Who is REALLY in Charge Here?

Just in case you were wondering, I do not like sports.

However I do like looking at symbols, and most sports teams have an animal as the symbol of the team.

Lion

Penguins

Bears

So why do we used all these animals as a symbol of strength for the team? We are higher on the totem pole than they are right?

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth."
-- Genesis 1:26

So if we are the ones who attach specific symbols to animals, wouldn't God help us learn through symbols as well?

Christ sacrificed His life for us Vicariously.  His suffering can take away our sins.

In the same way He commanded us to be baptized.  This allows us to follow His example more fully.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost."
-- Acts 2:38


There must be an opposition in all things.  Think about it, if you never got hurt at all, would you really know what it felt like not to be in pain?  If you never saw the sunshine, would dark clouds really be that gloomy?  If you were never alive, would you be able to die?

 "For it must needs be, that there is an opposition in all things.

If not so, ..., righteousness could not be brought to pass,

 neither wickedness,

neither holiness nor misery,

neither good nor bad.

Wherefore, all things must needs be a compound in one;

wherefore, if it should be one body it must needs remain as dead,

having no life neither death,

 nor corruption nor incorruption,

happiness nor misery,

neither sense nor insensibility."

-- 2 Nephi 2:11

So there is opposition in all things, and they compound in one.  The Ankh is an ancient Egyptian symbol of life, but it closely resembles a cross which we see today as a symbol of death.  This is where we may easily see that opposition must be a part of mortality.  Through the Resurrection of Christ we shall all be made alive, but with His Death on the cross He would never have been Resurrected.

God can see everything.  Below is the Eye of Ra as well as the 'All Seeing Eye' that is on the back of American currency.  Egypt again has the ancient form of a symbol we recognize today.  They knew that God could see everything, and used this trait to depict Ra, the false 'Sun God' of Egypt.

As we read the scriptures, we should look for those symbols that help us to understand the True nature of God, as well as our purpose in life.  These Symbols will make it so we know exactly who is in charge here on Earth, and it is the same person who has been in charge forever.

Progression - Stargate SG-1

X-301 (Death Glider)

The X-301 was created by salvaging a crashed Death Glider, and was designed to be a small space fighter.  They then McGuyvered it with some parts from Earth and the first flight was a disaster.  They figured out that the Goa'uld (the bad guys) had hardwired their ships to prevent them from being stolen.  Thus when we gave it a test flight, it didn't act as desired.

X-301
Goa'uld Human Hybrid = bad - due to being half good half bad, not a viable vessel.



F-302

The F-302 was the first all Earth space ship, and as such it had a few problems.  It was designed after the model of a Goa'uld Death Glider, but without the alien components it was much better.  While it did exactly what it was designed to do, it was still just a small fighter.

F-302
Human Intercepter = Good - short range fighter, but excellent maneuverability.



F-303 (Prometheus)

The F-303 was the first Earth vessel capable of going long distances quickly.  Prometheus was our only line of defense if a invasion was attempted for a time.  They knew that in order to protect those on Earth they would need something more than a Fleet of 302s.  This was the first step of becoming an intergalatic power player.

F-303
'Flagship' = Better - Higher firepower, Asgard Sheilds, could carry a few F-302s, good base ship for planetary defense.



F-304 (Daedalus)

The F-304 was the upgrade from the F-303.  It was made so we could utilize upgraded Asgard weapons and cloaking technology, and both Amercia and Russia had these in the skies.

F-304
'Mothership' = Best - Faster with its space travel, more firepower, better shields, more room in the flight bay for F-302s, and better agility in combat.

So as we can see, if you are trying to build a spaceship, you need to get rid of the bad or evil parts.  You still only have a small ship when you start, but by putting in a little extra effort you will be able to 'upgrade' your little ship into a little bit bigger ship.  Then you can upgrade that into an even Better ship.  Keep going until you have the Best ship you can.

You are the Ship.  Kick the little alien rascals out, and be a 'pure' you.  You can't begin to grow spiritually if you hold onto the wickedness inside you.

Things work out better when you dont have evil aliens in you.

Satan is the evil alien.

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord?

or who shall stand in his holy place? 

He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart;

who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully."

-- Psalms 24:3-4

Killer Bunnies and the Pursuit of Salvation

So...not very many people know about Killer Bunnies. 

Not very many people have a Perfect assurance of Salvation either.

You see when you first begin playing Killer Bunnies you have the Starter deck, which includes the Blue and Yellow card sets.  You have two booklets to help you learn how to play, Six different colored, twelve sided dice, and Twelve different Carrot Cards.

Some of the cards can be rather difficult to understand how to play them, or even know what exactly they are supposed to do.

Once you begin getting better however, you have the option to add the Red Booster deck.

Plus a few other decks.

Which in turn adds a few more 'special' cards to the Game.

When you finally add all Nine of the Expansions to your deck of Killer Bunnies, you have something around 1000 cards in the deck.

This is a lot like the Restoration of the gospel, or maybe like someone joining the church.  In the beginning it might be a bit overwhelming.

For almost 1800 years all anyone had known as Scripture was the Bible.  But even before the Time of Christ there were Prophets who consistently added to Scripture.



The 5 Books of Moses



Moses covered over 2000 years in his writings alone.

Then you have other Prophets who added Scriptures.



Confused Yet??



Then after Christ called His Twelve Apostles and performed the Atonement, the Apostles started writing their Testimonies and it was Canonized into being Scripture, now known as the New Testament.

(click here for more information)

So most of the world only knows about this set of Scriptures.

Kinda like having just the Starter set of Killer Bunnies.

But just like with killer bunnies you have more to add!!

Adding the Book of Mormon to Scripture is like adding Booster decks to Killer bunnies. Sometimes it gets confusing.  But the deck is so much better to play with when you have all the extra content.

So the more you play, or go through life, the more you learn about the way things work.  So try to find all the Truth that you can, and then live by that Knowledge.

"Life is an open book test."

Ezekiel 37:15-19, Isaiah 29:11-12, 2 Nephi 27:14-20, Moroni 10:3-5

How to Kill a Dragon

So once upon a time, there was a dragon.  This dragon wanted to make everyone perfect....but we all know how that turned out.

No really, before we lived here on Earth we lived with our Heavenly Father.  We each had a Spirit but not a Physical Body.  We chose to come and live on Earth so we could receive a Physical Body and grow and Progress and Learn from our trials.

After we die we have the chance, if we have obeyed the Commandments, to again live with our Father in Heaven, this time Forever and with a Perfect Resurrected Body.

However that dragon that wanted to take away Agency in the first place, is now bitter and angry. 

He spends all his time doing nothing but trying to tearn us down and make it so we can't return to live with our Heavenly Father.

If we do all that we can to make sure we keep the Commandments, and Repent for those things which we do wrong, we will indeed be counted worthy at the last day.

Deliverance Comes from the Deliverer

We might not be able to stop our children from sticking their fingers in the toaster.  We might not be able to stop them from putting a knife in the power outlet.  We might not be able to have them understand why certain things are bad for them, and we might not be able to stop them from placing their hands on the red hot stove.  But we can always give them a band aid and kiss it better and tell them they shouldn't do it again.  Sometimes they listen, Sometimes they don't.

But just like that bright red on the stove, which is interesting and unknown to them, so is sin.  Something about it seems to attract us to it.  Our Father in Heaven repeatedly tells us, Don't do this...Don't do that.  He also has told us repeatedly, DO this, DO that, and DO them all the time, not just when you feel like it.

Again, like the red hot stove, when we sin we must take the consequence.  Sin brings Spiritual pain.  The only band aid strong enough to help is the Atonement of Christ.  He can kiss it better, and wipe away the tears.  But we have to be DOing what He has told us to DO in order for the Atonement to have any effect.

This is the method of us being Delivered from sin by Jesus Christ.  When we are obedient we receive blessings.  When we sin we we lose those blessings, and things always turn into problems because of our choices.

However, when the Children of Israel were in bondage in Egypt, the Lord raised up a Deliverer for them.  This came after they had Prayed and asked for His help in their afflictions.

"The Lord thy God

will raise up unto thee a Prophet

from the midst of thee,

of thy brethren, like unto me;

unto him ye shall hearken;"

-- Deuteronomy 18:15

Moses was sent to redeem, or save, his people from slavery to the Egyptians.  Jesus Christ came to redeem and save all people from slavery to sin, and the bondage of the devil.

"And I,

if I be lifted up from the earth,

will draw all men unto me."

-- John 12:32

Through Jesus Christ we are able to repent of our sins, and then receive forgiveness.  He was raised up to be our Deliverer.  We must do our part, for the Atonement to have effect in our lives.  We have to be full of good works and righteous actions, or we will stand before the Judgement bar knowing that we have sinned and cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

"And for this cause have I been lifted up;

therefore, according to the power of the Father

I will draw all men unto me,

 that they may be judged according to their works."

-- 3 Nephi 27:15

"The spirit and the body shall be reunited again

in its perfect form;

 both limb and joint shall be restored

to its proper frame,

even as we now are at this time;

and we shall be brought to stand before God,
knowing even as we know now,

 and have a bright recollection of all our guilt."

-- Alma 11:43

The Gospel . . . Simple Enough for Kids

So.....Once upon a time, there was God.

God loved His children, so He provided a way for them to learn and grow. 

This way of learning was called Life. 

God knew that His children would struggle as they went through Life. 

So He sent His son, Jesus, to help everyone who was struggling. 

We can look to Jesus as an example for everything, and with His help we can live with God again.

So What is the Plan of Salvation ? ? ?

The Plan of Salvation is God's plan for us to return to live with Him.  This plan answers three questions that are considered 'questions of the soul'.  They are, Where did I come from? Why am I here? Where am I going?  These three questions will be answered today both with words, and in picture format for those who like to see before reading.  ;)

Before we were born we lived in the presence of God but we had no body.  We were spirit children of our Heavenly Father.  He presented this plan, with Christ as the center, so that we would be able to have all of the blessings our Father in Heaven wanted to give to us.

Under the Direction of the Father, Jesus Christ created the Earth.  All things are and were done in order, and we needed somewhere to go to gain physical bodies, and to be tested.

Heavenly Father then created Adam and Eve.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: 

and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, 

and over the fowl of the air, 

and over the cattle, and over all the earth, 

and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 

So God created man in his own image, 

in the image of God created he him; 

male and female created he them."

-- Genesis 1:26-27

In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam and Eve their agency. He commanded them not to eat the forbidden fruit, that being the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.  However as was expected they were tempted and used their agency, or the ability to make choices, and decided to eat the fruit.  This meant that they could no longer stay in the Garden of Eden, but they were then able to have children and learn from the law of opposition.  While in the Garden they did not know what pain was, and so they did not understand being comfortable.  Without sickness they couldn't appreciate being healthy.  After leaving the Garden they began to understand these things.

Then after a few years...maybe a lot more than a few...we were born into the world.  We also must learn from the experience of life.  We make mistakes and have to learn how to fix things.  One of the greatest things about life is having a physical body like our Father in Heaven.  This is what allows us to make decisions about what we want to do. The other most important part of life is to be tested and see if we will be faithful in doing what the Lord has told us to do.  We don't remember anything from before we were born because we have to act in faith rather than having a perfect knowledge of things.

"And we will prove them herewith, 

to see if they will do all things 

whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them."

-- Abraham 3:25

God knew we would not be perfect in keeping His commandments.  He provided His son, Jesus Christ, as the Savior and Redeemer of the world.  Christ came to teach the people, set up His church upon the earth, and then suffer and die for us.

 "And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; 

and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith 

he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
And he will take upon him death, 

that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; 

and he will take upon him their infirmities, 

that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, 

that he may know according to the flesh 

how to succor his people according to their infirmities."

-- Alma 7:11-12

This was indeed an infinite atonement, where Christ took everything upon himself.  If we are ever having a bad day, He knows exactly how we feel and we can always turn to Him for help and support.

After we die we go to the Spirit world.  Which is a fancy way of saying we are somewhere other than here. ;) Those who have lived righteously will dwell in a state of peace and happiness, while those who are disobedient to the laws of God will be in a state of misery and shame.

"And now, my sons, remember, 

remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, 

who is Christ, the Son of God, 

that ye must build your foundation; 

that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, 

yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, 

yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, 

it shall have no power over you 

to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, 

because of the rock upon which ye are built, 

which is a sure foundation, 

a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall."

-- Helaman 5:12

After our time in the Spirit world, and after the Second coming of Christ, we will be Resurrected and Judged.  This Resurrection is for everyone.  We don't choose to die, so in essence we can't choose to live.  But Christ has won the victory over death.

"For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
-- 1 Corinthians 15:22

 In the Judgement we will be assigned to different Kingdoms of Glory.  The Celestial, Terrestrial, or Telestial.  

"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: 

for one star differeth from another star in glory."

 -- 1 Corinthians 15:40-41

The Celestial Kingdom is where those who followed Christ, received the ordinances of the gospel, and kept all of the covenants associated with those ordinances.  This is where God lives.  Those who receive exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom will be able to dwell in happiness with those of their family who qualify forever.

The Terrestrial Kingdom is where those who lead good lives but did not accept the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ will go.

 The Telestial is the lowest Kingdom and is where those who led sinful lives and chose not to repent when they had the opportunity to do so.

"Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, 

that I will repent, that I will return to my God. 

Nay, ye cannot say this; 

for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, 

that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world."

-- Alma 34:34

Below is a picture depicting how everything I have talked about works.

Hope you have a good day.

"Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation,
then ye are found unclean before the judgment-seat of God;
and no unclean thing can dwell with God;
wherefore, ye must be cast off forever.

And the Holy Ghost giveth authority that I should speak these things,
and deny them not."
-- 1 Nephi 10:21-22