In accordance with the principle that we should withhold nothing from the people we care about, there is something that I must acknowledge to my loyal readers: my wife and I have resigned from the church. This is not something we were planning on doing. I was forced to choose between the things I have written on this blog and my continued membership. Given the nature of the messages that I have presented recently, I suppose this was inevitable. But I had been holding out hope that the people who know me would be able to see the inspiration. During the past few weeks, I have been on a spiritual high. The things I have been learning have given me feelings of elation and euphoria unlike anything I have ever experienced. My wife has been with me on this journey, and she has experienced the same spiritual confirmation. But lurking in my shadow was a fear that the people who know me may not believe me when I say that I have been receiving revelation. It was shocking and painful to learn that my worst fear was at least partially accurate.

When the choice was presented, at first I felt that complying would be the right thing to do. It just seemed like members of the church are not ready for these kinds of advanced doctrines. I myself was shocked by what my hands had typed out. I didn’t make this stuff up; the messages and even the presentation structure were given to me. Like Joseph Smith, I have to acknowledge that if I hadn’t experienced the things that I have, I wouldn’t believe it myself. But I cannot deny what I know, and neither can my wife.

When I pondered and prayed about what to do, I felt the Spirit tell me that I should do what I want to do. This is consistent with what I have been learning. Initially, I thought that I wanted to stay. After a while, however, I began to realize that this is not what I actually want. If I am being honest with myself, I have to admit that I have no desire to be around people who don’t believe me. I don’t want to have a relationship with them. I realized that I need to be true to myself. Part of me wants to accommodate others’ disbelief. But the Spirit, along with my better judgment, is telling me to hold my ground.

Things As They Really Are

…for the Spirit speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, it speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. (Jacob 4:13)

Sara and I have thought a lot about why people have been so resistant to the concepts we have shared. The heart of the problem is an unwillingness to see things as they are. My approach to gospel study has been based on honest observation. I share what I see, not what I think I am supposed to see. As I have opened my eyes, I have learned that the scriptures do not always mean what we think they mean. In fact, they are often deceptive. Pointing this out makes people scared, because they are afraid to consider the possibility that collectively-held assumptions may be incorrect.

Why are they so uncomfortable? Why are they so afraid to simply look? Because they have never learned to face their own shadow. They don’t even know that such a thing exists. They watch out for external evils when they should be watching out for the evil lurking inside their own minds. When I write, I feel peaceful, calm, and optimistic, but many who read feel dark, uneasy, and troubled. When I speak up during Sunday School, I feel confident, but I see fear in people’s eyes. It’s not me they are afraid of. It’s a part of themselves that they fear—a part that they are not willing to acknowledge.

Truth, which is the power of godliness, cannot be forced or controlled. It cannot be made to fit into a box. If you try to contain it, it will break the container. Of all people, we Latter-day Saints should know that truth can come from many sources. Joseph Smith taught that the religion he established is not bound by any creed. It consists of all truth. He said that by recognizing pure intelligence, anyone can learn to receive revelation. But in our faith community, too many have never learned how to discern truth on their own. They rely on precedent rather than the voice of the Spirit. They trust in superficial feelings while ignoring their intellect. They’ve never really figured out how to gain knowledge.

Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. (D&C 9:7)

I can already anticipate the arguments that will be made against me by members of my ward. One argument is likely to be as follows: “David seems angry and upset. His feelings seem to be hurt. We know that the fruits of the Spirit are love, peace, joy, etc. If God were with him, he wouldn’t speak in such a harsh way. That’s how we know he is deceived.” Let me preemptively respond by pointing out that this is the exact same argument that the priests of Noah used against Abinadi. They cited the words of Isaiah, saying that true messengers should publish peace. They responded the same way that Nephites of a later generation did when the prophet Samuel told them that they were worse than the Lamanites.

Skeptics will also cite scriptures about false prophets in the last days who will deceive many, including the very elect. Let me respond by referring you to my post on the abomination of desolation. Prophecies are self-fulfilling for those who do not study the scriptures thoroughly. Before the destruction of Jerusalem, Jewish zealots were so focused on preventing the infiltration of foreign ideas that they ended up causing the very conditions they had been hoping to avoid. This is what fear does. They wanted to protect the temple, but they ended up desecrating it instead. Josephus, a defector, told them the truth and warned them to surrender to the Romans. But instead, they preferred to listen to people who validated their preconceptions.

Most members of the church do not understand the doctrine of election. Let me repeat something that I wrote previously. The covenant people and the elect are not necessarily the same thing. The elect have actual knowledge that God is leading them (more on this later). Matthew 24:24 includes the caveat “if it were possible,” because the elect, by definition, are not deceived. Those who are deceived are the people who assume, without seeking confirmation, that they are among the elect.

God has a very low tolerance for hypocrisy. You are hypocritical when you fail to acknowledge your own sinfulness. If someone acknowledges lustful thoughts, you may consider that horrifying and grotesque. You think that you are holy and pure, when in fact you have merely suppressed your true feelings. You have deceived yourself, and it makes you angry when I point that out.

…and because I have told you the truth ye are angry with me. And again, because I have spoken the word of God ye have judged me that I am mad. (Mosiah 13:4)

Zion has been described as the “pure in heart.” This description is somewhat deceptive. We assume that purity means having no evil thoughts or tendencies. But the reality is that we can never escape from such tendencies. They will always be a part of us. We are pure in heart when there is no guile, self-deception, or pretenses of holiness. A pure heart is like pure vanilla or unfiltered apple cider. It includes all the various ingredients. We cannot be pure unless we recognize that there is a contradiction within us. Part of us wants to be good, and part of us wants to be bad. Part of us is Jacob, and part of us is Esau. A house divided against itself cannot stand. The truth that hypocrites don’t want to accept is that we cannot conquer evil. We can, however, achieve self-mastery by reconciling good and evil. When we proactively make efforts to acknowledge and accommodate our inner demons, we find peace because we are no longer at war with ourselves. This is not optional. If we don’t accommodate our demons, they will seize control and take possession of us. It will happen without us realizing, like a thief in the night.

My invitation to you is to find the courage to simply look. Be willing to see things not as you want them to be, but as they really are. Don’t be satisfied with what is merely comfortable or pleasing. The truth may be shocking, but it will set you free.

You Want Religion, Do You?

The Jews rejected Jesus because their entire focus was on outward religious observances. The spirit of the law was completely lost to them, and so they didn’t recognize it when Jesus gave it to them plainly. The church today is stuck in a similar mindset. We anxiously obsess over doing things the right way, and we worry that if we don’t follow the handbook, our eternal salvation could be in jeopardy. But Jesus taught us to not worry about such things. He wants us to focus on principles, not performances.

God wants us to look past outward appearances so that we can get to the heart of the matter. The revealed word of God is almost always deceptive, and the surface-level meaning is usually a trap designed to ensnare hypocrites. This reality is quite obvious to the angels in heaven. So whenever we are presented with revelation, we must thoroughly examine our assumptions.

Behold, I am God; give heed unto my word, which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword, to the dividing asunder of both joints and marrow; therefore give heed unto my words. (D&C 6:2)

Could God make it any more obvious? His word is a double-edged sword. You can swing that sword down to chop your enemies, but when you pull the blade back up, it will chop you.

The language in my post “As a Thief in the Night” might outwardly seem rather disturbing. It sounds as if I threatened readers with destruction if they don’t practice plural marriage. Remember that in my mind, I didn’t write the article, so don’t shoot the messenger. My wife pointed out that the language in D&C 132 is very similar. In the opening verses, the Lord warns readers that all who receive this law are held to that standard. So I didn’t really say anything that hasn’t already been said. But my article does help us better understand the spirit of the law.

The new and everlasting covenant is not really about plural marriage. If you don’t want to marry more than one person, you don’t have to! I’m certainly not ready for that. The principle is that we should not withhold from the people we care about. We shouldn’t keep secrets from each other. We shouldn’t let fear stop us from sharing what is in our heart. We need to be honest with ourselves. We need to acknowledge what is true, not what we want to be true. In other words, we must stop lying to ourselves. As we bring sinful things into the open, they become unsinful.

As Sara and I have applied this principle in our marriage, the results have been amazing. We are closer now than we ever have been. Now I finally know what real happiness is. This is the object and design of our existence!

The pure and simple truth is that before we came to this world, we, the Gods, were married to each other. We had all things in common, and we withheld nothing. We enjoyed an incredible feeling of closeness and belonging. Like innocent children, we didn’t feel any shame. We felt safe around each other. There were no secrets.

We fell when we started concealing things from each other. We divided ourselves into classes and exclusive groups. We invented religion because we were ashamed of our nakedness. Today, we are a lot like boys in elementary school who say, “Eww, I hate girls. They have cooties.” There is something that we sense intuitively, but we don’t want to admit it to ourselves.

There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. (4 Nephi 1:17)

Adam and Eve were naked in the garden and they didn’t think anything of it. But after partaking of the fruit, they noticed something about their bodies that made them very, very uncomfortable. They didn’t want to think about that thing, so they made aprons. God came to them and said, “Well, if you’re going to hide your nakedness, let me at least make you something that covers your backside and looks halfway decent. Because those fig leaf aprons are pathetic!”

This is what religion does for us. Like clothing, it helps us feel comfortable with ourselves. It gives us a sense of confidence and independence. We feel in control. But deep down, a part of us wants to let go of it. At some point, Adam and Eve must have looked at each other and realized that they didn’t want to wear the clothing after all, at least not all the time. They wanted to be naked again, and this time it was a deliberate choice. They wanted to do that thing that they had previously been ashamed of.

When Joseph Smith went to the grove to pray, he wanted to know which church he should join.

I was answered that I must join none of them, for they were all wrong; and the Personage who addressed me said that all their creeds were an abomination in his sight; (JS-H 1:19)

Remember: the revealed word of God is almost always deceptive. Our assumptions ensnare us. The answer to the question that Joseph asked is always the same. All religions are false. This has always been true and always will be. Or, to be more accurate, all religions are a mixture of truth and deception. They lead us to the ultimate truth, but they hold us back at the same time. What makes religions wrong in God’s eyes? The personage said that their creeds are an abomination. Creeds are the limitations that churches place around truth. Joseph was also told that religions place emphasis on forms of godliness (symbols) rather than the power thereof (the meaning behind those symbols).

It doesn’t matter what religion you are in. If you follow the teachings of that religion with sincerity of heart, God will eventually lead you out of that religion. My belief in the restored gospel led me out of it. My stake president counseled me (and everyone else in the stake) to read the scriptures thirty minutes a day. I followed that counsel, and when I immersed myself in the scriptures, I discovered things that that same stake president wasn’t prepared to hear.

For there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it—(D&C 123:12)

We always assume this verse is talking about other sects, parties, and denominations, not our own. But notice the word all. Everyone who is held captive by religion is deceived, and they lie in wait to deceive their neighbors. They are kept from the truth because of their assumptions. They assume that if there are multiple religions, one of them must be right and the others must be wrong. They don’t know that truth is to be found outside religion.

And now, behold, it came to pass that the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people. And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the promises which the Lord had made unto them. And they did not walk any more after the performances and ordinances of the law of Moses; but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in fasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord. (4 Nephi 1:12)

The truth has been hiding in plain sight.

Actual Knowledge

Religious observances and rituals are rooted in fear. The fear is that if you don’t perform the ritual, you won’t be able to go to heaven. In reality, there is nothing magical about ordinances. They do not save us. But God indulges this misconception because it gives us a feeling of security. In the absence of certain knowledge, we need that security.

I want to make clear that I don’t think religion is bad. In fact, I consider it a necessary veil. It is good for us to find God through religion. When someone is seeking God for the first time, they need something tangible to hold on to. They need to feel like they are obeying God’s commandments. Religion gives them specific commandments and rules to follow. As they make efforts to follow those rules, God rewards their obedience by giving them his Spirit. Through the Holy Ghost, they receive revelation. Their understanding is enlightened. If they continue in the Spirit, they will eventually realize that the rules and performances are not actually necessary. This is the pattern: first baptism, then the Holy Ghost; first the Aaronic priesthood, then the Melchizedek priesthood; first obedience to messengers, then disobedience because you realize that you are a messenger and that you don’t answer to anyone but God.

A couple months ago, I commented on something that President Nelson said during General Conference. In the church, there is a fear that if we are not sealed together as families in the temple, then we won’t be together in heaven. I don’t doubt that President Nelson and the apostles receive revelation. But the revealed word of God tends to be deceptive. What President Nelson said is true, but not in the way that we think. Temple sealings are not actually necessary. God does not separate families at the border. But after we die, there is a separation that takes place. The great chasm separating the righteous from the wicked is the chasm of fear and uncertainty. If you are worried that you might be separated from your family, then you definitely will be. So if you believe that you need to be sealed to your family, then go ahead and get sealed. But if you know that sealing is not necessary, then don’t worry about it.

This doctrine might seem strange, but it’s been in front of us all along. We have been taught that even if a sealing has been performed, that sealing is not valid unless it is ratified by the Holy Spirit of Promise (or the Promised Holy Spirit). We need revelation to tell us that we are sealed, and when we receive that revelation, we know that the ordinance was unnecessary.

When God leads the elect away from organized religion, he invites them to break rules and indulge in pleasure. Our obligation in the new and everlasting covenant is to consciously, deliberately, and carefully do whatever we want, and it must be what we actually want. We must either be gloriously happy, or face destruction. So here’s a question. If permissiveness and guilt-free living is the highest level of spiritual progress, why do we need religion at all? Why can’t we just skip the guilt and do what we want immediately?

There are many people in the world who embrace permissiveness. These people may believe in God, but they’re not really into religion. They just do what they want. The problem that they face is that they are not really freed from the burden of guilt. They still feel resentful that religious people judge them. In the back of their minds, they worry about what might happen after they die. Many people, like Korihor, turn to atheism because it helps put consequences out of their minds. Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.

A “YOLO” attitude is just sad. In order to find true happiness, we need to push through religion. It is better to comply with rules first, and then break them. When we make it to the other side, we realize that we can live the life that we want without any guilt. There is a God, and he is letting us—nay commanding us to follow our hearts! In fact, we are God, and we get to make the rules! To top it off, the fun never ends! After this life, we get to live another, and another, and another. To make an analogy, when a young couple breaks the law of chastity, they enjoy pleasure, but their family members may disapprove. If they get married, however, they get to enjoy the benefits without the guilt. The family members know, and they are okay with it!

Let us here observe, that three things are necessary, in order that any rational and intelligent being may exercise faith in God unto life and salvation. First, The idea that he actually exists. Secondly, A correct idea of his character, perfections and attributes. Thirdly, An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing, is according to his will. (Lectures on Faith, Lecture Third)

If you are in a religion, doing exactly as you are told, you do not have actual knowledge. You are only hoping that your life is in accordance with God’s will. The only way you can have actual knowledge is if God leads you away from your peers. This is why many are called, but few are chosen. When you are being led away, you have no choice but to rely on revelation. For me, writing on this blog has given me actual knowledge. I know that I have been receiving revelation, because it keeps coming in a consistent, predictable way. I learn things that I never would have thought of on my own. I have no reason to believe that the same pattern wouldn’t work for other people.

My relationship with God is independent of other people. The relationship is never static. There is always a task at hand. The tasks are completed one step at a time. Usually the directive is to simply write down the things that I learn and share them. Sometimes, however, I feel prompted to take other actions, and these usually relate to the lesson that I am learning and writing. As long as this interaction continues and I feel like I am collaborating and walking with God, I know that the course of life I am pursuing is in accordance with God’s will. So my focus right now is on praying always and doing what God asks of me, so that I can keep that connection going.

Mutual Consent

And all things shall be done by common consent in the church, by much prayer and faith, for all things you shall receive by faith. Amen. (D&C 26:2)

When Alma heard the words of Abinadi, he was pricked in his heart. He fled from the king and wrote down Abinadi’s message. He went among the people privately and started sharing that message. Many were receptive, and they gathered secretly at a place called Mormon.

Because Alma had been led away by the Spirit, he knew that he had authority, even if no mortal had conferred authority upon him. He knew that he didn’t need permission from the king or anyone else to teach the gospel and perform ordinances. He was very perceptive. He knew that outward ordinances are not necessary for salvation. But he also knew that we must show willingness to keep God’s commandments before we can receive the Holy Ghost. We must obey before we are given permission to disobey. Baptism is a way of showing that willingness. Alma was cognizant of the fact that his followers were not as spiritually self-reliant as he was. They needed his guidance. Given these facts, he proposed baptism. He did not command them to get baptized. Rather, he asked them if they wanted to, and they said yes.

Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you? And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts. (Mosiah 18:10-11)

I was talking with my wife about baptism, and she helped me understand something. Ordinances are performed publicly, in front of witnesses, so that members of the faith community can have actual knowledge of the commitment being made. Remember that we are God. When we enter into a covenant with him, we are entering into a covenant with each other. This is the common bond. We pledge to bear each other’s burdens. For this reason, the commitment must be made in the presence of those to whom we are making that commitment. If everyone understands the nature of the covenant being made, then the method for publicly acknowledging that covenant is completely arbitrary. It could be immersion, sprinkling, a recitation, or a handshake. It really doesn’t matter. Alma went with baptism by immersion because it was a universally recognized symbol.

By performing baptisms, Alma was kind of going out on a limb. God had not explicitly commanded him to do this. It was Alma’s idea. He knew that he had authority, but how could he be sure that God would approve of this action?

When we take our place among the gods, we understand that everything we do is a matter of mutual consent. This applies to people here on earth as well as the angels in heaven. We are all equal. We don’t answer to someone above us; we answer to each other. All of us have the freedom to do what we want, but if we want the support and protection of the group, we must have the group’s consent. So how do we get that consent?

I was pondering this question when an analogy came to my mind. Think of a young couple that has just gotten married. They are both virgins, and they are alone together in the bedroom for the first time. (This analogy is fitting, given that Alma, a feminine name, means “maiden” or “virgin.” Helam is the masculine version of the same name.) “What are we supposed to do?” they wonder. It’s not really a question of what you are supposed to do. It is a question of what you want to do.

Even though married couples enjoy a lot of freedom, they are not completely free. Each person has to take into account the preferences of their partner. Sometimes you may want to do something that your partner doesn’t, or vice versa. It’s not practical or desirable to ask permission before every action. If your partner doesn’t like it, they will let you know.

Mutual consent is a constant give and take. There is no instruction manual. We just have to get a feel for it and learn as we go. We should be cautious and respectful. We should dip our toe in the water before diving in. But at the same time, we shouldn’t be afraid to act on our desires. This is what Alma did. Before baptizing Helam, he said a prayer.

And now it came to pass that Alma took Helam, he being one of the first, and went and stood forth in the water, and cried, saying: O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.

Notice that in the prayer, Alma did not ask permission. He was essentially saying, “Okay God, I want to do this. If you have a problem with it, let me know.” God did not object. There were no impediments to the marriage, so Alma proceeded. He knew that the Holy Spirit would ratify his actions.

And when he had said these words, the Spirit of the Lord was upon him, and he said: Helam, I baptize thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead as to the mortal body; and may the Spirit of the Lord be poured out upon you; and may he grant unto you eternal life, through the redemption of Christ, whom he has prepared from the foundation of the world. And after Alma had said these words, both Alma and Helam were buried in the water; and they arose and came forth out of the water rejoicing, being filled with the Spirit. (Mosiah 18:12-14)

I’ve never seen a person baptize himself and someone else at the same time. But that’s what Alma felt like doing, and I totally respect that. It was his way of saying that the teacher is no better than the student. Jesus likewise was baptized as a way of publicly demonstrating his commitment and humility. Baptism is necessary for salvation, but baptism is not an ordinance. It is a public acknowledgement that we submit to the authority of the network and accept the common bond.

God will never force us to do something that we don’t want to do. Think of the wedding scene in The Princess Bride. If you don’t say “I do,” then you’re not married, even if the priest said “man and wife.” God never compels. He never uses fear tactics to force compliance. He does, however, persuade. He also uses fear as a deceptive veil.

Sometimes God makes requests of us that are not optional. Remember that we have covenanted to give everything, including our very lives if necessary. When God makes this kind of request, he asks first, and if we resist, he demonstrates to our minds the reasons why it must be done. This is what happened when Nephi was asked to kill Laban. He didn’t want to, but the Spirit told him why it had to happen. Once we have knowledge, we are still not compelled. But to disobey at that point would be a violation of our oath. In this way, everything God does is done by common consent.

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism

Pure religion is about people and relationships, not dogmas and ordinances. All the various faiths of the world point to the same sociality. If we can learn to look past outward differences, we will see that there is only one religion.

My wife recently shared an interesting analogy with me. She said that an ordinance is like a puzzle box. The instructions on how to open the box are encoded. Once we manage to solve the puzzle and find what’s inside, we can discard the box because it is no longer necessary. Ordinances veil the truth while simultaneously giving instructions on how to obtain the truth.

When Moroni was finishing his record, he considered it important to share what his father Mormon had written concerning the baptism of little children. There is more to this than meets the eye.

Listen to the words of Christ, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God. Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore, little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; (Moroni 8:8)

I have children, and I can tell you that they are not saints all the time. They are whole, not because they are holy, but because they are not burdened by guilt. They make no distinction between good and evil. They don’t do what they are supposed to do; they only do what they want to do.

The innocence of children is an ignorant innocence. Like Adam and Eve, their nakedness is something they take for granted because they’ve never considered another way of operating. As adults, we recognize that we need to keep sinfulness in check. We distinguish between right and wrong. But we are only partially conscious. All religions point to a sociality in which we can be innocent again. In this sociality, we are not ignorantly innocent, but consciously innocent. What our hearts desire more than anything else is to have a feeling of belonging. We want to be part of a group that knows us completely and still accepts us. We want to feel safe exposing our sins and weaknesses without being condemned. And beyond this, we want a society in which our sinful tendencies can be safely accommodated. In other words, we want sin to not be sinful.

The only reason we haven’t achieved this kind of sociality yet is because we do not have a correct knowledge of God’s character, perfections, and attributes. We have made incorrect assumptions. I have already shared the truth. God is a plurality. He (or she) is not as holy as we suppose him to be. He is perfect because he is fully aware of himself. He accepts himself the way he is, and he’s figured out a way to reconcile opposites. He knows how to be sinful and get away with it.

Every ordinance points to an attribute of God—an attribute of the sociality that exists in paradise. Take the sacrament, for example. This ordinance teaches us that the burden of guilt should be shared. When we see the image of the crucified Jesus and remember his suffering, we think to ourselves: “This is what happens when we pretend to be holy. This is the result when we put all the blame on scapegoats.” We covenant to join the scapegoat and take his name upon us. The garments worn by Adam and Eve may have looked nice, but an animal had to die for them. This is the cost of religion. The animal that died is still inside of us.

The sacrament is really no different from the sun dance ritual and its accompanying piercings. It helps us remember that in the family of God, we all must suffer a bit. We actually want to suffer together, because pain helps us feel connected, and connection is what we crave.

Let us now consider vicarious ordinances for our deceased ancestors. Such ordinances teach us about the ripple effect. The principle is very clearly depicted in the movie Coco. When we learn about our ancestors, we learn about the mistakes that they made and misunderstandings that they perpetuated. We learn that those mistakes affect us. With this knowledge, we are empowered to forgive them and make corrections in the way that we live. When we forgive them, we are forgiving original sin, bringing us into a state of innocence again.

Genealogy research establishes an intimate connection between the living and the dead. It’s not the ordinances that matter; it’s the thought that counts. By simply thinking about our ancestors, we are correcting injustices, and this is the spirit of Elijah. We don’t have to physically perform the ordinances. Remember that by thinking about doing something, we are actually doing that thing. Since our ancestors can read our thoughts, vicarious baptism is still a public acknowledgement, even if it only happens in our minds.

Think about the laying on of hands. It’s about touch—intimate contact. We receive the Holy Ghost when the Spirit touches our minds. We obtain knowledge of things as they really are. It’s like seeing someone naked for the first time. Knowledge is intimacy, and intimacy is knowledge. When God reveals himself, he is revealing the truth about us and our relationship to each other. When we become intimate with him, he invites us to become intimate with each other. He wants us to reveal ourselves to each other, not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. He wants us to be of one heart and one mind.

Correct understanding is so vital. It is the difference between life and death, happiness and misery. We simply cannot afford to make assumptions.

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (James 1:27)

In order to correctly interpret this verse, we must be willing to see things as they really are. It’s not about what we are supposed to do; it’s about what we actually want to do. Outwardly, this verse seems to be about unselfish charity and moral purity. We become Christ-like as we learn to serve others. We bring meals, visit the lonely, care for the needy, and impart of our substance—all while denying ourselves of all ungodliness. These things seem good, and they are. But there is something better. As gods, we should never settle for anything less than the best.

The above verse points to the story of Ruth, Boaz, and Naomi. It is good for a man to be charitable toward a widow. But it would be better for that man to marry the widow, especially if he is attracted to her. He should adopt the woman’s children (and/or aging parents) as his own. This is the ideal solution, because it is a win-win. Everyone’s needs are met, and everyone is gloriously happy.

Kerry Muhlestein, a BYU professor, wrote about the book of Ruth. He pointed out that when the author described the interactions of Ruth and Boaz, he deliberately used edgy language.

The Hebrew words employed by the writer for lying down, uncovering, and feet are words often used as sexual euphemisms in the Hebrew Bible and were sexually charged words. It is possible that these words and this mood was chosen to raise in the mind of the reader the possibility of an intimate encounter.

Jews were not supposed to marry people outside their religion, but yet Boaz married Ruth, a Moabite. Worldly creeds—limitations on truth—are the corruption that we need to keep ourselves unspotted from. There is no such thing as unselfish service. When we serve others, we are serving ourselves. Hypocrisy is when we fail to acknowledge this reality. Our selfish desires can cause harm when they are left unchecked. But if we are honest with ourselves and with God, he will actually accommodate those desires. If we don’t withhold from God, all our wishes will eventually come true, and that is real happiness. All we care about as gods is intimacy, connection, and belonging. That is what we want. That is righteousness. That is knowledge. That is pure truth, which is the power of godliness.

I want to point out to readers that the connection between the verse in James and the story of Ruth is not something that I could have figured out on my own. It was revealed to me, and I didn’t learn about it until I actually got to that point in my writing. I had given this post the title “Pure Religion” before I even knew what that meant. I had originally intended to write something about social justice. The fact that this happened gives me actual knowledge that what I am doing is in accordance with God’s will. Of course, this doesn’t surprise me, because it happens all the time. Revelation is real, folks. I’m not making this stuff up.

The Inhabitants of Zion Are Terrible

A theme that the Spirit has repeatedly emphasized to me as I have been writing is the danger of fear. We all have fears, and this is normal. But we have to understand that fear is self-fulfilling. We cannot afford to give in to it.

One fear that I have had is that God could ask me to give my life as a martyr. I’m a chicken, and I’m not ready for that. But learning about the principle of common consent has given me a lot of comfort. (Again, I didn’t learn this until I got to that point in my writing.) God will not make us do anything that we don’t want to do. If he asks us to die for him, it is only because we voluntarily chose that fate before coming to this world. Martyrs are highly revered in heaven, so making that choice could be considered selfish. We don’t have to worry. All we have to do is: 1) stay in constant touch with God, and 2) do what we actually want to do, not what we are supposed to do.

When the Spirit becomes insistent, as he did when he asked Nephi to kill Laban, it may seem as if he is compelling us. But in reality, God is simply bringing our true desires to our remembrance. We actually want to live the new and everlasting covenant; we just don’t know it yet. As I have been writing this article, the Spirit has told me that it wouldn’t be inappropriate to put in a swear word, because this would illustrate to readers the idea that God is not bound by any rules. I resisted that prompting, because I felt like I have already shocked readers enough. Never before have I cursed in writing. I didn’t think that I wanted to swear, just as Nephi didn’t think that he wanted to kill Laban. But after the Spirit used the power of reason and persuasion, Nephi thought to himself, “Yeah! I really do want to chop off the bastard’s head!”

See what I mean, folks? Holy and unholy at the exact same time. I couldn’t make this stuff up.

The adversary causes us to run away from the things that we actually want. The way to conquer fear is to accept it. Don’t fight it. Instead, remember the principle of stretching. When you make small efforts to do hard things, while being gentle with yourself, you will build up your personal capacity and find joy along the way. This is supposed to be fun, not scary.

The contrasting perspectives of those inside the circle versus those on the outside are becoming more apparent. I feel peace when I think about what I have written, and so does my wife, but others feel darkness. I get a thrill when I share what I learn during Sunday School, but others become fearful whenever I raise my hand. Previously, I said that God is sealing the heavens and that his revelation would be veiled from here on out. This seems to be the case, because if you are playing by the rules, you cannot get the full truth. I have not been permitted to share what I know as a member in good standing. But now that I am not a member, I feel like I can speak freely, without any veiled language. I can be bad without feeling guilty about it! If you are a faithful member and you agree with my words, then you do not qualify to receive a temple recommend, because I am an apostate at this point. One of the temple interview questions asks if you agree with anyone whose teachings are contrary to those accepted by the church. Busted!

And it shall be said among the wicked: Let us not go up to battle against Zion, for the inhabitants of Zion are terrible; wherefore we cannot stand. And it shall come to pass that the righteous shall be gathered out from among all nations, and shall come to Zion, singing with songs of everlasting joy. (D&C 45:70-71)

Do you notice the contrast? I don’t want to give readers the impression that because I have left the church, I want to fight against the church. As I have said before, I see inspiration coming from the brethren. The only problem is that the messages are veiled and deceptive. Even prophets must learn to interpret the messages that they deliver. For example, Elder Uchtdorf recently talked about how missionary work involves “sharing what is in your heart.” I know this message is inspired, because I have received the same inspiration. It is perfectly consistent (to the point of being uncanny) with what I have learned about the new and everlasting covenant.

Therefore, prepare thy heart to receive and obey the instructions which I am about to give unto you; for all those who have this law revealed unto them must obey the same. (D&C 132:3)

Yes, I am a defector. But I still consider myself a faithful Latter-day Saint. I am Josephus, and those of you still in the church are the people of Jerusalem. Destruction may not come today, but it will come unless there is a course correction. The Spirit has been emphasizing to me that those who remain in creed-bound religions are on the path to destruction. The wineskin must stretch or else it will break. I didn’t want to believe this at first, but looking back, I can see that I have been given many clues. A big one was the message that I wrote concerning Mulek and the sign of the fig tree.

…the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth, with which I, the Lord, am well pleased… (D&C 1:30)

No worldly organization can claim ownership of the Church of Jesus Christ, even if it buys the domain name. Election is an individual affair. The church was favored when it was young and fresh. At that time, there were no creeds, and therefore it really was the Church of Jesus Christ. But it has been guilty of backsliding. I am coming to you in the same spirit that Samuel came to the Nephites.

Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart; and behold he hath put it into my heart to say unto this people that the sword of justice hangeth over this people; (Helaman 13:5)

Like Samuel, I am sharing what is in my heart. His message is my message: you have fallen out of favor. I did not know that I would be saying this until I got to this point in my writing, so don’t shoot the messenger. (Even if you try, I have the feeling that your arrows won’t hit me.)

Come to Zion

Sometimes in order to get where you need to go, you have to get off one bus and get on another. You can stay where you are for now, but if you want to join the feast, you will eventually have to leave.

In a discourse given August 31, 1879, John Taylor said the following:

Those who will not take up their sword to fight against their neighbor must needs flee to Zion for safety. And they will come, saying, we do not know anything of the principles of your religion, but we perceive that you are an honest community; you administer justice and righteousness, and we want to live with you and receive the protection of your laws, but as for your religion we will talk about that some other time. Will we protect such people? Yes, all honorable men.

These words are more inspired than perhaps even President Taylor realized. Somehow, he was able to perceive the truth, which is that in Zion, we do not talk about religion. I did not realize this until recently, but now I have no doubt that it’s true. Zion is characterized by a complete absence of religious dogma. Complete unity is only possible when we remove the clothing that is separating us.

In order to have pure hearts, we must be able to see clearly. We must be willing to see things as they really are—accurately, with no distortions. This is impossible when we are bound to a religion. Fear is the culprit. Fear is what leads to limitations on truth. We don’t want to look at ourselves in the mirror, because we are afraid of what we might see.

In Zion, we understand that all religions fit together like pieces of a puzzle. We take advantage of religion and its accompanying blindness, because it keeps out the impure. We feel safe in our own private bedroom, knowing that the people who figure out how to open the door are the very people that we want to be with. This is the true temple of God.

The principles of Zion can be easily described without using religious language. I have outlined all the essentials on this blog. These include: political and economic self-governance, a common bond, a concern for justice and equality, mutual aid, mutual consent, mutual accountability, a balance of collective and individual interests (i.e. agency), deep spirituality, the seeking of spiritual gifts, correct knowledge, shared consciousness, exclusivity, rejection of all creeds, and radical intimacy. I would say that Zion is characterized by a fierce kind of love. We are jealous gods. All we want is each other, and we don’t care about anything else. We will do anything to protect the love that we have, even give our lives. We are feared by the rest of the world because we play by our own rules. In fact, we make the rules. For the law will go forth from Zion (Isaiah 2:3)

I could put out a notice inviting all who want to be a part of Zion to join me. But I know that that’s not how things work. It would not be accurate to say that Zion is a kind of universalist church that welcomes everyone. Remember that in order to find God, we must have a correct understanding of his attributes. God does not cast a wide net; he selects people one by one. Every person in Zion is there because they were chosen to be there. They were chosen either by someone on earth or by someone in heaven. Those who arrive on their own do so because God inspired them. In Zion, we get to pick the people that we want to be with, and we feel no obligation to be with people that we don’t want to be with.

Because we are of one mind, we all use the same selection criteria. We want to be with people who can withstand truth. We want to be close to people who are not blinded by self-deception. This is why I stand by what I wrote previously. If you can withstand my message, you are my friend. I choose you. I don’t know who my friends are at this point. But God does, and I know that in due time, he will bring us together.