Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God

One of the organizers of Women’s Cancel #1 and Women’s Cancel #2 called me in a frustrated rage Tuesday, April 30, 2024. She demanded I explain why I am standing between their Cancels and the man they are attacking. She asked a very good question, so I will explain. 

Even though this man has been a friend of our family for over ten years, is in our home fellowship, and we have a daily walk with him, I am not defending him. I am defending a sacred trust, a spiritual government and kingdom not of this world, a stone cut out without hands.

It’s been almost seven years since we called the first women’s council. This last week, I read words written September 23, 2017 regarding the women's council. What happened in 2017?

The first women’s council was formed with this prayer directing our intentions, “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; and peace, equity, and justice be restored to the earth once again.”  

After our council made a unanimous decision, we had three days of peace, palpable peace, and then all hell broke loose. Women faced turmoil and fierce opposition as men and women sought to invalidate the decision of the council. I’ve thought much about what happened seven years ago. Who was fighting against the council? And for what purpose?

Women governing the use of priesthood in our day is the only mechanism we have been given to regulate the kingdom of our God. The sustaining vote of women is essential in governing men using priesthood outside their home. 

It is vital women understand and perform our essential role with judgment, justice, mercy, equity, and truth. The dragon seeks to devour the kingdom of our God in its infant state. If that were to happen, the ordinances of God would come to naught and be destroyed. 

Why is Michael's voice heard on the banks of the Susquehanna, detecting the Devil when he appeared as an angel of light? Why are Michael and his angels fighting against the dragon? Could it be because Michael is the one charged with safeguarding the Holy Order? What is the ambition of the dragon?

Hell is raging! It’s a full-out war! The Devil has come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has but a short time. The wheat and the tares are being separated, and it is a painful process. The Lord counsels us to do as we are bidden, and we will have peace in this troubled world, which will be our first reward.

This newly revealed spiritual government will govern those who allow it, a stone cut out without hands. Obedience to God keeps us in the eye of the storm where it is peaceful. The criteria our Heavenly Parents have set must be met. Anything more or less than this cometh of evil. The Lord has given what He has given to be followed, neither to be added to nor taken from, but to be our counsel and guide.

So I answer the question, why am I standing between women’s Cancels and the man being attacked? If the abuse that has been manifested in these last two women’s Cancels were to be allowed, it would destroy this new kingdom and result in the death of the male child.  As the Lord lives and as I live, I will continue doing what is in my power to maintain the integrity of women’s councils. It is my desire to protect and give strength to the young male child, the kingdom of our God and his Christ who is to rule all nations with a rod of iron. 

No one gets to override the Lord’s guidelines. If anyone seeks to attack any man, woman, or child by mimicking and mocking a legitimate women's council by disregarding the instructions and commandments of the Lord, they must be held accountable by women who are committed to maintain the integrity of women’s councils. Those with authority need to be the ones to ensure authority is not abused.

The Great Competition Continues Apace

The parable of The Great Competition is very relevant in explaining what is currently happening among us. If you are disturbed by the division among us, remember it is for a wise purpose. Your life can improve greatly as you participate in the great competition now underway. 

Is your heart at peace? Are you following the light of Christ (aka your conscience)? Have you noticed a difference between when you follow your internal compass and when you do not? Are you using these troubling times to improve your health and vigor? Are you coming to peace with the battles in your heart? Are you able to remain at peace while the people are dividing themselves into two separate groups? Why or why not?

What does it mean to be loyal to our Lord and King? Can He trust you to be loyal to Him when the going gets tough? What are the coming challenges we are preparing for? Is your heart being purified as you struggle? Or are you blaming others for your turmoil? 

What motivates some to refuse to participate in the game and depart in anger and others to compete and give the game their best effort? Were the people competing against one another? Or was it an opportunity to improve and develop? Why does the King love the competition of games? What is it about the games that give Him joy? 

There was a King who loved his people. He also loved the competition of games. He called his advisory council together and asked them how he might improve the health and vigor of his people. They considered the matter and decided upon a great plan.

The King called his city together and told them of a great competition he and his council had devised. “All the city would compete,” he announced. They would proceed in turns to go into the coliseum and compete on the field. All were welcome to watch before or after they participated, but all would have to compete. The competition would test the citizen’s loyalty, while also improving the lives of the citizens.

“I haven’t the strength to compete. I am old and past my day and cannot hope to win in competition with younger men,” said one. 

The King responded, “Not all the competition will be of strength, some will be of intellect, some of patience, some of music. It will develop the skill of each individual from my kingdom and will improve every citizen.”

“I refuse,” said the one. He and those who agreed with him departed in anger.

The day arrived and the competition began. Men, women and children all entered in turns into the coliseum. Some sang, some threw spears, some lifted heavy weights, and some recited poetic works of beauty and wisdom. The people not competing at any given time would watch from the seats. They gained as much from watching as they did competing.

Many were reluctant or afraid entering the competition, but found when they competed their fears were unfounded. Some believed it would be fun to compete. However, upon entering the competition failed to do as they hoped, and regretted their poor efforts.

After the days of the competition ended, a great feast was called. For the feast, the King invited not only those citizens who participated in the games, but also those who had fled the city rather than participate. Those who had remained loyal and participated in the games were troubled by this.

“Why are those who rejected your plan allowed to be among us?” they inquired.

“For a wise purpose,” said the King.

Many of those who participated resented the presence of those who had fled. Some who fled returned in anger, urging those who stayed to join them in their anger at the King. Some who did not do well were persuaded by the arguments of the returning dissidents.

The great feast turned into a great argument among the residents who stayed and those who had fled. Eventually the people divided themselves into two groups. In one, the King was beloved and his plan was held in esteem. In the other, the King was resented, or worse, hated. They found fault with the King, with his plan, and with the uproar caused among the citizens by the King’s great folly.

When the body was divided, the King addressed them all with these words, “I have been working for some time to determine who I can trust among our people and who I cannot trust. Using wise counsel I have adopted this great plan to decide the matter.

“I knew when the competition was devised it would divide the people. I knew, too, that some would flee rather than participate. I also knew if I invited back to a feast all of the citizens, both those who stayed and those who fled, that it would result in a great division. This was my purpose all along.

“We are faced with many challenges. Some are in forms which you do not understand. They will test all of us. I must know before we confront the coming challenges who I can trust to remain loyal in my kingdom. Today I know.

“All those who have been loyal have been identified. They will remain in my kingdom. All those who have rejected my plan, or spoken against me in hatred, will be removed from my kingdom. Those who leave are free to follow their own course. However, they cannot be among my people any longer, for they have been tested and failed in their loyalty.”

It required a battle to remove those who were to be exiled. Many argued they had endured all the King had asked and only spoken ill of him when the disaffected exiles returned. They claimed it was unfair to have been put through this final test of loyalty after allowing the return of the exiles. They argued a feast that included those who refused the King’s request was unfair. It rewarded all alike; the loyal and the disloyal. They claimed their final disloyalty came only as a result of their original loyalty later proving to be of no value, since even the exiles came to the final feast.

Others complained that the King was mad. His whole course was destructive of a people who had once lived in harmony and peace. They claimed it was the King who should be thrown in exile; not the citizens who were discomforted by the King disturbing their peace.

Still others complained the King was never honest with them. Had they known this was to be the result, they would have been loyal throughout. They thought it unfair he kept his counsel to himself and thereby lulled them into disfavor.

Yet others complained the King gave them too hard a test. It was unfair. Although they had passed the test, they had family members and friends who failed and if these whom they loved had failed they would refuse for their loved ones’ sake to remain with the King.

Some even said that the original test was supposed to improve the citizen’s “health and vigor” and not their loyalty. It was unfair to claim to test for one virtue when actually testing for another.

And finally, some claimed there could be no future test coming for which this test of the citizens would prepare; that the only thing this great plan tested was the patience of the citizens. If there is some great future test coming, then the King ought, in fairness, to share that information with them rather than to hide it and make claims which cannot be proven.

All the arguments were unavailing. The King expelled them all. When the kingdom was set, and none but the loyal remained, the King again called a great assembly of his people. To all those who remained the King announced, “I discovered long ago the power to make my kingdom last forever. I am now prepared to share the secrets of all I know with my people. From this day forward you will no longer be citizens in my kingdom, but you will be kings and queens, sharing with me in life which will never end.

“Before making you all kings and queens with me, I needed to have a people who would live in peace together. Immortality without peace among us would be a great punishment and not a great prize.

“All of us who remain in this kingdom have lost friends, family members and others whom we love. However, all who remain will be able to live in peace, forever.”

The King did as he planned from the beginning. He and his counselors were able to find those who could live in peace, and for whom life would endure in peace forever.

There is not now, and never has been, a kingdom more stable, more happy, more at peace, and more enduring than this King’s. Though he ceased to reign as a king, he continued to be loved above all others. For he was the one who brought to life the happiest people of all.

What caused the uproar among the citizens? Would you be troubled if you were one who remained loyal and participated, and then the King invited those who rejected His plan to be among your group? Why or why not? What ineffective arguments did the people put forth to the King? Have you put forth similar arguments but to no avail?

Did the King love His people? Did the people take notice of His love? How was the King's love manifested to all of His people? Why was the King blamed for destroying the peace and harmony of the people? How was the great argument an essential component in setting up a kingdom more stable, more happy, more at peace, and more enduring than any other kingdom? 

How did some of the people prove they can live in peace? What was the King’s wise purpose? Why is it essential we prove we can live in peace before becoming kings and queens? Why is having a kingdom of peace essential before the King can share with His people the secrets of all He knows?

Work We Must, but the Lunch is Free

John has been a general contractor for most of our married life. With so many people loosing their homes, the demand for new homes is not what it used to be. The slump in the economy is turning into a blessing that we never anticipated.

We don’t have the money to do what we used to do, but we like this new life. John has more time to spend with the children and with me. We have time to talk about what really matters in life, and we’re able to study and learn.

This last year we’ve seen a miracle in our family. When we look back at our income in 2011, we realize that we earned as much this last year as we used to earn in a month. How can you raise a growing family on that? I don’t know. That’s why we call it a miracle.

This much I do know. We’re happier than we’ve ever been and have sufficient for our needs. We still have plenty to do, but we don’t have much money to think about.

Work We Must, but the Lunch is Free

Two employers are competing for the services of the man Adam and his posterity . . . “the devil inviteth and enticeth continually” to work for him, while on the other hand, “God inviteth and enticeth continually” to work for him. Moroni 7:12-13

The first employer offers us lunch, and since lunch is something everybody must have, he is in a powerful position to bargain. He explains that this glorious earth is his private estate and that it all belongs to him. He is willing to make a deal with anyone who has money. To have merely sufficient for your needs, however, is not what he has in mind – that would be the equivalent of the free lunch. The shrewd employer must never cease reminding one and all in his domain that there is no free lunch. It is that great teaching which keeps his establishment going.

So let us go across the road for an interview with the Other Employer. To our surprise, he answers our first question with an emphatic: “Forget about lunch! Don’t even give it a thought!” “Take no thought of what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink or wherewith ye shall be clothed!”

We have been permitted to come here to go to school, to acquire certain knowledge and take a number of tests to prepare us for greater things hereafter.

While we are at school our generous patron has provided us with all the necessities of living that we will need to carry us through.

Imagine, then, that at the end of the first school year your kind benefactor pays the school a visit. He meets you and asks you how you are doing.

“Oh,” you say, “ am doing very well, thanks to your bounty.”

“Are you studying a lot?”

“Yes, I am making good progress.”

“What subjects are you studying?”

“Oh, I am studying courses in how to get more lunch.”

“You study that? All the time?”

“Yes. I thought of studying some other subjects. Indeed I would love to study them – some of them are so fascinating! – but after all it’s the bread-and-butter courses that count. This is the real world, you know. There is no free lunch.”

“But my dear boy, I’m providing you with that right now.”

“Yes, for the time being, and I am grateful- but my purpose in life is to get more and better lunches; I want to go right to the top – the executive suite, the Marriott lunch.”

“But that is not the work I wanted you to do here,”

The Lord asks us to forget about lunch, and do his work, and the lunch will be taken care of. (Excerpts taken from Hugh Nibley Approaching Zion pages 209-212)

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also . . . Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? . . .

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? . . . for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:19-34

Do you really think God means what he says? If we seek first His kingdom, will he take care of us? I wonder if a slumping economy really matters. What do you think?