The White Stone Thesis
3. The Cosmism Manifesto
CORNERSTONE TO CORNERSTONE : ALIGNMENT
The cornerstone of the paradigm has been set in place, and awareness and the effort of controlling our thoughts is now a daily goal that enable us to build up a solid scaffolding of thought.
When we begin to remove unwanted thoughts and habits from our lives - we must fill the gaps or vacancies created by their absence, otherwise we risk falling right back into the exact same thought patterns. We must re-program our neural pathways. We can consciously choose to fill these gaps created by constantly redirecting our thoughts to be ‘single to the glory of God’. As we do this, the Holy Ghost will further enlighten our minds and our path by revelation as we continually choose to serve and surrender our will to the Lord, even in every thought.
1 Behold, blessed, saith the Lord, are they who have come up unto this land with an eye single to my glory, according to my commandments.
2 For those that live shall inherit the earth, and those that die shall rest from all their labors, and their works shall follow them; and they shall receive a crown in the mansions of my Father, which I have prepared for them.
3 Yea, blessed are they whose feet stand upon the land of Zion, who have obeyed my gospel; for they shall receive for their reward the good things of the earth, and it shall bring forth in its strength.
4 And they shall also be crowned with blessings from above, yea, and with commandments not a few, and with revelations in their time—they that are faithful and diligent before me.
5 Wherefore, I give unto them a commandment, saying thus: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy might, mind, and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.
With a doctrinal foundation and cornerstone fixed on Christ - and our mental faculties more earnestly engaged in maintaining that focus through the exercise of faith unto repentance - we will now attach our efforts to the anchor of our soul and physical body - the heart.
Our goal is to grow into the principle of revelation.1 Revelation isn’t just a matter of our thoughts and our logical minds - but it is directly tied to the heart and our desires and intentions. This is in natural harmony, considering the very real fact that the heart is the first organ formed in the body in embryo - it is literally the ‘cornerstone’ of our tabernacle. If our end-product character is to change, our heart and desires must be wrestled down and transformed > converted.
The Book of Mormon provides us with examples of this crystalline pattern throughout. King Benjamin and his ministering Angel and subsequent sermon at the Temple come to mind immediately for me. Take this from the Come Follow Me lesson for Mosiah 4-6:
King Benjamin shared with his people what an angel had taught him—that wonderful blessings were possible through “the atoning blood of Christ”. His message changed their entire view of themselves,
2 And they had viewed themselves in their own carnal state, even less than the dust of the earth. And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.
[it] changed their desires,
2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.
3 And we, ourselves, also, through the infinite goodness of God, and the manifestations of his Spirit, have great views of that which is to come; and were it expedient, we could prophesy of all things.
4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.
and [it] inspired them to covenant with God that they would always do His will.
5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days, that we may not bring upon ourselves a never-ending torment, as has been spoken by the angel, that we may not drink out of the cup of the wrath of God.
6 And now, these are the words which king Benjamin desired of them; and therefore he said unto them: Ye have spoken the words that I desired; and the covenant which ye have made is a righteous covenant.
7 And now, because of the covenant which ye have made ye shall be called the children of Christ, his sons, and his daughters; for behold, this day he hath spiritually begotten you; for ye say that your hearts are changed through faith on his name; therefore, ye are born of him and have become his sons and his daughters.
8 And under this head ye are made free, and there is no other head whereby ye can be made free. There is no other name given whereby salvation cometh; therefore, I would that ye should take upon you the name of Christ, all you that have entered into the covenant with God that ye should be obedient unto the end of your lives.
Another example - in speaking in remembrance of the faithfulness of his Fathers, Alma taught:
7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; ..
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12 And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.
13 And behold, he preached the word unto your fathers, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore they were saved.
14 And now behold, I ask of you, my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?
15 Do ye exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you? Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?
16 I say unto you, can you imagine to yourselves that ye hear the voice of the Lord, saying unto you, in that day: Come unto me ye blessed, for behold, your works have been the works of righteousness upon the face of the earth?
17 Or do ye imagine to yourselves that ye can lie unto the Lord in that day, and say—Lord, our works have been righteous works upon the face of the earth—and that he will save you?
18 Or otherwise, can ye imagine yourselves brought before the tribunal of God with your souls filled with guilt and remorse, having a remembrance of all your guilt, yea, a perfect remembrance of all your wickedness, yea, a remembrance that ye have set at defiance the commandments of God?
19 I say unto you, can ye look up to God at that day with a pure heart and clean hands? I say unto you, can you look up, having the image of God engraven upon your countenances?
The scriptural examples are abundant and conclusive - we must change our hearts by engraving or writing God’s Celestial Law upon them2 > making obedience to that law our genuine intent and desire. This changes our very nature and functionality, becoming ‘born again’ with a new name and more deeply converted as sons and daughters of Christ.
If our goal is to dig deeper roots of personal relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ - it is with the desires of our hearts, the bodily hearthstone of our temple, that we first must ensure a plumb, vertical relationship is established IN Christ. (*Future ‘Plumbline of the Lord’ Essay tease*)
VER EL FIN DESDE EL PRINCIPIO
Let’s jump in from some of Alma’s penetrating questions in Chapter 5,
“Do you look forward with an eye of faith, and view this mortal body raised in immortality, and this corruption raised in incorruption, to stand before God to be judged according to the deeds which have been done in the mortal body?”
In this Chapter as we’ve read - Alma is testifying that it is by a mighty change of heart and enduring to the end that Salvation was wrought. He then begins posing introspective questions to point us in the direction of HOW we too can disrupt the carnal desires of our hearts and replace them with the Celestial desire to obey the Lord.
He is asking if we look forward (where is our perspective fixed?). He is asking if we look to the resurrection and ultimate judgment - our final interview before God to account for our acts in the flesh (what is our end-goal?).
How do we want that final interview with the Savior to go when we step through the veil and have received our resurrection to an immortal state? Which glory will we earn? Which law will we have embodied?
These ‘end-game’ type questions are a catalyst for the voice of the Spirit to whisper to our hearts and minds to prod us along and show us the steps we need to take in order to meet the goal we fix our eternal gaze upon.
I want to introduce a mnemonic I learned on my mission that helps me to wrestle my mind to this very topic, or a shadow/type of it. The saying is,
“Ver el fin desde el principio” or “See the end from the beginning”.
This is a motto of intent, desire.
In martial arts and sports and music growing up - I would practice a form of this internal technique of ‘visualization’ to train my physical muscles to perform in a desired manner or react in specific situations. Whether is was visualizing my baseball/golf swing and form or visualizing how a sparring match or ceremonial kata might be executed - I had been prepared throughout my life to begin exercising this visualization skill as a missionary and applying it to my eternal goals of becoming more like Jesus Christ.
At the beginning of my mission and throughout - I would visualize how I wanted my final interview with my Mission President to go. I wanted my answers to be resilient and honest and full of tried conviction. I wanted my experience to speak with power through my testimony. I wanted to end my mission the right way - having been transformed to the core. I would look ahead at how I wanted my homecoming talk to be felt by those who knew me before - I wanted to be a living testament of conversion because it was real.
We would visualize investigators of the Church in this same fashion - instead of seeing them for their initial reactions or rough spiritual states, we would actively work to ‘see them in white’ (or in Baptismal jumpers or Temple Clothes being sealed as a family), as pearls of great price. We would seek to see them as the Savior would see them, with an eternal perspective. The quest for a pure heart is the same quest to become a seer
I testify that this mnemonic, along with my prayerful repentance and seeking the Lord daily, worked for me as a missionary. I did come home with a transformed heart to a new degree - but it hasn’t stopped there. I have continued to transform my heart and my life through these same fundamental principles and I know that you can too, no matter which step along Jacob’s Ladder you find yourself.
“ALL MEN KNOW THAT THEY MUST DIE”
I read The Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith while on my mission and in my very personal and motivated missionary mindset of “bringing every thought unto Christ”; it is one of my favorite books of all time and I read and refer back to it frequently (I am prompted a lot). I love Joseph Smith - his mind was indeed single to the glory of God and his revelations were many. He was a choice Seer - Gazelem. I look to him as an example of where to fix my vision in this quest to circumscribe all truth into one great whole. He speaks the same tune as King Benjamin and Alma.
Here is what Brother Joseph ‘who communed with Jehova’ identifies as what we should fix our thoughts on:
“All men know that they must die.
And it is important that we understand the reasons and causes of our exposure to the vicissitudes of life and of death, and the designs and purposes of God in our coming into the world, our sufferings here, and our departure hence.
What is the object of our coming into existence, then dying and falling away, to be here no more? It is but reasonable to suppose that God would reveal something in reference to the matter, and it is a subject we ought to study more than any other.
We ought to study it day and night, for the world is ignorant in reference to the matter, and it is a subject we ought to study more than any other. We ought to study it day and night, for the world is ignorant in reference to their true condition and relation.
If we have any claim on our Heavenly Father for anything, it is for knowledge on this important subject. Could we read and comprehend all that has been written from the days of Adam, on the relation of man to God and angels in a future state, we should know very little about it. Reading the experience of others, or the revelation given to them, can never give us a comprehensive view of our condition and true relation to God.
Knowledge of these things can only be obtained by experience through the ordinances of God set forth for that purpose.
Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject.”
God operates in perfect order - he is a God of perfect Celestial LAW. It is through the proper Priesthood order and Ordinance that we ascend the Covenantal Path of Celestial Law to be able to return to partake of His presence and to become like Him. If we seek to grow into the principle of revelation - well then we must see the Lord revealed for ourselves.
Joseph is encouraging us to follow the path of a ‘Seer’ who is able to ‘gaze into heaven’ to learn and then to translate what is experienced into a witness and testimony to others (feed my sheep) - to do so, we must focus our study and our thoughts upon our purpose, our inevitable death, and our eternal destination through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Quick Definition from the BD (Bible Dictionary):
The BD goes on to explain,
All will not be raised to the same glory in the Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:39–42; D&C 76), nor will all come forth at the same time (see 1 Cor. 15:23; Alma 40:8).
Then from the Gospel Topics essay on the Resurrection:
At the time of the resurrection, we will “be judged according to [our] works. … We shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a bright recollection of all our guilt” (Alma 11:41, 43). The eternal glory we receive will depend on our faithfulness. Although all people will be resurrected, only those who have come unto Christ and partaken of the fulness of His gospel will inherit exaltation in the celestial kingdom.
NOTE: I have diligently and intentionally pondered on these ideas I’m going to present in the Temple, which is a resurrection and a revelation and a remembering machine. I invite you to do the same.
Our endowment from and service in the Temple is a blessing and an opportunity to ascend to the Mount like the Prophets and engage with the Celestial - where the pure in heart see God.
Doctrine and Covenants 97:15-17
15 And inasmuch as my people build a house unto me in the name of the Lord, and do not suffer any unclean thing to come into it, that it be not defiled, my glory shall rest upon it;
16 Yea, and my presence shall be there, for I will come into it, and all the pure in heart that shall come into it shall see God.
17 But if it be defiled I will not come into it, and my glory shall not be there; for I will not come into unholy temples.
I know that Jesus is the Christ, the glorified Son of God and the Savior of all creation. I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is His restored Body on Earth in preparation for his Second Coming. I know that the Prophet Joseph Smith was a choice Seer and a man of pure heart, chosen by God to initiate a marvelous work and a wonder in these last days before the great and dreadful day of the Lord and before his magnificent millennial reign. All of the scriptures flow seamlessly together in this all-encompassing paradigm and I rejoice in the Lord.
So which Law will I embody?
Which Spirit will I invite to sustain and power and provide illumination for my temple?
Which Glory will I seek to attain in the resurrection?
1 And after Christ shall have risen from the dead he shall show himself unto you, my children, and my beloved brethren; and the words which he shall speak unto you shall be the law which ye shall do.
The Law is the Letter and the Spirit - when we write ‘the letter’ or the ‘word’ upon our hearts through Priesthood covenants which are sealed, we invoke the Spirit of God as our constant companion to reside within our heart and body and to give us access to God’s Priesthood power.
RESURRECTION TO RESURRECTION
In this context, let’s examine a little of what the Lord taught to his disciples after he was resurrected - what kind of questions is he asking here?
Jesus appears to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias—He says, Feed my sheep—He foretells Peter’s martyrdom and that John will not die.
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4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus saith unto them, Children, have ye any meat? They answered him, No.
6 And he said unto them, Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find. They cast therefore, and now they were not able to draw it for the multitude of fishes.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher’s coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea.
8 And the other disciples came in a little ship; (for they were not far from land, but as it were two hundred cubits,) dragging the net with fishes.
9 As soon then as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid thereon, and bread.
10 Jesus saith unto them, Bring of the fish which ye have now caught.
11 Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land full of great fishes, an hundred and fifty and three: and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.
12 Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
13 Jesus then cometh, and taketh bread, and giveth them, and fish likewise.
14 This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
15 ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
16 He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
17 He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
18 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, When thou wast young, thou girdedst thyself, and walkedst whither thou wouldest: but when thou shalt be old, thou shalt stretch forth thy hands, and another shall gird thee, and carry thee whither thou wouldest not.
19 This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me.
20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee?
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee?
24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.
25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
He asks if they have meat
*He gives them bread AND meat - he feeds them the Gospel/Plan
He asks Peter 3x, “thou lovest me?”
*He commands them to exercise CHARITY (feed my sheep = share your bread and meat, like he just showed them)
He then prophecies that Peter will be martyred - as He was. A focus on death - ultimately giving/submitting his life as the Lord did.
Peter asks after John’s reward (a future-looking/pointing desire). A focus beyond death - John also giving/submitting his life as the Lord did, in a different way.
Jesus again commands to ‘follow me’ <> “copy me to have this resurrection”
These are questions of life’s purpose and death and resurrection - just as Joseph Smith outlined we should study ‘night and day’.
John sought to be translated - as also did the 3 Nephites from America - to exercise Charity unto bringing souls into the Kingdom of God through ministering to many, right up until the Lord will return at the 2nd Coming and conclude the Morning of the First Resurrection.
From Resurrection to Resurrection John desired to serve in Charity and pure love while in the flesh. (Translated flesh, but flesh nonetheless = not resurrected yet, he still must pass through a type of ‘death’, explained by Nephi below)
We can gain greater insight into John 21 by diving equally into 3 Nephi 28 - this is Christ’s resurrected ministry to his other sheep in the Americas after his ascension in Jerusalem. This is the pinnacle of the Book of Mormon! So it is clear and consistent that he is teaching and asking of his American disciples the same penetrating questions of life and death and their desires in the resurrection.
Nine of the twelve disciples desire and are promised an inheritance in Christ’s kingdom when they die—The Three Nephites desire and are given power over death so as to remain on the earth until Jesus comes again—They are translated and see things not lawful to utter, and they are now ministering among men. About A.D. 34–35.
1 And it came to pass when Jesus had said these words, he spake unto his disciples, one by one, saying unto them: What is it that ye desire of me, after that I am gone to the Father?
2 And they all spake, save it were three, saying: We desire that after we have lived unto the age of man, that our ministry, wherein thou hast called us, may have an end, that we may speedily come unto thee in thy kingdom.
3 And he said unto them: Blessed are ye because ye desired this thing of me; therefore, after that ye are seventy and two years old ye shall come unto me in my kingdom; and with me ye shall find rest.
4 And when he had spoken unto them, he turned himself unto the three, and said unto them: What will ye that I should do unto you, when I am gone unto the Father?
5 And they sorrowed in their hearts, for they durst not speak unto him the thing which they desired.
6 And he said unto them: Behold, I know your thoughts, and ye have desired the thing which John, my beloved, who was with me in my ministry, before that I was lifted up by the Jews, desired of me.
7 Therefore, more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death; but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven.
8 And ye shall never endure the pains of death; but when I shall come in my glory ye shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye from mortality to immortality; and then shall ye be blessed in the kingdom of my Father.
9 And again, ye shall not have pain while ye shall dwell in the flesh, neither sorrow save it be for the sins of the world; and all this will I do because of the thing which ye have desired of me, for ye have desired that ye might bring the souls of men unto me, while the world shall stand.
10 And for this cause ye shall have fulness of joy; and ye shall sit down in the kingdom of my Father; yea, your joy shall be full, even as the Father hath given me fulness of joy; and ye shall be even as I am, and I am even as the Father; and the Father and I are one;
11 And the Holy Ghost beareth record of the Father and me; and the Father giveth the Holy Ghost unto the children of men, because of me.
12 And it came to pass that when Jesus had spoken these words, he touched every one of them with his finger save it were the three who were to tarry, and then he departed.
13 And behold, the heavens were opened, and they were caught up into heaven, and saw and heard unspeakable things.
14 And it was forbidden them that they should utter; neither was it given unto them power that they could utter the things which they saw and heard;
15 And whether they were in the body or out of the body, they could not tell; for it did seem unto them like a transfiguration of them, that they were changed from this body of flesh into an immortal state, that they could behold the things of God.
16 But it came to pass that they did again minister upon the face of the earth; nevertheless they did not minister of the things which they had heard and seen, because of the commandment which was given them in heaven.
17 And now, whether they were mortal or immortal, from the day of their transfiguration, I know not;
18 But this much I know, according to the record which hath been given—they did go forth upon the face of the land, and did minister unto all the people, uniting as many to the church as would believe in their preaching; baptizing them, and as many as were baptized did receive the Holy Ghost.
19 And they were cast into prison by them who did not belong to the church. And the prisons could not hold them, for they were rent in twain.
20 And they were cast down into the earth; but they did smite the earth with the word of God, insomuch that by his power they were delivered out of the depths of the earth; and therefore they could not dig pits sufficient to hold them.
21 And thrice they were cast into a furnace and received no harm.
22 And twice were they cast into a den of wild beasts; and behold they did play with the beasts as a child with a suckling lamb, and received no harm.
23 And it came to pass that thus they did go forth among all the people of Nephi, and did preach the gospel of Christ unto all people upon the face of the land; and they were converted unto the Lord, and were united unto the church of Christ, and thus the people of that generation were blessed, according to the word of Jesus.
24 And now I, Mormon, make an end of speaking concerning these things for a time.
25 Behold, I was about to write the names of those who were never to taste of death, but the Lord forbade; therefore I write them not, for they are hid from the world.
26 But behold, I have seen them, and they have ministered unto me.
27 And behold they will be among the Gentiles, and the Gentiles shall know them not.
28 They will also be among the Jews, and the Jews shall know them not.
29 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord seeth fit in his wisdom that they shall minister unto all the scattered tribes of Israel, and unto all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, and shall bring out of them unto Jesus many souls, that their desire may be fulfilled, and also because of the convincing power of God which is in them.
30 And they are as the angels of God, and if they shall pray unto the Father in the name of Jesus they can show themselves unto whatsoever man it seemeth them good.
31 Therefore, great and marvelous works shall be wrought by them, before the great and coming day when all people must surely stand before the judgment-seat of Christ;
32 Yea even among the Gentiles shall there be a great and marvelous work wrought by them, before that judgment day.
33 And if ye had all the scriptures which give an account of all the marvelous works of Christ, ye would, according to the words of Christ, know that these things must surely come.
34 And wo be unto him that will not hearken unto the words of Jesus, and also to them whom he hath chosen and sent among them; for whoso receiveth not the words of Jesus and the words of those whom he hath sent receiveth not him; and therefore he will not receive them at the last day;
35 And it would be better for them if they had not been born. For do ye suppose that ye can get rid of the justice of an offended God, who hath been trampled under feet of men, that thereby salvation might come?
36 And now behold, as I spake concerning those whom the Lord hath chosen, yea, even three who were caught up into the heavens, that I knew not whether they were cleansed from mortality to immortality—
37 But behold, since I wrote, I have inquired of the Lord, and he hath made it manifest unto me that there must needs be a change wrought upon their bodies, or else it needs be that they must taste of death;
38 Therefore, that they might not taste of death there was a change wrought upon their bodies, that they might not suffer pain nor sorrow save it were for the sins of the world.
39 Now this change was not equal to that which shall take place at the last day; but there was a change wrought upon them, insomuch that Satan could have no power over them, that he could not tempt them; and they were sanctified in the flesh, that they were holy, and that the powers of the earth could not hold them.
40 And in this state they were to remain until the judgment day of Christ; and at that day they were to receive a greater change, and to be received into the kingdom of the Father to go no more out, but to dwell with God eternally in the heavens.
He asked after their ‘desires’ in the end
9 desired to ‘rest’ in death to come to Christ in His Kingdom - and 3 desired ‘to behold’ as John until the 2nd Coming
“but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory with the powers of heaven.”
To ‘behold’ is to see - to witness - to KNOW - to testify!
I see a very clear and important principle here emerging and will now explore it.
JOHN THE BELOVED - JOHN THE REVELATOR
In my mission journal I wrote,
“Why is John both ‘the Beloved’ AND ‘the Revelator’? Could it be that for his knowledge he gained that respect?”
My intuition then matches the answer I will give now - LOVE is directly correlated to our KNOWLEDGE.
Elder James E. Talmage wrote in Articles of Faith,
“True worship cannot exist where there is no LOVE for the object.” (pg. 359)
“KNOWLEDGE, therefore, is essential to worship; man cannot adequately serve God in ignorance; and the greater his knowledge of the Divine personality, the fuller and truer will be his adoration.” (pg. 360)
So to real LOVE is to KNOW and to act on that knowledge for the benefit of all.
So real love is real knowledge/wisdom, which is power - control.
Love is acquired and exercised in order to GIVE and SHARE - for Charity is the Pure Love of Christ. For example, the more you know about your spouse, the more you can exercise service more efficiently and personally and powerfully > the deeper you will actually find yourself loving them and all involved will be edified and lifted up. This is the Celestial way.
With the ‘Higher and Holier’ way of ministering we’ve been directed to exercise - we can find this same principle [of LOVE being tied directly to our knowledge and understanding] a more pivotal pillar in forming real lasting relationships with those to whom we minister and feed; we don’t just check a superficial box to satisfy a required ‘visit’.
The same principle is exercised in faith in Christ. The more we learn about him and consume his word and write it upon our hearts - the more we are filled with the Spirit and joy and we are changed and transformed to become more like Him.
The Spirit of Prophecy is described by John as “the testimony of Jesus”. The term ‘Apocalypse’ and even the book of ‘Revelation’ are the unveiling or uncovering of Jesus Christ’s Plan of Redemption and the victory of his Kingdom in macro. It is knowledge. Knowing. He is the Beloved.
Love is intimately connected and manifested in the knowledge and convictions of our mind and the disposition of our heart. So then, at the root of our ‘love’ is our heart or desires, our intents, and our beliefs.
Staying on the topic of belief of the heart and seeing and John the Revelator - another visionary example in the Book Mormon we have who typifies this point and principle is Nephi. Nephi saw the same vision as John the Revelator but was forbidden to write certain portions that would be reserved for John to write (the Book of Revelation).
DESIRE - THE HEART AND SEEING
I will refer you to 1 Nephi Chapters 11-14. This is where Nephi desires to see the same vision that his father Lehi saw regarding the Tree of Life and the Plan of Salvation and it is granted unto him in a vision.
As we read - consider this question in light of everything we’ve been discussing:
How are desire and belief and pondering in the heart directly connected to ‘seeing’?
We could go all the way through the whole vision and find more references to desire/heart/belief/intent being the precursor to ‘beholding’, but I’ll let you explore that on your own in more detail. This snip makes the point. Verse 7 confirms the end-purpose as we’ve discussed, that when we ‘behold’ or ‘see’ it is to witness and bear record of it, to feed the Lord’s sheep in faith.
The Prophetic macro-vision centers on the Atonement of Christ as the the epitome of God’s love and charity for his Children. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”. (John 3:16)
After the Atonement of Jesus Christ, no longer was the shedding of blood required for the remission of sin. The new requirement according to the new covenant and law provided by Christ himself, was for a broken heart and a contrite spirit. Here’s how he presented it to the righteous Saints who survived his 1st Resurrected Advent in America,
15 Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God. I created the heavens and the earth, and all things that in them are. I was with the Father from the beginning. I am in the Father, and the Father in me; and in me hath the Father glorified his name.
16 I came unto my own, and my own received me not. And the scriptures concerning my coming are fulfilled.
17 And as many as have received me, to them have I given to become the sons of God; and even so will I to as many as shall believe on my name, for behold, by me redemption cometh, and in me is the law of Moses fulfilled.
18 I am the light and the life of the world. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.
19 And ye shall offer up unto me no more the shedding of blood; yea, your sacrifices and your burnt offerings shall be done away, for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings.
20 And ye shall offer for a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whoso cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost, and they knew it not.
21 Behold, I have come unto the world to bring redemption unto the world, to save the world from sin.
THE BLOODY HEART
Before moving forward - I want to take your mind back.
When did the shedding of blood as a sacrificial offering for sin begin and why?
It was a similitude of the purified and perfect sacrificial blood that Jesus Christ would freely give for all who would choose to repent and follow him, to be like him, to consume him and to be full of light. It began with Adam and Eve - after the fall.
5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord.
6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me.
7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore.
9 And in that day the Holy Ghost fell upon Adam, which beareth record of the Father and the Son, saying: I am the Only Begotten of the Father from the beginning, henceforth and forever, that as thou hast fallen thou mayest be redeemed, and all mankind, even as many as will.
10 And in that day Adam blessed God and was filled, and began to prophesy concerning all the families of the earth, saying: Blessed be the name of God, for because of my transgression my eyes are opened, and in this life I shall have joy, and again in the flesh I shall see God.
NOTE: Another example faith and repentance being exercised with a pure heart unto the visitation of Angels and the Holy Ghost who grant knowledge and vision and the spirit of prophecy among other gifts of the spirit.
When Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden and their Celestial environment - it was because they had consumed the fruit of the Tree of KNOWLEDGE which in turn affected them to core - to their heart - it changed their Celestial nature and animating force to corruptible blood.
Before they partook of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, what powered their bodies if not blood? What kept them in an ‘amortal’ state?
Let’s consider these quotes:
Adam was literally a Son of the Father.
The Father is a Perfect Man. Perfection cannot beget imperfection - thus the Adam was created a Celestial Body on a Celestial/Transfigured Host (environment/planet) and placed in Eden where the test of agency through faith could begin.
How else could there be a ‘fall’ or a redemption lest there was a height/degree to be re-deemed, restored to?
Adam [Michael] and Jesus Christ [Jehova] were given the power and authority to make these concepts a reality.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Blood is the corruptible element of our body, the reason we die naturally, the difference between mortal and immortal/amortal bodies of heavy element is in the fluid - it gives shape and form and health, and strength and breath and life.
NOTE: Blood, the animating force of your body - is formed in the marrow of the bones, oxygenated and consisting of the literal particles we consume by inhalation (lungs/breath) and by stomach/navel, and it is translated and transmitted by the heart - our hearthstone and source of energy/life.
Blood is the glory [Light] element of the body - it is why our hearts need to be purified, sanctified. Iron is abundant in our blood. Isn’t it interesting that iron is the metal of the Rod, the Word of God - that should be written upon our HEARTS?
Remember - it was by eating, or consuming that that the very nature of Adam’s body was changed. We are what we consume. In meat and drink do we have sustenance for the body, yet still there is more - a connection to the Spiritual body. We are spirit bodies currently bound to natural bodies of flesh & blood by birth. Blood holds that spirit, the HEART is the seat.
3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Through Baptism by immersion we symbolize and imitate the death of our carnal and fallen nature - and we are reborn to become a Spiritual body in Christ - a similitude of the Resurrection when we WILL NOT HAVE BLOOD in the body and we will become full of light to the degree with which we have kept the law - so we are given the gift of the Holy Ghost and an Endowment now to purify our Hearts and our blood until then.
The new covenantal rite of the Sacrament instituted by Christ is a ritual of consumption. We literally eat bread and we drink water/wine to represent the body and the blood of the sacrificial Lamb of God - we want to have Eternal Life and become like Him. When Jesus taught his disciples this connection - some murmured saying, “This is an hard saying” - because it could easily be accused or misconstrued as some distorted form of cannibalism. [Read John 6:22-71 in this context]
So think about it - you will not have blood in your resurrected body.
What then of our bloody hearts in the resurrection?
Once again - the heart is such a central part of the bodily temple - the first organ developed (even before the brain) and the furnace/power-station (when it stops - you stop). The heart actually sends more signals to the brain than the other way around, and those signals affect brain function. (This is again confirmation that our heart and our desires are the root of our thought - we must break our heart to go within and change our very nature)
From The HeartMath Institute:
Will we just not have a heart in the resurrection? What will then drive our thoughts if not?
No… that doesn’t make sense to me - something so foundational and integrated into the Gospel would not just be erased. Let’s turn now to the scriptures to see if we can’t find an answer - for as Joseph Smith surely proclaimed, “If we have any claim on our Heavenly Father for anything, it is for knowledge on this important subject.”
What is the ‘white stone’ mentioned by John the Beloved, John the Revelator in Revelation 2:17?
This question has consistently pulled on my mind ever since I first explored the doctrine as a young missionary in Chiapas, Mexico. According to my missionary study-journals, the answer that I temporarily settled on at that time (after many late-night ‘deep doctrine’ conversations among other young missionaries and after consulting every available resource), was that the white stone must be a ‘temple recommend’ of sorts, something necessary and physical in combination with becoming a urim and thummim as revealed by the Lord through Joseph Smith in Section 130.
For a young missionary version of myself, that conclusion was enough to dampen the nagging thoughts and driving questions. So in 2006 I made a note in my study journal to revisit the topic again when I returned home and I could then utilize additional resources outside the approved missionary library.
I never stopped thinking about it > and what you are reading is the product of this.
After study and prayer and much pondering in my heart at the Temple - I now believe that the ‘white stone’ mentioned in the scriptures is a reference to a resurrected heart that is Celestial in nature. A brilliant crystalline heart possessed by those who keep Celestial covenants; a bodily cornerstone that will become a urim and thummim, an eternal ‘seeing stone’.
A bodily ‘rock’ and a pure foundation upon which a degree of Celestial Glory is communicated to - and then disseminated through - the resurrected body.
Upon this crystal heart is written a ‘new name’ that is to be the keyword to grant access to the Celestial network or family of light, knowledge, and Eternal Lives. To become a Heavenly Father. It is by the power of this new name and our immortal bodily capacity to be charged with glory that we will enjoy Eternal Lives with the Celestial Family of the Father.
—
I have two powerful correlations to present as supporting evidence for my claim. One is a direct scriptural correlation - and the other is an indirect scriptural pattern correlation.
The primary evidence in support of this thesis is found in the direct scriptural correlation between the white stone, the urim & thummim - and the heart. The correlation between the white stone and urim & thummim is explicit while the connection between the urim & thummim and the heart is comparatively veiled and symbolic.
Despite the lack of an explicit connection like the first two elements, the symbolic connection is compelling.
DISCLAIMER: I am generally aware of many of the diverse opinions/speculations as to what this peculiar stone mentioned by John is by non-Latter-day Saint scholars as well as a few curious faithful.
I have found their propositions and ideas all lacking additional support or substance in comparison to this thesis. I have found that the more I test this thesis, the more evidence I find in support of it, which has made it impossible for me to finish this work thoroughly. This has richly enhanced my faith in Jesus Christ, my desire to feast on the scriptures and to seek rest in the House of the Lord. It has also greatly enlightened my understanding and appreciation for the joys that await us through the power of the resurrection.
That being said, if the white stone of Revelation is not literally the resurrected heart as I am currently compelled to believe, but emblematically a physical and extra-bodily token (something held outside of the body) - it really doesn’t matter.
The symbolic and crystalline-like structure of this correlation stands independent of a literal application and has enhanced my understanding of the Gospel.
Let’s explore the direct scriptural correlation first.
DIRECT SCRIPTURAL CORRELATION
In this scripture there are 5 footnotes [overcometh, manna, white, stone, name]. By following those 5 footnotes we can draw the following direct scriptural correlation:
In the New Testament, we find the oldest explicit mention of the white stone in the Book of Revelation, written by John who is translated. It is found in Chapter 2 verse 17.
HE THAT HATH AN EAR - TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH
When I see the language like and similar to “he that hath an ear, let him hear” or “with eyes to see” - it immediately evokes an awareness of Celestial/Heavenly and Spiritual principles and doctrines that being conveyed in an accessible way. In the context of this scripture - ‘him that overcometh’ is a reference to those who will receive Celestial Glory.3
In Chapters 2-3 John is making his opening address to 7 churches of his time, but also to the 7 dispensations of time and their included generations. This is a revelation to all the children of God and especially to those who are ordained to the First Resurrection, or in other words - those worthy of Celestial Glory. Those Saints who have striven to live after Celestial Laws and who have overcome the world through obedience to and the grace of Jesus Christ, the First to be resurrected, the Firstborn.
To those who overcome sin and this mortal probation obtain the rest of the Lord in this life - and in the eternities to come. See President Nelson’s most recent Sunday General Conference address > OCT 2022 GC - Overcome the World and Find Rest - President Russell M. Nelson.
THE HIDDEN MANNA
Bring to memory what we read earlier about the Lord instituting the Sacrament and identifying himself as the true manna, the hidden manna and the sustenance of our Salvation. It is metaphorical in that his Word is our bread as it is the law of life - we must eat it to survive spiritually like we must eat bread to survive physically - yet it is literal in that the sacrament represents his name and the type of perfected body that he offers to share with us in resurrection if we would repent and follow him. We are invited to literally live again with him forever - to become like him, and to be co-heirs with him to the Kingdom.
WHITE STONE AS URIM AND THUMMIM
As Latter-day Saints we have additional insight thanks to the Prophet Joseph Smith. Following the footnotes for ‘white’ and ‘stone’ in our current scriptures, we are led to Doctrine and Covenants Section 130 verses 10-11. I’m including this picture to emphasize what I see:
From this modern revelation, we have a direct and explicit correlation between the white stone and an individual urim and thummim as the former ‘will become’ the latter at the time of the sanctification and immortalization of the Earth and the final judgment of man when their final ‘glories’ are meted out.
[A (white stone) = B (urim & thummim)]
If the white stone represents/symbolizes a urim and thummim, what is a urim and thummim and what does the urim a thummim represent/symbolize? Let’s read the Bible Dictionary definition of urim and thummim:
This the very essence and meaning of the name ‘urim and thummim’, to see and to know.
“...An instrument prepared of God to assist man in obtaining revelation from the Lord and in translating languages.
Using a Urim and Thummim is the special prerogative of a seer…”
Or consider this definition from Elder Orson Pratt:
“The Urim and Thummim is a stone, or other substance sanctified and illuminated by the Spirit of the living God, and presented to those who are blessed with the gift of seeing”
Masterful Discourses of Orson Pratt, 552
URIM AND THUMMIM AS A PURE HEART
According to these definitions, a urim and thummim does not have to be a stone - but any ‘object’ or ‘substance’ that has been sanctified and illuminated by the Spirit. A heart that is ‘tuned’ to the Spirit and that is pure and sanctified definitely fits the requirement of being an ‘object’ or a ‘substance’.
From President John Taylor we add a more expansive definition of the urim and thummim, that it was:
“A generic term meaning any device with the potential for ‘communicating light perfectly, and intelligence perfectly, through a principle that God has ordained for that purpose.’”
Let’s now turn to the Old Testament and the blossoming of Israelite Temple worship. Here we read how Aaron is directed in garment and oracular protocol for officiating in the holiest places of the House or Tabernacle/Body of the Lord.
There are twelve unique stones, each inscribed with the name of one of the Twelve Tribes on the outside of the Ephod of the High Priest; this is powerfully symbolic in and of itself. [read slowly] It is a symbolic social representation; the tribal collective signification of the same pattern we see behind the plate. One for the many (Christ for all of Covenant Israel). One for the many (each gem for each Tribe of Israel collective). One for the many (Aaron for the collective House).
The urim and thummim, which is a Hebrew term that means “Lights and Perfections”, was placed in a pouch behind the Breastplate of Judgment and over, or ‘upon Aaron’s heart’. A compelling suggestion that the very object of divine revelation and seership is a pure heart, or in other words, a heart full of light and truth!
8 Blessed are the Pure in Heart: for they shall see God.
Doctrine and Covenants 56:18
18 But blessed are the poor who are pure in heart, whose hearts are broken, and whose spirits are contrite, for they shall see the kingdom of God coming in power and great glory unto their deliverance; for the fatness of the earth shall be theirs.
The connection between the breastplate (heart) and ‘judgment’ is explicit. It is called the breastplate of judgment by the Lord.
The idea and meaning of judgment can have many interpretations and applications in our lives; but in a Celestial context - as was symbolically recreated in the regalia and vestiture of the High Priest - it communicates a degree of permanence, an everlasting judgment. A purified and fire-tested state, like the precious stones formed through intense heat and pressure.
[B (urim & thummim) = C (a pure heart/symbolic resurrected celestial heart)]
Let’s revisit the relationship:
Consider also this supporting example from David Witmer about how Joseph Smith couldn’t translate without a pure heart:
“Now we see how very strict the Lord is, and how he requires the heart of man to be just right in his sight before he can receive revelations from him.”
David Whitmer
Incorporating this principle and broader definition of what urim and thummim are enhances the understanding of the progressive translating experience of Joseph Smith with the Book of Mormon. (There’s that ‘translating’ word again - and in connection to a pure heart and desire and the seeing ability to behold, to witness and to convey to others - to feed the sheep. Noted).
As Joseph grew in his Gift of God, the nature of the instruments he used changed: from starting with the urim and thummim, to using the more comfortable seeing stones, to eventually being able to translate through his sanctified heart alone.
Just for fun - there are descriptions of the urim and thummim that Joseph used as being two perfectly round and transparent diamonds or crystals (some accounts say that two triangles were etched on the stones) in a silver bow like ‘folding spectacles’ of the time.
Here is some cool artwork and a picture of actual folding spectacles from the early 1830s. (I know the artwork of ‘folding’ is a little off in the left sketch - but the point is salient to me regardless of the forced perspective - if there were triangular shapes etched into the stones, and if the stones were set in folding rims, they would have been ancient folding rims or they didn’t fold at all.) It really doesn’t impact the thesis, but it does draw out a new question -
Why two stones? Why sealed in a bow?
TWO STONES - SEALED
We could just say “Well we have two eyes Leiland!” And on the surface that makes sense - but staying consistent in the context of a Celestial resurrection to the highest degree of glory and access to the network of Heavenly Father(s) - the sealing of two pure hearts in the New and Everlasting Covenant makes for a much more appropriate symbol and reminder behind the question.
We cannot obtain the highest degree within the Celestial Kingdom alone.
Consider Doctrine and Covenants Section 131 in this perspective and in the context of urim and thummim (pure hearts) and prophecy/knowledge and seeing - every segment of this Section is then properly related.
Doctrine and Covenants 131
Instructions by Joseph Smith the Prophet, given at Ramus, Illinois, May 16 and 17, 1843.
1–4, Celestial marriage is essential to exaltation in the highest heaven; 5–6, How men are sealed up unto eternal life is explained; 7–8, All spirit is matter.
1 In the celestial glory there are three heavens or degrees;
2 And in order to obtain the highest, a man must enter into this order of the priesthood [meaning the new and everlasting covenant of marriage];
3 And if he does not, he cannot obtain it.
4 He may enter into the other, but that is the end of his kingdom; he cannot have an increase.
5 (May 17th, 1843.) The more sure word of prophecy means a man’s knowing that he is sealed up unto eternal life, by revelation and the spirit of prophecy, through the power of the Holy Priesthood.
6 It is impossible for a man to be saved in ignorance.
7 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;
8 We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter.
INDIRECT SCRIPTURAL CORRELATION
ONE ETERNAL ROUND - A PATTERN
As Joseph Smith exercised his divine gift, the initial external ‘object’ or ‘substance’ with which he received divine transmission changed and evolved with experience to something internal - but the nature and source of the light and truth disseminated did not. I find a striking parallel in this to the relationship between our intelligence and our material body as we progress through the 3 estates of embodiment. This patternistic combination of light and instrument/vessel, is a recurring symbolic theme in the Gospel. It is a theme representative of the ultimate ‘work and the glory’ of our Heavenly Father, “to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39).
This is the work of the Father that is one eternal round for, “as one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words.”(Moses 1:38) This pattern beautifully demonstrates the symmetry and balance of the plan of salvation through a chiastic structure.
It was through the Creation that body and spirit were organized together and it was through the Fall that Death became an obstacle to both. The Fall of Adam brought the consequence of bodily death (or the separation of the spirit from the body) as well as spiritual death (the separation of the spirit from God/Truth through sin).
Jesus Christ as the Redeemer broke the bands of both physical death and spiritual death and provided a pathway for all mankind to return to the Celestial Kingdom through an exalting process.
This pattern is simplified in Moses 1:39.
this is my work and my glory—
to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.
Just as ‘love God and love your neighbor’ are the simplified container for all of the other diverse commandments of the Lord, so too is Moses 1:39 for the pattern and motivation of God and the Plan of Salvation (which is THE Vision of the Prophetic Tradition: a big picture timeline/run down, seeing the end from the beginning).
We will use this macro-pattern to corroborate our identification of the white stone as a resurrected Celestial heart - or the light/spirit life-force focus of our future Celestial bodies.
“God himself, finding he was in the midst of spirits and glory, because he was more intelligent, saw proper to institute laws whereby the rest could have a privilege to advance like himself … He has power to institute laws to instruct the weaker intelligences, that they may be exalted with himself, so that they might have one glory upon another.”
Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith (2007), 210.
Within the declaration of the Lord to Moses - I see an internal correlation and parallel that mirrors our current literal physical constitution as dual-natured beings (temporal/physical body + spirit body):
This is the action[Faith] of God - it requires capacity [body] and intelligence [spirit].
The connection is between work and immortality, and glory and eternal life.
The work/immortality pairing is a bodily function - or something that requires a body to perform. It is the elemental/physical body aspect of this mission declaration.
The glory/eternal life coupling is an intelligence (or light or spirit or glory) function - something that requires both a body and a degree of access to knowledge or light. For only through the inseparable organization and testing and fusing of element and spirit can man experience the same kind of glory and life and joy that our Heavenly Father does.
NOTE/REMINDER: I consider the following words to be synonymous in general or an eternal perspective: glory = life = light = truth = spirit = intelligence = knowledge
Let’s look to the scriptures to help demystify or support what I am trying to express. These passages help buoy my synonymous grouping above.
Doctrine and Covenants 93:20-24, 27-36
20 For if you keep my commandments you shall receive of his fulness, and be glorified in me as I am in the Father; therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace.
21 And now, verily I say unto you, I was in the beginning with the Father, and am the Firstborn;
22 And all those who are begotten through me are partakers of the glory of the same, and are the church of the Firstborn.
23 Ye were also in the beginning with the Father; that which is Spirit, even the Spirit of truth;
24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come;
..
27 And no man receiveth a fulness unless he keepeth his commandments.
28 He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things.
29 Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be.
30 All truth is independent in that sphere in which God has placed it, to act for itself, as all intelligence also; otherwise there is no existence.
31 Behold, here is the agency of man, and here is the condemnation of man; because that which was from the beginning is plainly manifest unto them, and they receive not the light.
32 And every man whose spirit receiveth not the light is under condemnation.
33 For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fulness of joy;
34 And when separated, man cannot receive a fulness of joy.
35 The elements are the tabernacle of God; yea, man is the tabernacle of God, even temples; and whatsoever temple is defiled, God shall destroy that temple.
36 The glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth.
Throughout the scriptures we see this pattern manifest.
Here is an open, running list I have in my study journal for consideration:
I’m hoping you can add more!
Within this macro-mission pattern - the language and symbols of Revelation 2:17’s promise of the ‘end-game-reward’ for him who overcomes are compellingly compatible. The hidden manna is the corporeal/physical reality of immortality and the companionship of Jesus Christ himself and the white stone is the spiritual transformer/translator that will ‘receive’ the Celestial light and law and charge our corporeal immortality in its glory so that we may access and use it in perfect Charity, as he does - to assist in bringing to pass the immortality and eternal life of man from unorganized matter and to continue to progress from glory to glory.
BONUS: If you go through Section 88 you will also see the same themes being reinforced and emphasis on Temple doctrines and a charge to seek charity. I only include a peek into half of the Chapter here in this snip:
Still the whole section is relevant to these Celestial doctrines.
Doctrine and Covenants 88:67-69
67 And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things.
68 Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God, and the days will come that you shall see him; for he will unveil his face unto you, and it shall be in his own time, and in his own way, and according to his own will.
69 Remember the great and last promise which I have made unto you; cast away your idle thoughts and your excess of laughter far from you.
To me - these two scriptural correlations are compelling and enhance my understanding of so many other doctrines, practices and aspects of the Gospel and the Temple that make my heart sing.
Think of these things the next time you go through and serve in the Temple. Ask questions and listen.
OUTRO - A JUNCTION
This White Stone Thesis and idea has helped me to ‘circumscribe my [own] heart’ and my desires and intents in tandem with my efforts at controlling my thoughts and my mind - as I seek to more profoundly understand and keep present the end goal of Immortality and Eternal Life.
I pray it will for you too.
The more we can learn of and follow the Rock of our Salvation, and the more we tune our own future rock of perfect knowledge (by circumscribing our hearts, wrestling our desires to see the end from the beginning) - the more powerful will be our ability to comprehend and understand the future ‘rocks of Cosmism’ that we will eventually bring into focus.
This essay and thesis is a junction. There will be many future essays and sermons that I plan to tie directly to this concept and its associated principles. Things like:
Eternal Life and the Body Electric
Blood as Spirit - the Global Witness (Comparative Mythology)
Matter and Crystallization
Kolob as ‘The Heart Star’
Name Doctrine
Endowment as Coronation and Ascension
… and many more.
Please stay tuned!
I hope that you are inspired to likewise find topics or ideas that would test and try my thesis. The more we can collectively gather to see and to paint this connection and understanding - the more we will lift each other up in true edification as we seek to follow the Lord and to feed his sheep.
I challenge you to act upon the thoughts and impressions that you have felt while studying this out in your mind. I would love to hear your thoughts.
“Pray in the name of Jesus Christ about your concerns, your fears, your weaknesses—yes, the very longings of your heart. And then listen! Write the thoughts that come to your mind. Record your feelings and follow through with actions that you are prompted to take. As you repeat this process day after day, month after month, year after year, you will “grow into the principle of revelation.”
Does God really want to speak to you? Yes! “As well might man stretch forth his puny arm to stop the Missouri river in its decreed course … as to hinder the Almighty from pouring down knowledge from heaven upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints.”
Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives - GC APR 2018 - President Nelson
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
I finished listening to this. I have to admit that it has been a little hard to focus on your amazing discussion because as soon as I start listening my mind is filled with tons of thoughts connecting all sorts of Churchy stuff. I believe that is because the Spirit is speaking to me, so I guess that's a good endorsement of your podcast . . .
Oh dear brother- this info is changing my life!!!