that Enoch had, Moses restored, and is now part of the Old Covenants in Genesis. In the LDS scriptures it is in the Pearl of Great Price, Book of Moses. In that vision Satan had the whole world bound in a great chain, and he looked up at heaven and laughed. It is in OC Gen. 4:15: “And he beheld Satan, and he had a great chain in his hand, and he veiled the whole face of the earth with darkness; and he looked up and laughed, and his angels rejoiced.”

That great chain is not physical, but mental. The chain used by our common enemy is made of lies and deceit.

People are not depressed irrationally. They are responding in a normal way to an abnormal perception made of lies. They despair because they think there is reason to be despairing. But that is because they accept what the “world” is telling them about our present condition. Part of waking up is realizing that most of what is said, taught, claimed and broadcast in society is filled with lies about mankind’s condition, the state of society, and lies designed to inspire envy, jealousy and discouragement.

I have tried to awaken people to the reality that God lives and cares very much for those who respond to His voice. He intends to protect and care for His sheep. His commandments are calculated to free us from the imprisonment of worldliness and sin. He is trying to free us, not to impose upon us. I think God intends for you and those now living to participate in the building of a new society, a New Jerusalem, a place of peace apart from the world. But for now we await further command from Him, while still living in a society ever more in the chains of the enemy.

Thank you for your email. I will join you in praying for your friends. The Lord’s advice to people both in His day and today is the same, “Be of good cheer.”

Several individuals have advocated teaching multiple mortalities as a central doctrine of Christ’s gospel. I have always discouraged anyone from teaching it, and have spoken against it on a few occasions.

The most frequently taught version is the worst form of that idea. It holds that people live here repeatedly, going from spirit world, through birth into mortality, then passing into the spirit world through death, only to later reappear here again through yet another birth. I have denounced this idea for many reasons, but mainly because it is silly and extremely unwise to teach.

First, the silliness: From all mortals who have ever lived, we have a record of some kind for about one-ten-billionth-of-one-percent (or something close to that). Yet those who advocate the teaching claim they have come to the solemn realization that they are some past historic character returned to earth, and now seek recognition for their self-identification with some past historic figure. EVERY ONE of those I have heard who advocate this teaching claim an association with a known past-figure. This is outrageously unlikely. Going with this false idea for a moment, it begs the questions: How can you trust your memory about such a past identity when you hardly remember details from a few years ago? At birth, a veil was placed between you and events in the spirit world. How can you recall events from an earlier birth-death-spirit world-birth with such accuracy that you “know” who you were/are?

Second, and perhaps yet more silly: What difference does it make? We are on probation here. If we fail now, we will be judged for that failure. If we passed the probation in an earlier mortality, why return to hell to retake a test when failure is the norm? Or did we fail and want to retake the test? Because we all likely failed to be here again, then we are probably past prostitutes in Sodom, or critics of Noah, or battlefield fodder for an Oriental monarch. Not likely Peter, Joseph or Ezekiel. However, advocates of multiple mortalities prefer to advance the notion of returning as nobility or greatness in themselves and those they teach.

More seriously, this idea is unwise because it really DOES NOT MATTER, even if it were true. We are here on probation. It began when we took our first breath and will end when we take our last. God loans us the breath of life, and we are accountable for every act, thought and word we choose. (See NC Alma 9:4)

Moreover, if this teaching were important to the plan of God, then the scriptures would hold it forth in plainness. It would not require mangling the text to find it, but would be there plainly. Instead the scriptures teach against the idea: “it is appointed unto men once to die and after that the judgment” (NC Heb. 1:28)

Then we have insight from the experience of Peter, Jacob and John on the Mount of Transfiguration. In a revelation to Joseph Smith about that event, the Lord stated, “And I will show it plainly, as I showed it unto my disciples as I stood before them in the flesh and spoke unto them, saying, As you have asked of me concerning these signs of my coming, in the day when I shall come in my glory in the clouds of Heaven, to fulfill the promises that I have made unto your fathers, for as you have looked upon the long absence of your spirits from your bodies to be a bondage, I will show unto you how the day of redemption shall come, and also the restoration of the scattered Israel.” (T&C 31:4)

These disciples saw the future until the Second Coming and the resurrection of the dead. They did not want to remain in the grave, separated from the body, in the world of the dead (spirit world) until the resurrection. That “long absence” would, to them, be a “bondage.” If they were to live again before Christ’s Second Coming, time after time, this would not have been their reaction.

When the disciples saw what awaited them in the “long absence of [their] spirits from [their] bodies,” they all three asked for a way to avoid “bondage” in the spirit world until the resurrection. Rather than the spirit world, John asked to “tarry in the flesh” and minister as an angel here. (T&C JS-H 13:18; TSJ 12:19)

Peter chose another way to avoid the “long absence” of spirit from body. He asked to go quickly through death into resurrection so he could ascend to Christ’s kingdom. Christ responded to Peter, “you desired that you might speedily come unto me in my kingdom.” (T&C JS-H 13:19) Both John’s and Peter’s requests avoided imprisonment by death awaiting the Second Coming. If Peter and John were not returning to the flesh prior to the Lord’s return, what can justify teaching multiple mortalities by returning to live here again?

The idea that we may at some long distant, future cycle of going from one estate to another (T&C 145, Abr. 6:2-3), through one creation into another (OC Gen. 1:6), worlds without end (T&C 69:28; 157:38; 175:23), is something quite different from the idea of multiple mortalities taught by individuals now. The challenge is here and now. Dreaming of past greatness is no more profitable than dreaming of mansions above:

Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love. (Have I Done Any Good?)

The teaching is harmful, inspires foolishness and vanity, and does nothing to advance the obligation to live nobly. I believe it is untrue, and that while we may have many opportunities in future estates to face challenges and opportunities for growth, we will pass through this creation once. After that we will be called upon to render an account for what we did while here. Take no thought for tomorrow, therefore, but improve our time today.

The Nephites followed the Law of Moses because it justified their faith in the Messiah who would come to atone for sins.

“Yea, and they did keep the law of Moses; for it was expedient that they should keep the law of Moses as yet, for it was not all fulfilled. But notwithstanding the law of Moses, they did look forward to the coming of Christ, considering that the law of Moses was a type of his coming, and believing that they must keep those outward performances until the time that he should be revealed unto them. Now they did not suppose that salvation came by the law of Moses, but the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ;” NC Alma 14:15

But they always understood the Law of Moses would eventually be fulfilled, and at that point keeping the law would end.

“And now ye have said that salvation cometh by the law of Moses. I say unto you that it is expedient that ye should keep the law of Moses as yet; but I say unto you that the time shall come when it shall no more be expedient to keep the law of Moses.” NC Mosiah 8:1

The Law of Moses ended when Jesus Christ atoned for sin and fulfilled the demands of justice, thereby making mercy possible. Christ told the people at Bountiful:

“I have come to fulfill the law; therefore, it hath an end. Behold, I do not destroy the prophets, for as many as have not been fulfilled in me, verily I say unto you, shall all be fulfilled. And because I said unto you that old things hath passed away, I do not destroy that which hath been spoken concerning things which are to come. For behold, the covenant which I have made with my people is not all fulfilled, but the law which was given unto Moses hath an end in me.” NC 3 Ne. 7:2

This final sacrifice under the Law of Moses fulfilled all the requirements of justice. It created the possibility for infinite mercy: “And that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, infinite and eternal. And thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name, this being the intent of this last sacrifice: to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.” NC Alma 16:34

The Law of Moses was not part of the original faith taught in the Garden of Eden to Adam, and believed by the first fathers. But rather, “the law was added because of transgressions,” (NC Gal. 1:10), which is why it would be fulfilled, come to an end, and it would no longer be expedient for mankind to follow. The process of restoring will not include a return of practicing the Law of Moses. God intends to preach again the Gospel to us, which He also preached to Abraham when he was restored to the covenant: “God … preached before the gospel unto Abraham.” (NC Gal. 1:7) Abraham believed and received the covenant, but did not know or obey the Law of Moses.

There is a great deal left to be restored. But among the many things still to be done, renewing the Law of Moses is not among them.

We finally went to see A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. I was not really interested in the film, and couldn’t imagine it would hold much interest for me. But my wife was adamant about seeing it, so last night I relented.

This was one of the best movies I’ve ever seen. Delightful. Amazingly well done. I’d recommend seeing it in a movie theatre if it is still playing near you.

Hiking this morning in the snow on Traverse Ridge I found myself reflecting on the film. Goodness is infectious. And Mr. Rogers makes Pittsburg a warm and welcoming place.

Mankind began in God’s presence, but fell from grace. From the time of the fall there was a promised Redeemer who would restore mankind back to God’s presence.

Generation after generation few individuals ever regained God’s presence. God’s great desire for mankind to return to Him is best illustrated by the coming of the Messiah into this world as a mortal child. This is what we celebrate today.

God so wanted our return to Him, that He condescended to come here to be with us. God-with-us: Immanuel! The great “El”-singular form of Elohim-came to be with us. When we failed to ascend to Him, failed to awaken and arise, He came to us!

This act testifies to God’s willingness to have us return to Him. More than any other invitation extended in all scripture, God’s descent to be here among us shows His desire to have us be with Him.

This day is worth celebrating. But it is also a time for sober reflection on the mercy, kindness and greatness of God. Despite all our failings, He longs for us to return and to “be with us!”

On this day in 1805 Joseph Smith was born in Sharon, Vermont. I thought it appropriate to post a handful of his quotes that I find worth reflecting upon from time to time:

“Truth is Mormonism. God is the author of it.”

“Ever keep in exercise the principle of mercy, and be ready to forgive our brother on the first intimations of repentance, and asking forgiveness; and should we even forgive our brother, or even our enemy, before he repent or ask forgiveness, our heavenly Father would be equally as merciful unto us.”

“We don’t ask any people to throw away any good they have got; we only ask them to come and get more.”

“I told the brethren that the Book of Mormon was the most correct of any book on earth, and the keystone of our religion, and a man would get nearer to God by abiding by its precepts, than by any other book.”

“And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last of all, which we give of him: That he lives! For we saw him, even on the right hand of God; and we heard the voice bearing record that he is the Only Begotten of the Father—That by him, and through him, and of him, the worlds are and were created, and the inhabitants thereof are begotten sons and daughters unto God.”

We went to see the Oratorio Society of Utah’s 104th year of Handel’s Messiah at the University of Utah this last week. Handel tried to add music to accompany the words of scripture describing the Messiah. His composition was delightful and at times awe-inspiring. It is the language of scripture, however, that conveys the message of the Messiah in such sublime words that even Handel’s great work cannot equal the scriptures:

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder; and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

These words demand attention, startle the thoughtful mind, and tell us that the ancients knew that God would enter this world as a child.

“There were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people; for unto you is born this day in the City of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”

The words of this great message make such an indelible impression on the minds of those who heard them that they echo down from generation to generation. We can still hear this! We still consider that declaration with wonder! And we too can recite it once we have heard these words.

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:- Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, goodwill towards men.”

It is almost too much to take in. Heavenly hosts breaking into psalms of praise for the child born that day in the City of David.

Handel’s great composition retells the Lord’s life and sacrifice, death and resurrection, and foretells His future return. But the words of scripture are almost equaled only in Handel’s swelling Chorus:

“King of kings forever and ever hallelujah hallelujah; and Lord of lords forever and ever -hallelujah hallelujah; King of kings forever and ever- hallelujah hallelujah; and Lord of lords forever and ever- hallelujah hallelujah; King of kings forever and ever- hallelujah hallelujah; and Lord of lords; King of kings and Lord of lords; And he shall reign forever and ever!”

This well known chorus frames the language of scripture in a masterpiece of music. But the scriptures still outshine every attempt to add to the record. The performance was a great evening, and we appreciated the opportunity to witness its performance.

My wife and I were discussing on our hike this morning how often “feeling the spirit” is used as a barometer to decide if something is from God. The phrase means that the person “feeling the spirit” has a satisfying, good impression that makes them think they have uncovered something from God.

Joseph Smith suggested revelation involves receiving “intelligence” and not necessarily something that makes you feel good. He described it as, “pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas,” which may produce a wide variety of reactions.

When Enoch received revelation about the earth, he reported this: “And as Enoch saw thus, he had bitterness of soul, and wept over his brethren, and said unto the Heavens, I will refuse to be comforted.”

What if God sends a true message about the terrible state of mankind, and the news is bad? Can God only tell us good things? If you will only allow yourself to “feel the spirit” when you hear good news, how can you ever be told your awful state before God?

How does this message from 1832 make you feel about things: “And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received, which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation rests upon the children of Zion, even all, and they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon, and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say but to do according to that which I have written, that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom.”

That message is frightening, true, inspired, from God, and should cause alarm.

Here is a description of us, and of what is coming: “this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord, who say to the seers, See not — and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits, get out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. Wherefore, thus says the Holy One of Israel: Because you despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and rely thereon, therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking comes suddenly, at an instant. And he shall break it as the breaking of the potter’s vessel that is broken in pieces, he shall not spare, so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a shard to take fire from the hearth, or to take water out of the pit.”

Because the people prefer to hear lies, the priests, preachers, bishops and clergy tell lies and live off their flocks. It is with us as foretold by Ezekiel: “but the shepherds fed themselves and fed not my flock, therefore, O you shepherds, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require my flock at their hand, and cause them to cease from feeding the flock; neither shall the shepherds feed themselves anymore, for I will deliver my flock from their mouth, that they may not be food for them.”

There is a lot of work to be done, and much of it is required because of the awful state of things at present. Do not expect morality to improve. In this downward trek, do not make accommodation for declining morality in your families.

Even the elect can be deceived when they only “feel the spirit” as they hear good things, smooth messages, welcome news. It is always unwelcome when you awaken people from a sound sleep. But the Book of Mormon challenges us to “Awake!” and then to “Arise!” When you have been stirred out of a sound slumber, then with patience and kindness try to awaken others, and invite them to also arise.

This is the season when we commemorate the birth of the Messiah in Bethlehem. He was born in humble circumstances, although His lineage entitled Him to the throne of King David. The time of His arrival was in the aftermath of the Maccabean rebellion which many remembered as an unwise attempt to reestablish Jewish cultural control and reject foreign influences.

The Messiah was largely rejected, and officially opposed by the Jewish hierarchy who wanted to preserve relations with Rome. The authority to kill Him openly and without meaningful opposition from His few followers shows how small a following He achieved in His lifetime.

In most objective measures, His life failed to achieve any measurable success before His death. But once He died things changed.

The course of history did not alter because of the Messiah’s death. That sent His few followers into hiding, fearful for their own lives. History changed because of what happened three days later, as days were reckoned by those people.

It was the Messiah’s rise from death that changed all history. He achieved victory over death, and those who witnessed it changed from timid and cowering followers of a dead teacher into bold and fearless apostles who heralded to the world the startling message: “He is risen!”

That message remains the singular most important accomplishment in the history of mortal man. It gives all mankind hope. It changes everything. As Job prophesied of himself and of everyman: “And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God!” (KJV Job 19:26.)

Because of Him, we shall also rise. And rising we shall face judgment. Now is the time to prepare for that judgment by the deeds we do, the words we speak and the thoughts we entertain.

Recent on-line activity has resulted in email inquiries sent to me. My mind has not changed: The bogus Brazil Sealed Book of Mormon contains nothing I would consider worth keeping under a seal from publication. It certainly does not contain the promised content to: “reveal all things from the foundation of the world unto the end thereof.” NC 2 Ne. 11:19. I am familiar with what that content would look like, and nothing resembling that is contained in the Sealed Book of Mormon text.

There is some interest in the idea of reincarnation implied in that text. I’ve never taught reincarnation. Quite the contrary, I’ve denounced it. There are too many living claimants to be returning “Peters” and “Jeremiahs” and “Moseses” for me to put any stock into these claims. As far as I can tell, those who teach reincarnation do so to make the claim they are some notable figure from scripture returned again to earth, and therefore deserve my attention and respect.

I think if one were a notable figure from scripture they would do something notable for the cause of Christ here and now. Failing to accomplish anything notable to advance faith in Christ here and now belies the claim to be some great, historic, prophetic figure from the past returned to live again.

So if you’re a returned significant past scriptural figure and are here now… for what possible reason? To bask in the glory of past achievements? Do you have a job to do on the Lord’s errand? Why not do THAT rather than lay claim to your unprovable past accomplishments and honors?

I make no claim to be some significant figure from the past. I’m not reincarnated with tales of my past glories. I’m just trying to serve the Lord here and now and hoping to do some little work before I die to please the Lord. All the while aware of my own limitations, inadequacies, and shortcomings.

In mortality, our worst failures improve us far more than our greatest successes. If we do not return from this experience bearing scars and injuries from life, then we have avoided much of what we were sent here to experience.

Reflecting on the scriptures project, I have concluded nobody involved was as important to the outcome as the work itself. By September 1832, those involved early in the restoration provoked the Lord to condemn them. His rebuke stated,

“And your minds in times past have been darkened because of unbelief, and because you have treated lightly the things you have received, which vanity and unbelief have brought the whole church under condemnation. And this condemnation rests upon the children of Zion, even all, and they shall remain under this condemnation until they repent and remember the new covenant, even the Book of Mormon, and the former commandments which I have given them, not only to say but to do according to that which I have written, that they may bring forth fruit meet for their Father’s kingdom. Otherwise, there remains a scourge and a judgment to be poured out upon the children of Zion, for shall the children of the kingdom pollute my holy land?” (T&C 82:20.)

The work was necessary to end “treating lightly” the “new covenant, even the Book of Mormon, and the former commandments which [the Lord] has given.” Until some group would “repent and remember,” the condemnation decreed in September 1832 continued to “rest upon the children of Zion, even all.”

It is impossible for any group of people to emerge from under that condemnation without repenting and remembering, as the Lord demanded.
As the labor proceeded, it attracted the notice of heaven. The Lord worked alongside the volunteers. His inspiration was evident to all of those involved.

If the effort to “repent and remember” had been undertaken in 1832, the recovery effort could have been more complete and more accurate. The first and subsequent generations neglected it, leaving it for the fourth generation to accomplish. We have only a remnant of the original material available to us.

Despite our present limitations, the scripture recovery effort was enough to remove the Lord’s condemnation. Once it was presented to the Lord, He not only removed the condemnation, but committed to working to complete the restoration process. He has spoken and committed:

“And I, the Lord your God, will be with you and will never forsake you, and I will lead you in the path which will bring peace to you in the troubling season now fast approaching. I will raise you up and protect you, abide with you, and gather you in due time, and this shall be a land of promise to you as your inheritance from me. The earth will yield its increase, and you will flourish upon the mountains and upon the hills, and the wicked will not come against you because the fear of the Lord will be with you. I will visit my house, which the remnant of my people shall build, and I will dwell therein, to be among you, and no one will need to say, Know ye the Lord, for you all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. I will teach you things that have been hidden from the foundation of the world and your understanding will reach unto Heaven. And you shall be called the children of the Most High God, and I will preserve you against the harvest. And the angels sent to harvest the world will gather the wicked into bundles to be burned, but will pass over you as my peculiar treasure.” (T&C 158:12-18.)

The outcome of the labor is described by the Lord in these words: “These scriptures are sent forth to be my warning to the world, my comfort to the faithful, my counsel to the meek, my reproof to the proud, my rebuke to the contentious, and my condemnation of the wicked. They are my invitation to all mankind to flee from corruption, repent and be baptized in my name, and prepare for the coming judgment.” (T&C 177:3.)

The Lord’s favor can still be rejected and we can provoke our own condemnation. The rule for most dispensations is failure. But we have the opportunity to succeed and prophecy promises some generation will succeed at the end.

For the first century and a half of Christianity, the rite of baptism was performed using living water. That was not just because of the poverty of the early Christians, but also because of their understanding of the text in KJV Jeremiah 2: 12-13 (NC 1:5) and also 17:13 (NC 7:1).

The earliest depictions of baptism in early Christian art were invariably in a lake, stream or river. The iconography of the early Christians depicting living water ended in about the fourth century, but a lot of things changed around that time also.

The early text of instructions known as The Didache is believed to have been written in the first century. In Chapter 7, verse 2, it instructs to perform baptism in this way: “Concerning baptism, baptize thus: Having first rehearsed all these things, ‘baptize, in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost,’ in running water[.]”

Both Matthew and Mark clarify that John the Baptist performed baptism, including of Jesus Christ, in the River Jordan. (NC Matt. 2:3-4; Mark 1:1-2.)

A passage in the Teachings and Commandments explains God’s glory in these words: “The glory of God is intelligence, or in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one. Every spirit of man was innocent in the beginning, and God having redeemed man from the Fall, man became again, in their infant state, innocent before God. And that wicked one comes and takes away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers.” (T&C 93:11.)

Light and truth are another way to define “intelligence.” And “truth” is likewise defined as “knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come.” (T&C 93:8.) Which raises the question of how we can know of things as they are, were, and are to come?

The most obvious source to know of things past, present and in the future is to study scripture. Scriptures require us to have faith enough to believe they are trustworthy. Exercising that degree of faith lets the believer learn about things as they are, were, and are to come, while the unbeliever rejects that opportunity.

The Book of Mormon assumes many readers will disbelieve it. Nephi recorded that Christ posed this question for the reader to contemplate: “Wherefore murmur ye because that ye shall receive more of my word?” (NC 2 Ne. 12:9.) The question is rhetorical, but certainly worth contemplating: Why do we disbelieve something that originated with Christ?

The explanation is in that first statement from the T&C: “[the] wicked one comes and takes away light and truth, through disobedience, from the children of men, and because of the tradition of their fathers.” Rejecting the words of Christ is itself “disobedience.” And justifying that rejection because it is something new and contrary to the “tradition of [your] fathers” is wrong.

The result is that the believer gains more “light and truth” than the one who refuses to believe. They are “more intelligent” because they accept more “light and truth.”

Departing from traditions can be frightening. But fear is the opposite of faith. The Book of Mormon challenges us to test truths by accepting and applying them in our life, to determine what effect the truth has. (NC Alma 16:28.) If it proves to have a good effect, then you can trust the truth is godly and good. And if it proves to have a bad effect, then you can reject it. Applying that test requires only the smallest degree of belief. That small step should be possible, even for the most tradition-bound and fearful.

The third and final installment of the interview with Shawn McCraney is now on YouTube and linked here: Interview-Part 3

All three segments were recorded at the same time, but released in three installments.