I am in your midst!

D&C 6:32-37 

Verily, verily, I say unto you, as I said unto my disciples, where two or three are gathered together in my name, as touching one thing, behold, there will I be in the midst of them - even so am I in the midst of you. Fear not to do good, MY SONS, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for IF "ye" are BUILT UPON "MY ROCK", "they" cannot prevail. Behold, I  DO NOT CONDEMN you, go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you. Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not. BEHOLD the wounds which pierced my side, and also the prints of the nails in my hands and feet; be faithful, keep my commandments, and ye shall inherit the kingdom of heaven. Amen. (My emphasis in caps) 

Ok let's parse this: 

Who is speaking? 

To Whom is Christ speaking? 

Why would "His sons" be able to "fear not" after this REVELATION? 

What is it "ye" must be built on? 

What Rock? 

What is the nature of the Rock to be built on? 

Is it any Rock we find that LOOKS like a good rock? 

How would one know if they were on the  true Rock of Christ if they did NOT UNDERSTAND THE TRUE NATURE OF GOD!? 

What does the phrase, "I  DO NOT CONDEMN you" mean for those Christ is speaking to? 

Does this scripture automatically apply to me or to all who thereafter read this passage? 

What does Christ command the witnesses to this revelation to do? 

Why would He need to command them to behold? 

What is it they behold? 

Does this "beholding" have anything to do with: 

1. Fearing not? 

2. Of Christ being in the midst where two or three are gathered together in my name? 

3. Of being His Sons/daughters? 

4. Doing good? 

5. Sowing and then reaping? 

6. Having the capacity to "build upon My Rock? 

7. To not being condemned? 

8. To having the capacity to "sin no more"? 

9.  To having the capacity to "Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not." 

10. Earth and hell NOT prevailing over them? 

How are they qualified or prepared to be able to "behold"? 

Is it because Christ has named them a son, and condemned them not, or in other words, He took away their sins? 

If their sins are taken away are they "sinless"? 

If sinless, and a son, are they not begotten? 

Why does this description of them receiving this so resemble the attributes of Christ as our Savior? 

What exactly is going on here? 

Have you beheld Salvation? 

41 Behold, here is wisdom concerning the children of Zion, even many, but not all; they were found transgressors, therefore they must needs be chastened— 

42 He that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that abaseth himself shall be exalted. 

43 And now, I will show unto you a parable, that you may know my will concerning the redemption of Zion. (Doctrine and Covenants, Doctrine and Covenants, D&C 101)

"they were found transgressors"

Transgressors of what?

"He that exalteth himself"

Do we exalt ourselves when we assume we have the same blessing as those who have stood in the Presence of Christ, and beheld His body and His wounds? In other words, do we exalt ourselves when we assume that when 2 or 3 of us are gathered together that Christ is in our midst? Have we received what those in this scripture received? 

If we haven't, then He may not be in the midst if us, and to assume as much is the height of vanity and pride. Him in our midst would be reserved for those who received all that was given in the revelation and manifestation to those present that day. If we have that, then when we gather, He IS in our midst indeed!

Nibley on the devil

"There is a precedent for the bit of faking--a most distinguished one. Satan, being neither stupid nor inexperienced, knows the value of a pleasing appearance--there are times when it pays to appear even as an angel of light. He goes farther than that, however, to assure that success of his masquerade (given out since the days of Adam) as a picturesquely repulsive figure--a four-star horror with claws, horns, or other obvious trimmings. With that idea firmly established, he can operate with devastating effectiveness as a very proper gentleman, a handsome and persuasive salesman. He "decoys" our minds (a favorite word with Brigham Young) with false words and appearances. A favorite trick is to put the whole blame on sex. Sex can be a pernicious appetite, but it runs a poor second to the other. For example: We are wont to think of Sodom as the original sexpot, but according to all accounts "this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom": that great wealth made her people cruel and self-righteous. The worst sinners, according to Jesus, are not the harlots and publicans, but the religious leaders with their insistence on proper dress and grooming, their careful observance of all the rules, their precious concern for status symbols, their strict legality, their pious patriotism. Long hair, beards, necklaces, LSD and rock, Big Sur and Woodstock come and go, but Babylon is always there: rich, respectable, immovable.."

Hugh Nibley

http://publications.maxwellinstitute.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=1114&index=4

Unruly

The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."  (John 3: 5-8.)

...the haircut becomes the test of virtue in a world where Satan deceives and rules by appearances. -Hugh Nibley

From a wise man, posted originally Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Nicodemus

When Christ taught publicly and could be heard daily, there was no need to approach Him at night in private.  However, Nicodemus, a Pharisee member of the Sanhedrin, came to Jesus to examine Him "by night" without his peers knowing that he was making this contact.  Christ knew the heart of Nicodemus, and put the matter squarely to him:

 

"Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."  (John 3: 3.)

 

The assertion made here is: 

 

"Verily, verily"--meaning that Christ was capable of announcing truth.

 

"I say unto thee"--meaning that Christ was capable of making commandments, establishing conditions, announcing the requirements for salvation.  Indeed, Christ was putting Himself into the position of Moses, becoming a lawgiver.

 

"Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of heaven." --meaning that if Nicodemus intended to see heaven, Christ was declaring the condition for entry.  Becoming a new creature was essential.  Without newness, new birth, a new approach to life, all things which Nicodemus followed would lead away from the kingdom of heaven.

Nicodemus responded: "How can a man be born again when he is old?  Can he enter the second time into the mother's womb, and be born? " (John 3: 4.)

 

This isn't a rhetorical or meaningless question, nor does it announce ignorance.  Nicodemus is testing Christ.  If this is a new lawgiver, and possessed the capacity to announce conditions for entry into heaven, then He needs to explain His meaning.  This is a Pharisee Rabbi, asking a young, new Rabbi to set the matter plainly.

Christ responded: "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but cannot tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."  (John 3: 5-8.)

Now it is put plainly:

 

Born as a new man, by water (baptism) and Spirit (receive Holy Ghost) is required to "enter into the kingdom of God."  Without receiving these new ordinances from the new officiators (John the Baptist and Christ), the old ordinances will no longer be accepted.  This is a call to Nicodemus to receive the new prophets then preaching. Without accepting these new prophets, he could not enter into God's kingdom.

 

Flesh is just flesh. What is required to be able to go where God is will require every person to receive a new Spirit, new life, and become connected with heaven.  

 

Heaven is unruly, unpredictable and blows without predictability.  The Spirit is unruly, requiring things which men do not anticipate.  It takes you places you have not been before.  You cannot just sit within the councils of the Sanhedrin and reason with men's understanding.  You must become inspired by a higher source.  You must accept that new direction from above, or you will never enter into God's kingdom.

Brilliant.  Christ taught the teacher.  Now the matter is put to him: Will he receive a new life, and leave the old one?  Will he become born again.

How hard it must have been for a man in Nicodemus' position to approach Christ.  The fact he came at night testifies to the discomfort of his circumstances.  Yet Christ, in patience, told him how to receive eternal life.

What a revealing encounter.  We are the richer in our understanding for it having occurred. 

End original post

Heaven is unruly, unpredictable and blows without predictability.  The Spirit is unruly, requiring things which men do not anticipate.  It takes you places you have not been before.  You cannot just sit within the councils of the Sanhedrin and reason with men's understanding.  You must become inspired by a higher source.  You must accept that new direction from above, or you will never enter into God's kingdom.