Monday, September 9, 2013

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  (D&C 88:13) You could not continue to live from moment to moment if this power was withdrawn.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 truthThis 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 truthWhich 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.

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