A Roads Scholar

A Roads Scholar?

"What's a roads scholar?" you ask. You didn't ask? But you were curious, right? Let's pretend. My favorite pastime is walking the Rocky Mountains with a shoulder bag of books to read and drafts to work on. Responses vary. Some stare in disbelief, subconsciously leaning away from the crazy man, while others find it an intriguing admirable idea. In any case, I read, learn, write, revise, and enjoy gorgeous scenery, all during a few hours of pleasant mild exercise (walking). Otherwise, life is too short to get much done if a decent walk must subtract from productive hours. So study-hiking is a strategy to get more done in our few days on earth (see below). True, upon returning from the mountains, I have to sit at a computer awhile to input changes, etc, but I much prefer walking to sitting, and much of the thinking, reading, and revising can be done while walking relatively smooth roads in my favorite place, the mountains. So I do enjoy being a roads scholar more than a Rhodes Scholar. People pay big bucks for an office window with a view of the mountains, but my office is the mountains. And for free! Other books and musicals completed and in progress are discussed on another website, but this blog-o-sphere is devoted to more important matters that we sometimes slip into seldom thinking about.

Our Few Days on Earth

We spend the first 18-25 years going to school (with a little free time some evenings), and then spend the next several decades working and/or raising a family (with a little time some evenings, but not many free evenings). Weekends are filled with yard work, other forms of domestic maintenance, perhaps ecclesiastical claims on time, but with an occasional free Saturday too. Eventually some manage to retire (others keep working) and finally find some time to get something done (other than have-to-do's), though the brevity of the span between retirement and failing health surprises some. That span may be 5 or 10 years, perhaps 20 for a few lucky ones. Let's add it up. (If not interested in the math, skip to the next paragraph.) Suppose from 5 to 65 (first 5 years we're learning to walk, talk, and survive), half of the evenings are free: 3 hours x 3/week x 52 weeks/year x 60 years divided by 24 hours in a day is about 1,000 days of free time. Tossing in a free Saturday per month adds another 720 days. Between retirement and failing health may be 10 years minus half of the days having have-to-do's, leaving another 1,000 to 1,500 days.

The total of 3,000 days is a short life, maybe 9 years of time free to get things done other than the have-to-do's. Of course, we are living while doing school and earning bread, though some would not call it living, but hopefully we're doing society some good in whatever occupation we choose or fall into with help from a few processes of elimination, and enjoy it to a fair degree. Nevertheless, any way we look at it, life is short, so it's good to get going on getting done what we think is most worth doing.

Next Life News

I don’t mean to seem presumptuous, for I have no more connection to next life news than is available to all mortals, yet there is considerable that is available to us all, that we often neglect to consider seriously. If this life flies by like leaves in a breeze, while the next life lasts forever, don’t the relative lengths make the whole spectrum worth thinking about and looking into? For both this life and the next are very much connected in a cause-effect continuation, like most aspects of this life are in cause-effect strings of things. Of course, many folks do not believe in God or afterlife, which is each individual’s choice. However, thousands of personal accounts of visits to the other side during severe illness or accidents and then returning, with convincing consistency, strongly suggest a next life (see sources below), and other dozens of accounts of prophets (ancient and modern, some killed for saying so) who have seen things most of us don’t see and thousands of others who have had spiritual experiences from God and millions of answered prayers that defy probabilities, all make the matter worth a look or a listen and some reading and thinking.

Though much more is available, the Bible is a good place to start. Some discount the Bible's validity; they swallow the tale that science has disproven it, but many scientists see science otherwise (D'Souza, etc). Time will tell ... on all of us. So don’t let unenlightened or temporary misinterpretations of science dupe one into thinking that science or our senses can see significant percentages of reality.

For example, our eyes see less than a millionth of all the wavelengths of light. Our eyes see only 4000-8000 angstroms in a range from .0000003 to 300,000,000,000,000,000 angstroms. If science is seeing similarly small percentages of all reality, and God is intentionally remaining inconspicuous during this test, to see what we’ll do on our own, but has made available means to know Him and His ways for those who desire and seek, it seems that the matter is of utmost importance and very worth our while, thought, and efforts. I can only share what I know to be so, from my own experience, many dozens of experiences: answers to prayers, assurances, and powerful confirmations from outside of myself. Though I am a lesser recipient of such marvels among family and friends and thousands more, I have experienced more than enough to know that God lives, loves us, and is as involved in our lives as our patterns let Him be. I am as sure of His existence as anything I can touch and see. Faith is knowledge in route if you stick with it.

Sometimes slipping into sleep-walking myself, we forgetters of God, ranging from deniers to believers busily buried in our presumed pursuits of happiness, need to wake up, be humbly grateful, abide and be blessed, or be increasingly encouraged by two-by-four tutoring to return to Him or to what is best for us, which becomes ever clearer only when going that direction. The tutoring, though tough, is because He loves us and wants us to know that there are things more important than TV, couch, cuddling, and cashing checks (though all those are wonderful too in balance). If you diligently see, you can find. Those refusing to seek will look back from the other side someday and sadly see they should have. Think on which direction is best for your many descendants, whose directions yours will effect.

Love: the test of life

Love is the greatest of all qualities (I Corinthians 13), the foundation of all virtues, the primary test of life, and the greatest source of joy, both giving and receiving love; and love and its enjoyments are much increased in yonder spheres when the full love of God is added to all others in the endless eventualities ... if we live for them. Loving God and our neighbors as ourselves underlies all that is good (Matthew 22:37-40; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27). Loving our enemies (Matthew 5:44) I'm still working on. I sense I'm not alone, but am making progress. A major measure of discipleship to the Master is our love for one another (John 13:34-35). Love and selfishness are polar opposites on the spectrum of good and evil. Most of us manage some of both, and it's good to take care of self too, but proportions tell the tale. Which fills the bulk of our doings--doings for others or for self?

Love vs. selfishness parallels humility vs. pride. As humility leads to love, pride (putting self above others) leads to disdain and hatred. When hearing of the martyrdom of John the Baptist, the Savior said, "among those ... born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist, but he that is least in the kingdom of God" (Luke7:28). The Savior speaks of Himself as least in the kingdom of God. Of course, we all know better, so what He meant is that He made Himself least, He put Himself below others, considered all others before Himself. This is not a self-esteem problem, but His way of being servant of all (Matthew 20:26-28) as the most humble and meek (not weak) of all (Matthew 11:29; 21:5; Luke 7:28). Humility is the foundation of love. Caring for others more than self is lifting others with less concern for self, for "everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted" (Luke 18:14). For love/charity "vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up" (I Corinthians 13:4).

Selfishness is the source of evil, from personal to international levels. A thief thinks of self, puts himself and his wants above the hurt and loss of others. The same with deceivers, tyrants, promiscuers, etc--they all exalt their wants above the hurt and fallout upon others. I speak not of those who slip up, feel bad, and do better (repent), but of those in the habit of hurting who incorporate selfishness as a lifestyle. We all have wants and desires, to be enjoyed in time, place, and ways designed of Him, but not in reckless selfishness. God made food delicious and made women beautiful and ordained marriage (Genesis 2:24) where caring and responsibility and the good of both parents and the children are part of a package whose sweetnesses in this life are only the beginning. Problems begin and abound when selfishness puts self above the good of others, when desires are not balanced by love and caring. (The words 'care' and 'charity' come from the same Latin origin.) All such balance and wisdom are the purpose of God's words of wisdom to us (commandments). His wisdom leads to a more peaceable happier this life and an exquisite eternal life, if followed. All mortal lives are peppered with pain and perplexities, some for purposes in Him, others from tossing wisdom to the wind; in any case, following Him makes a difference in proportions, whether sometimes being peppered with pain and perplexities or inviting them in as regular live-ins. Humility and doing His ways increase love, while selfishness (sin) strangles it. As the Savior said, "Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matthew 24:10). So let humility and caring about others increase love and increase our enjoyments in this life, multiplied many times in the next, if we follow the path that leads to it.

Mormonism makes sense
and helps the Bible make more sense.

We Mormons struggle to overcome our weaknesses like everyone else. But whether Mormons always make sense or not, Mormonism itself makes a lot of sense and also clarifies a number of passages in the Bible.

For example, I Corinthians 15:29 says: “Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all?” This reference to baptism for the dead is a mystery to most, while latter-day revelations have instructed members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints to do baptisms for their kindred deceased who did not have the opportunity to hear and accept the gospel in this life, which work allows those in the world of spirits to choose whether to accept. That is part of the great work that happens in LDS temples: baptisms and other covenants, such as eternal marriages, to enable marriages and families to be forever, not only for this life but also for all eternity.

A question commonly asked us is, “Do you Mormons believe that only Mormons will get into heaven?” Not at all! All good people who do good, who are just, fair, honest, and decent, and basically keep the ten commandments, will live with Christ in the terrestrial heaven or the Terrestrial Kingdom. Yet there is a higher kingdom, requiring living by higher laws, where both God and Christ dwell, known as the Celestial Kingdom.

I Corinthians 15:40-41 speaks of these heavens and the resurrected bodies of those who inherit them: “There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars.” Again latter-day revelations (Doctrine and Covenants, section 76, abbreviated DC 76) clarify this passage, unclear to most, wherein Paul is speaking of these three levels of kingdoms: in glory, the Celestial is compared to the sun, the Terrestrial is compared to the moon, and the Telestial is compared to the stars. Though not mentioned by Paul, DC 76 clarifies that the lowest or Telestial Kingdom is where the unjust who have not repented (the thieves, liars, adulterers, etcetera) go after paying the full price of their sins.

Somehow it became popular among evangelicals to claim that Mormons are not Christians. Nothing could be further from the truth. We believe in Christ, we preach of Christ, we accept Christ as the one and only Savior of the world, and strive to come unto Christ, to be beneficiaries of His atonement. Our prophets have been instructed by Christ, and the Book of Mormon is another witness of the resurrected Christ, and has as its whole message that the peoples of the earth must repent and come unto Christ. Those who do will be spared and blessed, while those who do not will not always be spared through the various cleansings to occur in increasing intensity before He comes again, as prophesied in the Book of Revelations and elsewhere. Yes, we believe in the Bible as much as anyone, if not more. As the Bible’s prophets and apostles knew, after Christ’s church flourished for a time and after the apostles were killed, there would be a falling away first (II Thessalonians 2:3; Amos 8:11; Acts 20:29- 31; I Timothy 4:1-3; II Timothy 3:1-5; II Timothy 4:3-4; II Corinthians 2:17), false doctrines would sneak in, the covenants would be altered, and the changes from His ways would cause the spiritual gifts to be lost. They also knew that at a later time, in the latter days, God would restore His Kingdom again on earth (Ephesians 1:10; Daniel 2:31-45; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Acts 3:20-21; Revelations 14:6; Matthew 17:11; Isaiah 2:2-3; Isaiah 11:11-13).

The early apostles knew that there would be a falling away first (II Thessalonians 2:3; Amos 8:11; Acts 20:29- 31; I Timothy 4:1-3; II Timothy 3:1-5; II Timothy 4:3-4; II Corinthians 2:17), and that after the great apostasy, God would once again restore His truths and His Church on the earth again, to eventually fill the earth.

In Daniel’s vision (Daniel 2:31-45) King Nebuchadnezzar’s kingdom is likened to the head of gold, followed by the Persian empire as the chest of Silver, then the Greek belly of brass, then the Roman legs of iron, two iron legs for the East-West split of the Roman empire that ruled like iron. Thereafter the legs splintered into many kingdoms of weaker mixtures of iron and clay, ten toes signifying multiple or many kingdoms. Then in the latter days of these many kingdoms was a stone cut out without hands. “Without hands” means not by man’s doing, but by God’s doing, and the stone “cut out without hands” in the latter days (Daniel 2:28) is God setting up His kingdom (Daniel 2:44) that will gradually and eventually fill the whole earth (Daniel 2:35) and not be left to other people (Daniel 2:44) to change it, as happened after the death of Christ and His apostles.

Ezekial 37:16-22 is a prophesy of the Book of Mormon as the stick of Ephraim or Joseph, to be joined with the stick of Judah (the Bible) to be one in God’s hand, to gather Israel from among the nations, not only Judah, but also Joseph and all the tribes of Israel. “Stick” means a scroll of writing rolled about a stick, and The Book of Mormon was written by descendants of the tribe of Joseph, the Joseph sold into Egypt. The two volumes of scripture, The Bible and The Book of Mormon, are one in God’s hand, to add understanding, each to the other, for clarification and for the purpose of bringing unto God all who will listen. Not that all of Israel will listen, but all who come unto God are either of Israel in part or are accepted into Israel.

Isaiah 29:9-14 speaks of the spiritual sleep upon the peoples of the earth, of the prophets and seers being covered, and specifies a conversation with the learned man, professor Charles Anthon, during the translation of the Book of Mormon and about the unlearned Joseph Smith, being asked by God to translate the Book of Mormon by the gift and power of God. Verse 14 speaks of God, beginning with that book, proceeding to do a marvelous work and a wonder in this day and age.

The Bible (Genesis 1:26; John 17:21, John 14:28; Matthew 3:16-17; Matthew 26:39) is consistent with Joseph Smith’s vision wherein He saw God and Christ, while filled with the Holy Ghost, much like Stephen’s vision (albeit under more favorable circumstances). Stephen (Acts 7:55-56), while filled with the Holy Ghost, saw God and saw Jesus standing on the right hand of God. As break-offs from Catholicism, most denominations espouse the trinity, believing that God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are all three one being. Yet how does one stand at the right hand of oneself? And also be in Heaven while the Holy Ghost is in Stephen? At the baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:16-17), the three were again shown to be three separate personages. It is true that they are one God as united in purpose, but the term “one God” has been misinterpreted. When Christ was praying to the Father (John 17:21), that his followers may be one even as He (Christ) and God are one, He certainly did not mean that the whole group of followers all become one person, but that they also be one with God in heart, having the same kind of heart, as He (Christ) and God are one in heart and holiness. As for the belief that God has not a body, if Christ and God are said to be one in the same and if Christ was resurrected with a body (Luke 24:39; John 20:18-31), then how does God not have a body? We as mankind and as God’s children were created in the image and likeness of God our Father (Genesis 1:26), and as we are the same species as our Father, we have bodies, to eventually be resurrected, as also God our Father has an immortal and glorified body. It is all very good news, this gospel or good news, if we live for it.

Of course, in all the claims and opinions being hurled about in the word wars of the world, who is right and what can be believed? To find the truth, you do not have to take anyone’s word for it or take Joseph Smith’s word for it. Read the Book of Mormon and ask God whether it is true. If you strive as best you know how to do God’s will (John 7:17), persistently pray to Him for guidance toward His will (Matthew 7:7; 6:33), and read The Book of Mormon, ponder it, and ask Him whether it is true as His word to the nations, then He will let you know that it is true (Moroni 10:4; John 7:17).

Is it important? If this life lasts a few short decades and the hereafter lasts forever, many millions of times longer, and if importance is proportionate to length, then how important is it to give some thought to and live in light of eternal potentialities in this short mortal probation for preparing for forever?

Imagine that during the Super Bowl a player decides to enjoy it in an easy chair with fine food on the fifty. Of course, everyone knows that such an approach is foolish, that after three hours of best effort, then the reward can be enjoyed for years afterwards. Yet some do similarly. Or imagine a student skipping final exams to throw away a rewarding career also benefiting many, because he didn’t feel like doing exams. This life is the test, the final for the infinite future.

As said before, we forgetters of God, from deniers to believers busily buried in presumed pursuits of happiness, need to wake up, find out that He is, be humbly grateful and seek to abide and be blessed, or else be increasingly encouraged by two-by-four tutoring to return to Him, or to what is best for us, which becomes ever clearer only when going that direction. Those refusing to regard Him will sadly learn they should have, when looking back from the other side. Besides your own eternal destiny, think on which direction is best for your many descendants, whose directions yours will affect.

Answers from God

If God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, why would He not raise prophets subsequent to Biblical times? Because the Bible has all the answers, most denominations claim, yet why do they disagree with each other and differ so widely in opinion if all that we need is in the Bible? I find it amusing that preachers can collectively pronounce limits on God's ability to communicate with His children, all of us. Where did they get the idea that the Bible is the end of God's word or that there is to be no more of prophets and apostles and revelations after Biblical times? God never said that; in fact, He said much the opposite (see discussion above). That the Bible is all we will ever have seems to be a collectively made up opinion with no foundation in scripture.

The claim of most denominations, that after the apostles' deaths the heavens were closed and revelations ceased, is true to a degree (discussed above), yet most would also agree that millions worldwide, of all denominations, receive answers to prayers. That is, help, information, ideas, or inspiration for solving problems come in answer to prayers, for God loves us all, and is ever ready to help the honest sincere seekers of truth who desire to abide in His truths. So if He answers prayers and inspires ideas into minds and instills comfort into heavy hearts and infuses joy as well at times, is that not revelation? Of course, there are degrees of spectacularity on a spectrum, and the Most High's tendency is toward subtlety, anonymity, and the still small voice, yet if all such are not revelation, let those wishing to dispute it wrestle with the semantics. Signs follow those who believe (Mark 16:17-20), but do not precede belief or works. Faith (believing that God knows all and knows what's best for us) leads to doing it or to good works, and after diligence come assurances (signs) that God is pleased with our efforts. So do revelations not happen in this day and age?

Knowing for Yourself

You can receive your own witness of the truthfulness of the things of God. As mentioned above, you do not have to take anyone’s word for it or take Joseph Smith’s word for it. There are two kinds of witnesses: those of the spirit and external evidence. Both are abundantly available for the seeker. Witnesses from God through His spirit to yours are the surest. First, given the wonderful world created for us, it should not be hard to believe that God is. If you can only hope that He is, start there, and that can grow into a sure knowledge as you live for it (do what you know is good), develop a relationship with Him in daily prayer to Him. As you seek Him in humility and strive to abide in Him, and feel gratitude for innumerable blessings, and pray thanks more often than asking, and pray for others as often as for self, you'll see more and more of your prayers being answered, far beyond the probabilities of them happening by chance. But be humble and grateful and read the scriptures daily and His spirit will, from time to time, not necessarily every time, but often enough kind of burn within you in a sweet confirming of their truth to your soul. Sometimes those burnings can be powerful and strong. They are His answers to you, His witnesses to you that His words are true.

Read the Book of Mormon and ask God whether it is true. If you strive as best you know how to do God’s will (John 7:17), persistently pray to Him for guidance toward His will (Matthew 7:7; 6:33), and read The Book of Mormon, ponder it, and ask Him whether it is true as His word to the nations, then He will let you know that it is true (Moroni 10:4; John 7:17).

External Evidences

External evidences are also abundantly available. For example, Nahom has been archaeologically located. Where is Nahom? It is mentioned in the book of Frist Nephi 16:34 in the Book of Mormon as the place where Ishmael died and where the Lehite clan turned eastward toward Bountiful. No such place was known when Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, but recently Nahom has been found and with inscriptions in Old Arabian by the people of Nahom during the centuries when Lehi would have passed by.

There are also numerous internal textual evidences throughout the Book of Mormon, that would have been impossible for a 19th century fabricator to produce. The supporting evidences continue to multiply, while the usual criticisms are one by one being debunked as empty. That is to be expected of truth, evidences for it increase, while arguments against are regularly found fallacious. The present count amounts to hundreds of existing evidences to support the book's veracity. See the FARMS website (Foundation for Ancient Research and Mormon Studies) and other addresses listed above and to the right.

Recommended Readings:
The Bible, by many prophets
The Book of Mormon, by many prophets,
edited by Mormon, translated by Joseph Smith
A Marvelous Work and a Wonder, by LeGrand Richards
When the Lights Went Out: Three Studies on the Ancient Apostasy, by Hugh W. Nibley
How Greek Philosophy Corrupted the Christian Concept of God, by Richard B. Hopkins
The Prophecies of Joseph Smith, by Duane S. Crowthers
An Approach to the Book of Mormon, by Hugh W. Nibley

Sources Evidencing a Life After:

Life after Life, by Raymond Moody

Life after Death: The Evidence, by Dinesh D'Souza

Life at Death: A Scientific Investigation of the Near-Death Experience, by Kenneth Ring

Return from Tomorrow, by George G. Ritchie

The Message, by Lance Richardson

Journal of Near Death Studies

Other sites by the same author include:

http://happymountainman.com

http://anecdotes2antidotes.blogspot.com