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“Lights On or Off”
cji
3/3/2014
Many
have driving in fog and or at dusk or dawn. How many have their lights on – not
just to see – but so others can see you as well? Even in total darkness how
many have their lights turned on? Thinking of this when one looks out a window
what do they expect to see? If the window is covered heavily and or covered in
dirt – what can one see?
Years
ago I was asked by one of the National Board Members of a safe driving panel
what one thing would I recommend? Immediately I responded, “When a vehicle is
turned on – the lights are on!” Was told too many would forget to turn them off
and kill their batteries. Within several years a GM Engineer earned a very
substantial bonus designing a way to have the vehicle lights to come on when
started and turn off when turned off. Without too many variations this benefit
to safe driving. Why? Because with the vehicle lights on when being used allows
other drivers to see the on-coming; or vehicle ahead either in the dark – the
dawn – the dusk or especially in fog. (Note: this does not diminish the need
for having lights on in inclement weather of all kinds.)
Thus
one can see the common sense of having one’s lights on in a variety of
conditions. Then why should we not in our personal lives? How often do we walk
around without our internal lights on? When we do so how many things do we bump
into? Do we trip often or are we paralyzed sitting on only place afraid to
move?
During
a live tear gas exercise – my vision was lost – and thus knowing where I was I
sat down next to a tree waiting for the gas to dissipate. Unknowing to me another side effect was in
place. I was in the early stages of heart disease and the gas also caused me to
become disorientated. Therefore as the gas dissipated I discovered I couldn’t
function properly – therefore when I heard others near I called out – and they
came to where I was. In doing this I’d turned my internal light on and was able
with the assistance of others get oriented once more.
In
the above I had two choices – be quiet – prideful – waiting until I could fully
function or I could verbalize where I was and that I needed assistance. Too
often it has been my experience that too many are too prideful to request
assistance to get back on the proper path and be productive with the talents
they’ve been given to share. Thus they end up hiding under the guise of
darkness until too soon enveloped by the darkness.
Light
and darkness are the keys to truth or deception. In the Scriptures we find two relevant thoughts from
Heavenly Father – transmitted through His Risen Son (Our Lord and Savior): Both
can be cross-references though all of the Scriptures:
“And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness“ Doctrine and Covenants
50:23; Cross-references: 1 Timothy 1:4
Ephesians 4:16
Ephesians 4:29
Romans 14:19
And
accompany are the following Scriptures: “One
manifestation of the light of Christ is conscience, which helps a
person choose between right and wrong (Moro. 7:16). As people learn more about the gospel, their consciences
become more sensitive (Moro. 7:12–19). People who
hearken to the light;”
Doctrine and Covenants 80:50 Then shall ye know
that ye have seen me, that I am, and that I
am the true light that is in you, and that
you are in me; otherwise ye could not abound. Cross
References: D&C 50:24 Proverbs 4:18 Isaiah 60:19Mosiah 16:9 Revelation 18:23 Isaiah 60:20 2 Peter 1:19 Mosiah 27:29 2 Samuel 21:17 Alma 9:23 Abraham 3:5 Matthew 11
Too
often the most important of Scriptures are over-looked by dwelling on only a
few which taken out of context – or chosen deliberately and cause a circular
‘argument’ (understanding any contention is not of the Savior!). We’ve to be
very careful in our studying and understanding of the Scriptures on our own or
by those called not by themselves to teach – but by the Father and the Son as
disciples, Prophets, Apostles, and Seventies, with the proper authority to do
so. These are called and therefore do not receive either payment or other
gratuities from those to whom they teach. They teach only of the Savior in
providing more Truth and Light – allowing each to accept or reject as they
might.
We’ve
been commanded to study and ponder the Scriptures (all of them) and thus to
pray in our private places to receive for ourselves a testimony of the truth
and light contained there-in and that also what others are teaching us – either
those called of the Lord or those called by man. They must and we must receive
direct revelation in the truthfulness of all things. When one reads the
Scriptures that we can receive such revelation is easily found throughout.
One can study many things – and many do study that which
only supports their personal beliefs or traditions – ignoring that which can
provide further light into their inner-being and thus their complete
understanding of full truth. We live in a world where universally all but one
religion denies that the heavens are open and that God the Father and the Son
communicate with those living on this earth. Yet the Scriptures in toto testify
that the Father and the Son are the same yesterday – today – and forever;
therefore that they will continue to communicate with those who will listen and
harken unto them both! Little children understand this completely – and we’ve
been commanded to become as little children. Are we found doing so in Spiritual
things of an eternal nature?
Rather
are we the followers of peers or the worldly things of the world? Some might
say it matters not as all are saved – yet these same people teach that those
who’ve not accepted the Savior are damned. What tells them this? There is
nothing in the Scriptures which tells one that the Atonement was only for one
group and not for all! The Atonement saved all men – those from the time of
Adam until the start of the Millennial rule of the Savior on this earth. All
will be saved with the few exceptions of those who deny the Holy Ghost – and
those who shed innocent blood. (Note: one should study the teachings of Paul on
the various Kingdoms and the degrees of Glory within each – and then there are
many cross-references to these teachings.)
Are
we found with our lights on or off – when traversing the trials and
tribulations of our mortal probation? There’s been an argument (note the word)
that one can prove the Holy Bible because of its many authors – written over a
great period of time – and other such things. Therefore one can disprove it
just as well – as most of those who either accept or reject the Holy Bible
could use the same reasoning as there is no second witness in their belief – or
unbelief systems. Billions profess the Qur’an to be the only Scriptures but
there is not second witness of it either. It’s the fact that these are
arguments – and not testimonies!
Unless
one has a Testimony of the Father and the Son (as Peter below) and understands
the Scriptures to be the word of God through his Prophets, Disciples and
Apostles – then no argument in the world will suffice to show a belief or
unbelief. When one has a testimony one can either accept it as being true or
false – there is no room for discussion.
The following is from Elder Bruce R. McConkie’s talk at the April
1973 General Conference entitled, “On Judea’s Plain”: “Now I do not minimize in any degree or to any extent the obligation
that rests upon us to be gospel scholars, to search the revelations, to learn
how to reason and analyze, to present the message of salvation among ourselves
and to the world with all the power and ability we have; but that standing
alone does not suffice. When that is all over, we have to comply with the
command the Lord gave for us in this day: “… ye are my witnesses, saith the
Lord, that I am God.” (Isa. 43:12.) We
have to put an approving, divine seal on the doctrine that we teach, and that
seal is the seal of testimony, the seal of a personal knowledge borne of the
Holy Ghost.
Now how do you prove and establish that the
Father and the Son appeared to Joseph Smith; that angels came in our day; that there has been
a restoration of the gospel; that all the glorious things we present to the world
are true? Well, you reason out of the revelations. You can make a good case;
and that isn’t any problem. The truth is with us. The Lord is the author of the
system we have received. But after you have reasoned and after you have
analyzed, you have got to stand as a personal witness who knows what he
is saying. You have to do what the sons of Mosiah did—speak and teach by the
spirit of prophecy and the spirit of revelation; and the result is that you
speak as one having authority. This is the great thing that separates us from
the world, and thanks be to God we have this knowledge. We have received this
revelation, and we are in a position to speak as those having authority.
(Most
especially one should read and understand Peter’s testimony); Now Peter could have
reasoned at great length, and after having so done people could have argued
with him and said, “You don’t understand the scriptures. Your interpretations
are in error. This or that is wrong.” But you can’t argue with a testimony, and
so after Peter had reasoned, if he then said to them, as he must have done in
substance and in thought content on many occasions, if he said to them, “I was
in an upper room. The Lord Jesus came through the wall. He appeared to us. I
recognized him. He was the same person with whom I had labored and traveled for
three and a half years. He is the person who lived in my home in Capernaum. I
then felt the nail marks in his hands and in his feet. I thrust my hand into
his side. I was there when he ate food and drank before us. I know he is the
Son of God. The Holy Spirit of God has borne this witness to my soul”—if he
said this to them, there was nothing left to debate. You can’t argue with that
kind of a presentation. You can say, as Festus said to Paul: “Thou art beside thyself;
much learning doth make thee mad” (Acts 26:24), but
in the final analysis all you can do is accept or reject the witness that is
borne. It is either true or it is false. There is no middle ground.”
Lights on or off – it is our choice – there is a second
witness of the Holy Bible – it is called the Book of Mormon – of which the Holy
Bible also testifies to it being the further word of God. There is much more
light available – even if one doesn’t believe the Church has been restored in
these latter-day – why would one reject further light and truth which can help
them draw closer to the light? Many have read exceedingly powerful books of
truth – but other than reading them and accepting the wisdom they’ve taken no
further actions.
Soon all will be able to see in the light – however, the
sooner the better while in this lifetime of mortal probation. What we do with
such knowledge, truth and light are up to each of us individually. I can tell
each who read this that Jesus is the Christ – the only begotten Son of Heavenly
Father – and that they both appeared to Joseph Smith, Jr. and thus have
restored the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this earth for the final
dispensation before the coming millennium. In these things I constantly seek
the light and truth – everyday – and at every opportunity to learn more and
more. In these things I testify in the name of Jesus Christ – amen c/ork
“Lights On or Off”
cji
3/3/14
In the fog and
darkness
severe storms
blinding
driving with carefulness
or maybe just
careless
without lights turned
on
caring not of one’s
safety
learning not of
anything
blindly going forward
being worldly and
foolish
while yet another
cares
having lights on
always
seeking more truth
today
lights on or off are
we
severe storms
blinding
seen in fog and darkness!
Copyright
© 2014 – cji
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