Let There Be Light!

It has gotten a bit dusty in here since the last time I visited. I thought it was about time I dropped by to clean up a bit and reorganize.

The last few years of my life have been an unexpected, and at times quite challenging, adventure. I have been moved by the Spirit of God to examine my life, and to look at things in new and "unorthodox" ways. At times I have experienced rapture and revelation, but also disappointment and abandonment as I have treated lightly the things which my Father has seen fit to send to me.

Since my last post I have continued to learn (though perhaps not as quickly as I should have) line upon line. I have been debating with myself what to do next, and recently it struck me that at one time I had actually started something here. The time has come, I feel, to pick it up again and proceed.

I guess, more than anything, this will be a kind of a journal for me - a record of the journey I'm experiencing as I stretch myself and continue to shed the skin of my former world view. I certainly don't feel qualified at this point to try to set myself up as an expert (nor will I ever) or to expound any kind of doctrine (although I will share my thoughts and insights - that is the purpose, after all).

Right now, this is a forgotten corner of a dead-end street in an insignificant location on the internet (figuratively speaking). It may never be more, but I hope to change that. I believe that I have been led and directed as I have been for a reason, and that the things I am learning are intended to be shared with the world. As a beginning, I am currently toying with the idea of sending an invitation to my closest friends and family, to join me here and begin a discussion. In order to do that, it will be necessary to make some things very clear here at the beginning. And so...

Things That I Believe  

1 - I believe in God, the Eternal Father, and in His Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost.
As a beginning statement of faith, that one is hard to beat, don't you think? The Prophet definitely hit that one out of the park (and any time I mention "the Prophet" in this space, you may know of a surety that I am referring to Joseph).

As I have mentioned elsewhere, I fully and completely accept Jesus Christ as my savior and redeemer, and vow to try in all that I do and say to honor Him .

 2 - I believe Joseph Smith to have been a prophet of God.
I believe that through him (Joseph), the true gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the Earth - though much of the "fulness" remains yet to be revealed. That might be a good topic for another time.

I also believe that through him priesthood power was restored to the Earth.This priesthood, however, remains little understood and appreciated by most who claim to hold it, including myself. Another topic for another time.

3 - I believe the Book of Mormon to be the word of God.
As the Prophet stated, it is the most correct of any book on earth. I hope that I as an individual and that we as a people can learn to understand and appreciate it, to remove from ourselves the condemnation placed there by the Lord.


4 - I believe in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
It is what its name proclaims it to be. I believe it is the foundation of God's kingdom on the Earth.

That having been said, however, I do NOT believe that the Church is everything it proclaims ITSELF to be. It is an organization of men, led by very human beings who are every bit as susceptible to error and the enticing of the "natural man" as any of the rest of us. This should not be interpreted as an attack on their character, nor is it the result of any personal animus of mine toward them severally or individually.

I support and sustain the leaders of the church, both locally and generally. It is my opinion that they have a very difficult job to do, and I would not for the life of me wish to change positions with them. At the same time, I do not believe that they have been elevated to some higher level of spirituality or worthiness simply by virtue of the calling that they have received from the church. I could (and will) go into this more deeply in another post.

5 - I look for the establishment of Zion.
It is my most sincere desire to do all that I can to assist in bringing her forth, and if it be the will of God to be involved in the activities associated with the founding and building up of that heavenly city. My soul yearns to be there, with my family and closest friends.