The Kingdom of Heaven "In" You - Part 4

The spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ is "in all, and through all things, the light of truth; Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ." (D&C 88:6-7) This is the power, and law, by which all things are governed. It gives life to all things.  (D&C 88:13) You could not continue to live from moment to moment if this power was withdrawn. (Mosiah 2:21) You are able to see and think and understand because this light and power is in you. (D&C 88:11)

We have learned that the Holy Spirit is the combined mind of the Father and the Son who received a fullness of the Father's glory. (Lectures on Faith lecture 5 and D&C 93:16) It was revealed to Joseph Smith that: 

"The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth." (D&C 93:36) 

We have already learned that "whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the spirit of Jesus Christ." (D&C 84:45) If the glory of God is light and truth, (intelligence), then the spirit of Jesus Christ that is in you is comprised of the glory of God or in other words, intelligence. We have spent the prior three entries discussing the truths surrounding the Light of Christ. We know it is light, we know it is truth,  (D&C 88:6-13) therefore we know, it is the glory of God, or "intelligence." You, and all things, are permeated by light and truth or in other words, the glory of God.

Now, here is additional truth to which we need to pay particular attention if we are to understand the truth that God is "in" you:

"For man is spirit. The elements are eternal..." (D&C 93:33) "The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples;" (D&C 93:35)

Man, (you,) are "spirit." This statement of truth about you is similar to a statement made in the Lectures on Faith about our Father in Heaven, Lecture 5 speaking about the Father says: "the Father being a personage of spirit, glory, and power, possessing all perfection and fullness..." This statement about our Father has been misunderstood to mean that He is "a" spirit. He is no more "a" spirit than are you "a" spirit. But, like Him you are never the less "spirit."

The elements that now temporarily tabernacle your spirit will some day, because of the redeeming power of the Lord Jesus Christ, become permanent through the power of the resurrection. Then you, like our Father whose spirit is inseparably clothed in flesh and bone (D&C 130:22) will experience a fullness of joy, because it is only through the inseparable connection of your spirit and the elements of your body that you will be able to experience that. (D&C 93:33-34) Great as these truths are, they are not now central to our discussion. 

You are spirit. "(You) were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the spirit of truth;" (D&C 93:23) "(You) were also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be." (D&C 93:29) 

Let's understand what these verses are telling you: (The stuff we covered in the prior three blogs now becomes integral. Hopefully you "got" what was given there. If you feel like you are not understanding, go back and read that stuff again carefully. Then pray to ask The Lord for help under standing. These things must be thought about and pondered deeply.)

1. In the beginning you were with the Father, you were "spirit," even the "spirit of truth." Let's be reminded that: "The spirit of truth is of God. I am the spirit of truth.  and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth;" (D&C 93:26) You, (your spirit that is you,) are made of the very same stuff The Lord is made of.

2. In the beginning you were with God. You were intelligence, (which is the glory of God), or the light of truth. This is not a trivial or small thing. Be reminded that: "He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ" (D&C 88:6-7) Once again, you are shown you are made of the very same stuff by which The Lord controls and governs the entirety of earth and all creation.

I keep repeating this verse toward the end of each of the entries in this series because hopefully with increasing understanding from the Holy Ghost as we traverse through the scriptures, it will take on greater and greater meaning:

"The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him. 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." (D&C 88:49-50)

That which you are made of is the very same eternal material God is made of. You literally are a part of Him. He created (organized) you from Himself. What He is made of, and what you are therefore made of, is eternal.  The substance itself was not created or made, neither indeed can be. (D&C 93:29) Joseph Smith taught, "The mind of man - the intelligent part is coequal with God himself." (The Words of Joseph Smith Ehat and Cook page 359)

This is all important because "intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence...truth embraceth truth...light cleaveth unto light" (D&C 88:40) You are naturally drawn to God who is your source, your creator. If you open yourself to Him you will find the common element between you and God, which is intelligence, or in other words light and truth, will draw you together with Him and you will  comprehend Him, being quickened in Him and by Him.

The Kingdom of Heaven "In" You - Part 3

A few more synonyms or equivalencies need to be understood before we can move ahead in our understanding of the great power of God that is in all things. That light, which is the law by which all things are governed, emanates from Him as He sits upon His throne in the bosom of eternity. (D&C 88:13) The light, the power of God, the light of Christ, (D&C 88:7) we have been discussing, fills the immensity of space and is "in," and through, all things.(D&C 88:12-13) Most importantly, it is "in," and through, you. By it, God himself "is in the midst of all things," and yes, that includes you, you are part of "all things."

In the last entry, we learned something about the process by which The Lord Jesus Christ acquired, and controls this magnificent power called The Light of Christ. His acts of ascending up on high, and descending below all things, allowed Him to "comprehend all things, that He might be "in" all and through all things, THE LIGHT OF TRUTH; Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ."(D&C 88:6-7) Now, not only has the power of God been called "light," and "law," and "power," (D&C 88:13), it is now revealed that it is also called the light of "truth." We don't normally, in our way of reckoning, think of "truth" as being a tangible substance. We more often think of "truth" as being a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like. Interesting, isn't it, that the revelations refer to The light of Christ as "the light of truth." And that, "(this) truth "shineth."" Truth, we are told here, has a substantive quality by which it "shineth." "Truth," then, in the context of it being synonymous with The Spirit of Christ, appears to be substantive. Why?

This verity is further born out by a revelation Joseph Smith recorded in April, 1832.  It was revealed to Joseph:

"For you shall live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ." (D&C 84:44-45)

This revelation makes "truth," and "light," and "spirit" equivalent. Most of us can conceive of light and spirit being able to "shine," these verses may help us understand how it is that truth may also have the ability to "shine." The Lord revealed: "There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes; We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter." (D&C 131:7-8) Truth "shineth" because it is light, and light is spirit, and spirit is matter. The Lord said:

"...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) 

No wonder then, He commands us to "live by every word that proceedeth forth from the mouth of God. For the word of the Lord is truth, and whatsoever is truth is light, and whatsoever is light is Spirit, even the Spirit of Jesus Christ." (D&C 84:44-45)

The Lord declares in another place:

"The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth..." (D&C 93:26)

All of these wonderful truths amalgamate in the magnificent truth taught by Joseph Smith in the Lectures on Faith:

 "And he (the Lord Jesus) being the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and having overcome, received a fulness of the glory of the Father-possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son, and these three are one, or in other words, these three constitute the great, matchless, governing and supreme power over all things." (Lectures on Faith - Lecture 5)

God is in the midst of you, and all things. (D&C 88:13) The combined mind of the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit that permeates all of earth and space. It is in all, and through all things. If you have eyes to see and ears to hear, you should have begun by now to see and understand in what way it is that God is "in" you.  

"The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him. 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." (D&C 88:49-50)

"I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)

"I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world;" (D&C 93:2)

Just how far then does one need to go to do the will of the Father and receive the Son? (JST John 6:44) How great a distance is required for you to go to "see" the Son? (John 6:40) How far does He need to go to come to you in order that you may receive Him?

The Kingdom of Heaven "In" You - Part 2

The light, the power of God we discussed in the last entry, emanates from its source which is "God who sits upon His throne in the bosom of eternity." (D&C 88:12-13) It fills the entire immensity of space, and is "in," and "through," all things, including you. This light is called the light of Christ. (D&C 88:7) 

By His accomplishments of "ascending up on high," and "descending below all things," The Lord Jesus Christ was given power to comprehend "all things." By so doing, He gained the power, ability, and right, to be the source of "the light of truth" which is in all, and through all things, including you. (D&C 88:6) This is the light of Christ. (D&C 88:7)

What does it mean that The Lord Jesus ascended up on high? In another revelation, the teachings of John (John, the Lord's cousin, who is called, "the baptist") are quoted, he says: 

"I, John, bear record that he (the Lord Jesus) received a fulness of the glory of the Father; And he received all power, both in heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him." (D&C 93:16-17)

"Ascending up on high" means The Lord received a fullness of the glory of the Father, this included "all power" given to Him both in heaven and on earth. When these things were accomplished, The Lord Jesus and the Father were made one. Hence, The Lord would declare, "I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one." (D&C 93:3)

Joseph Smith taught: "And he (the Lord Jesus) being the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth, and having overcome, received a fulness of the glory of the Father-possessing the same mind with the Father, which mind is the Holy Spirit, that bears record of the Father and the Son, and these three are one, or in other words, these three constitute the great, matchless, governing and supreme power over all things." (Lectures on Faith - Lecture 5)

It is this very "governing," and supreme "power" (D&C 88:13) over "all things" that is in all and through all things, including you.

In order to be the source of "the light of truth" in all things, it was necessary that The Lord also "descend below all things." This was accomplished by the great condescension of the Son of God coming from celestial realms to a fallen telestial world and there suffering the furthest depths of darkness, wickedness, suffering, and hell. By this, because of that which He experienced and suffered in accomplishing the great atoning sacrifice, He very literally "descended below all things." (3Nephi 11:11 and D&C 19:18)

Having descended below all things, having accomplished the great atoning sacrifice, and by ascending up on high by which He received the fullness of the glory of the Father, The Lord Jesus could declare, "I am the true light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world; And that I am in the Father, and the Father in me, and the Father and I are one—The Father because he gave me of his fulness, and the Son because I was in the world and made flesh my tabernacle, and dwelt among the sons of men." (D&C 93:2-4)

By these things, The Lord Jesus was given "all power" that extends throughout all of the immensity of space.(D&C 88:12) That power, that light, that light of Christ, that Holy Spirit, is in you. By virtue of "it" being in you, "He" is in you as well. Remember, the Holy Spirit IS the combined mind of the Father and the Son. No wonder then, The Lord would declare that it is He "who is in the midst of all things," (D&C 88:13) this includes you. He is "in" you. 

As you ponder all these things, does it begin to mean something more to you when The Lord says; "...the kingdom of heaven is within you"? (Luke 17:21)

"The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him. 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." (D&C 88:49-50)

The Kingdom of Heaven "In" You - Part 1

I was up very early this morning, (about 4:45 a.m.) The windows were open to allow in the cool night breeze. I happened to look out an east-facing window, and there, over the mountains to the east, was Orion glowing in the beautiful night sky. His belt and sword were vivid, bright against the inky black pallet of space. Beetlejuice, the mammoth star that makes Orion's right shoulder, and which is said by scientists to already have gone super nova, showed brightly with more of a yellow hew than the rest of the stars in, and around Orion. Gazing heavenward for a moment, filled with the wonder that always accompanies the heavens and their splendor, I was reminded, "any man who hath seen any or the least of these hath seen God moving in his majesty and power." (D&C 88: 47) Because, "their courses are fixed, even the courses of the heavens and the earth, which comprehend the earth and all the planets. And they give light to each other in their times and in their seasons, in their minutes, in their hours, in their days, in their weeks, in their months, in their years—all these are one year with God, but not with man. The earth rolls upon her wings, and the sun giveth his light by day, and the moon giveth her light by night, and the stars also give their light, as they roll upon their wings in their glory, in the midst of the power of God." (D&C 88: 43-45) All of the cosmos is organized and operates "in the midst of the power of God."

The power of God is called "light" earlier in this same revelation: "The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things." (D&C 88: 13) Light, law, and the power of God, are all made equivalent in this revelation. This light, this law, this power, "proceedeth forth from the presence of God" to fill the entire immensity of space. (D&C 88: 12)

This  light, this law, which is the power of God, is "in" all things. (D&C 88: 13) It is this power which gives life to all things. (Moses 6:61) This light is the power and the light of the sun. The sun was made by this power. As was the moon, the stars, and the earth. (D&C 88:7-10) There is nothing in all of existence that is not permeated by this light, this power, this law. "It" is "in" all things on the earth and in the heavens. All things are governed by it.

We ought to pay particular attention to the verity that this light, this law, this power, is "in" all things. (D&C 88:13) This very same verse teaches us that God, "sitteth upon his throne,  who is in the bosom of eternity, "who" is "in" the midst of all things." This revealed truth now moves things from a discussion about an "it," (light, law, power,) to a "who," we are now talking about a person. We learn that God Himself is "in" the midst of "all" things. 

Here, then, is something we ought to deeply ponder that will allow the Holy Spirit of God to teach us much more. It will move us forward and higher in our understanding if we will accept what it teaches, and believe. If this light, this law, this power, is indeed "in" all things throughout heaven and earth as the scripture says, then, is it "in" you? More importantly, if God is "in" the midst of "all things," is He "in" the midst of you? What exactly does that mean?

We are told, "the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings;" (D&C 88:11) Now, we have a scriptural connection drawn between this very same light, and law, and power, and you. Not only is there an apparent connection between you and this light, this law, this power, but we are told that it is through "him" that this happens. It would seem to make perfect sense, since (He) is in the midst of all things. And, of course, you are part of  that which is referred to as, "all things." 

What effect does this have on you?  Think for a moment about this: You have this light, this law, this power, all "in" you. Does it have any effect at all on you? You are, after all, an independent person with agency and the ability to choose all kinds of stuff on your own. You are independent aren't you? If "all things" are "governed" by the light, the law, and the power that is "in" you, are you governed by it also? If this light and power are the same which give the sun it's power and its light, then why are you not consumed by it if it is "in" you?

Later in this same revelation, The Lord reveals: "The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not; nevertheless, the day shall come when you shall comprehend even God, being quickened in him and by him. 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." (D&C 88: 49-50)

There is much to know and learn about the light and the power of God which is in you. You must come to understand and know that God is not some far distant galactic being who must come millions of light years to be near you. His Son, who is the source (D&C 88: 5-7) of the light, the law,  and the power for us said: "...the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21)

If you learned what was intended by the series of blogs just completed called "The" Will of the Father, the series we have just begun with this entry, should  build on that understanding and deepen your knowledge of your relationship with God. By the time we are finished, your understanding of God, and your relationship with Him should open up by the power of His Holy Spirit to allow you to understand why it ought to be the most natural and the most desired thing in your life to receive the Son of God in this world. These things will work the best for you and will change you the most if you will take the time to look at the referenced scriptures and prayerfully consider their deeper meanings. The Holy Ghost can make their true, deeper, more mysterious meanings known to you. (JSH 1:74)