Eyes see, ears hear, hearts beat, blood flows, loins procreate, sinews give strength, and bowels move. These internal vital bodily functions are also used to describe functions of the spirit.
Eyes see clearly or are blind. Ears hear or are shut. Hearts are soft or are hard. Blood is sacrificed or shed. Loins bring forth fruit or are barren. Sinews unite or separate. Bowels absorb and eliminate.
Nicknames and Affiliations
Names are used to identify people, connections, partnerships, relationships, and affiliations. The Lord’s covenant people have given themselves nicknames to identify their connection with each other. Two of these names are “The Remnant” and “The Movement”.
The name “The Remnant” makes sense for those who hope to escape their current predicament by relying upon and returning to the mighty God.
And it shall come to pass in that day that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again rely upon him that smote them, but shall rely upon the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. The remnant shall return, yea, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. For though your people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return. The consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness; for the Lord God of Hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in all the land. Isaiah 5:1
But who came up with the name “The Movement”? What does it mean? It makes me think of an internal bodily function. Whether this nickname was created by accident or with intention, I do not know. But I think the name is appropriate when we look at how the bowel processes food.
Processing Food
The bowel is part of our digestive system and it works to digest the food we eat, absorb the goodness and nutrients into our bloodstream, then process and expel the waste that the body cannot use. The digestive system works by pushing food through the intestines which usually takes between 24 to 72 hours. Muscular contractions squeeze (peristalsis) the food through the different sections of the intestine. These different sections are separated by bands of muscles, or sphincters, which act as valves.
The passage of food from one area of the intestines to another is coordinated so that food stays in a specific area long enough for the gut to do a particular job – absorb fluids and nutrients, or process and expel waste. Bladder and Bowel
Gathered and Sorted
All types of food are put into the mouth and consumed, and the bowel sorts it out. In the bowel, fluids and nutrients are absorbed into the body, and waste is expelled. Angels use a similar process to sever the wicked from the just.
Again, the kingdom of Heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind, which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. So shall it be at the end of the world — and the world is the children of the wicked. The angels shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just and shall cast them out into the world to be burned. There shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Matt. 7:12
An Entire Separation
Virgins are virtuous but half of the ten virgins prove not to be righteous. What does it mean to be one of the ten virgins at this point in time, post eclipse, in 2024? What group of people are anticipating and waiting for the bridegroom? Who is seriously looking for the day when their children will grow up without sin unto salvation with the Lord in their midst as their king and lawgiver?
Are the virgins those who have been baptized and received a covenant from the Lord? If so, how comforting is it to be a virgin if half of us are going to be cast into the fire? At first we are labeled as either foolish or wise virgins, but at the hour of separation, we are called righteous or wicked. Do unwise virgins know they are unwise? In spite of all our virtue, are foolish virgins aware they are soon to become wicked? If this is the case, what would the virgins need to do or not do to warrant the designation of righteous or wicked? Can we discern our own precarious situation? Do half the virgins realize they are on the cusp of being eliminated? Are we thinking that virtue alone will get us to the wedding?
These things are the things that you must look for, and speaking after the manner of the Lord, they are now nigh at hand, and in a time to come, even in the day of the coming of the Son of Man. And until that hour there will be foolish virgins among the wise, and at that hour comes an entire separation of the righteous and the wicked, and in that day will I send mine angels to pluck out the wicked and cast them into unquenchable fire. T&C 50:12
Only those who have taken the holy spirit as their guide will be able to navigate the ever changing maze we are required to navigate.
. . . And at that day when I shall come in my glory shall the parable be fulfilled which I spoke concerning the ten virgins, for they that are wise and have received the truth, and have taken the holy spirit for their guide and have not been deceived, verily I say unto you, they shall not be hewn down and cast into the fire, but shall abide the day, and the earth shall be given unto them for an inheritance. And they shall multiply and wax strong, and their children shall grow up without sin unto salvation, for the Lord shall be in their midst and his glory shall be upon them, and he will be their king and their lawgiver. T&C 31:12
Mimics and Imitators
It is difficult to differentiate between unripe wheat and young tares. But as the plants mature, the difference is plain to discern. Tares never were wheat. Wheat is internally distinct from tares. The wheat has been doing the internal work to bring forth good fruit. The tares are good imitators. Looks can be deceiving. Do the tares know they are not wheat? Or do they think they belong in a wheatfield? When they see the wheat beginning to produce good seed, do they become jealous knowing they can’t do what wheat does?
Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of Heaven is likened unto a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while he slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, did not you sow good seed in your field? From where then does it have tares? He said unto them, An enemy has done this. And the servants said unto him, Do you desire then that we go and gather them up? But he said, Nay, lest while you gather up the tares, you root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather together first the wheat into my barns, and the tares are bound in bundles to be burned. Matt. 7:5
The Required Sacrifice
A broken heart and a contrite spirit is the required sacrifice to be wheat. As we offer up this sacrifice, we are baptized with fire and the holy ghost.
. . . for I will accept none of your sacrifices and your burnt offerings; 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 . . . 3 Nephi 4:7
We are all weak. It is a gift. Vulnerability makes us strong in spirit. We need to be so dependent upon God that we’re always quick to ask, quick to listen, and quick to do.
. . . There is joy in Heaven over everyone who awakens. Weakness is nothing, for all are weak. It is a gift, given to break one’s heart. A broken heart qualifies man for His company. Whether a leper, an adulteress, a tax collector, or a blind man, He can heal it all. But what He cannot do — and man must alone bring to Him — is that broken heart required for salvation. The purpose of putting a man in such a dependent state before God is not to find out whether God can take care of him. God already knows what a man needs before he should even ask. But the man will, by becoming so dependent upon God, acquire a broken heart and a contrite spirit, always quick to ask, quick to listen, quick to do. Vulnerability makes a man strong in spirit. Security and wealth make a man incorrectly believe in his independence from God. He wants His disciples to be dependent upon Him. He wants them praying and grateful to Him for what He provides. He wants them, in a word, to become holy. . . Glossary of Terms Broken Heart - Contrite Spirit
A Great Opportunity for Wheat
Pain and hardship are great teachers. They will break you. Wheat grows, learns, and develops through these troubled times. Accept these heartbreaking gifts with gratitude. You have greater opportunities for growth as your opposition increases.
The tares become angry and bitter as the challenge increases. They are not able to keep their peace when the storm is raging. They become part of the hurricane.
Be wheat. Keep your peace during these troubled times. Keep a soft heart and do not let anger overcome you. Trust, delight, commit, rest, and wait patiently. The Lord laughs and upholds the righteous. He knows this works out well for those who trust in Him. There are good reasons to be cheerful.
Fret not yourself because of evildoers, neither be envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb. Trust in the Lord and do good; so shall you dwell in the land, and truly you shall be fed. Delight yourself also in the Lord and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way unto the Lord. Trust also in him and he shall bring it to pass. And he shall bring forth your righteousness as the light and your judgment as the noonday. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him. Fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger and forsake wrath. Fret not yourself in any way to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off, but those that wait upon the Lord — they shall inherit the earth; for yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be. Yea, you shall diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plots against the just and gnashes upon him with his teeth. The Lord shall laugh at him, for he sees that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn out the sword and have bent their bow to cast down the poor and needy and to slay such as be of upright conduct. Their sword shall enter into their own heart and their bows shall be broken. A little that a righteous man has is better than the riches of many wicked; for the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous. The Lord knows the days of the upright and their inheritance shall be for ever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine, they shall be satisfied. But the wicked shall perish and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs. They shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away. The wicked borrows and pays not again, but the righteous shows mercy and gives. For such as are blessed of him shall inherit the earth and they that are cursed of him shall be cut off. Psalms 37:1
Fortunately, We Do Not Need to Purge Each Other
Jesus knows how to succor us and heal our wounds. His bowels are filled with mercy and moved with compassion. He is doing the work. He is moving. He is purging and refining us through this movement of the bowel. He is sorting it all out . . . keeping the good, discarding the bad. He is separating His people through “The Movement” as virgins meet the test for which they have prepared, some being more prepared than others. The time is upon us to have our lamps full and burning bright. Only those who have taken the holy spirit as their guide will survive the pruning and separation.
The prophet Alma taught and understood our Lord’s sufferings as he wrote: “. . . And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith: He will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities. . .” Alma 5:3
O God, where are you? And where is the pavilion that covers your hiding place? How long shall your hand be stayed and your eye, yea, your pure eye, behold from the eternal Heavens the wrongs of your people and of your servants, and your ear be penetrated with their cries? Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions before your heart shall be softened towards them, and your bowels be moved with compassion towards them?
O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controls and subjects the Devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol, stretch forth your hand, let your eye pierce, let your pavilion be taken up, let your hiding place no longer be covered, let your ear be inclined, let your heart be softened and your bowels moved with compassion toward us, let your anger be kindled against our enemies; and in the fury of your heart, with your sword avenge us of our wrongs. Remember your suffering saint, O our God, and your servants will rejoice in your name for ever. T&C 138:4-5
The Lord shows compassion and mercy to His people as His bowels move, He eliminates the wicked. If the bowel does not move and do its job, we’re all in trouble.
In the world, tares are ripening. And so I ask you, What of the wheat? Let your pride, and your envy, and your fears depart from you. I will come to my tabernacle and dwell with my people in Zion, and none will overtake it.
Cry peace. Proclaim my words. Invite those who will repent to be baptized and forgiven, and they shall obtain my spirit to guide them. The time is short and I come quickly, therefore open your mouths and warn others to flee the wrath which is to come as men in anger destroy one another. The wicked shall destroy the wicked, and I will hold the peacemakers in the palm of my hand and none can take them from me.
Be comforted, be of good cheer, rejoice, and look up, for I am with you who remember me, and all those who watch for me, always, even unto the end. Amen. T&C 157:64-66
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