Why Would He Want Us Back?

Jesus Christ will never break up with his people. Yet he will allow them to break up with him. That's allowing them their agency. He knows they won’t find a better Cause so if they do choose to go away from him, they will bring greater adversity into their lives in the long run. It will only be a matter of time experiencing relationships with other Causes before they come back. For some people it takes more time and experience than others.

“And my people are bent to backsliding from me” ~Hosea 11:7

“Why then is this people of Jerusalem slidden back by a perpetual backsliding? they hold fast deceit, they refuse to return.” ~Jeremiah 8:5

“Yea, for thus saith the Lord: Have I put thee away, or have I cast thee off forever? For thus saith the Lord: Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement? To whom have I put thee away, or to which of my creditors have I sold you? Yea, to whom have I sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.” ~2 Nephi 7:1

“For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.” ~2 Nephi 15:25

“Yea, every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him. Yea, even at the last day, when all men shall stand to be judged of him, then shall they confess that he is God…” ~Mosiah 27:31

It's Like a Marriage
In the scriptures the relationship between Jesus Christ and his people is sometimes compared to a marriage. Jesus Christ is the husband and the house of Israel (his people) his wife.  Therefore the “breaking up” metaphor.

“The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son” ~Matthew 22:2

“Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.” ~Matthew 25:1

Why Would He Want Us Back?
The Savior has made a covenant with his people that he will never give up on them and he will always allow them to repent—to come back and reestablish the relationship. You would think that he would be repulsed by people who basically go out and cheat on him. The house of Israel ends up “playing the harlot” on many occasions throughout history. Why then would he even want her back? Most men would say, “Good riddance.” Most men wouldn’t stand for such unfaithfulness in their wife.

“The Lord said also unto me in the days of Josiah the king, Hast thou seen that which backsliding Israel hath done? she is gone up upon every high mountain and under every green tree, and there hath played the harlot.” ~Jeremiah 3:6

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.” ~Hosea 14:4

“Nevertheless, for my name’s sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain from thee, that I cut thee not off. For, behold, I have refined thee, I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, yea, for mine own sake will I do this, for I will not suffer my name to be polluted, and I will not give my glory unto another. Hearken unto me, O Jacob, and Israel my called, for I am he; I am the first, and I am also the last.” ~1 Nephi 20:9-12

The Trial of Our Faith
Even though the relationship between us and Jesus Christ is like a marriage, it is not exactly like a husband and wife who physically see and interact with each other everyday. The relationship is based on Faith. We don’t see him right here in front of us. We don’t have the blessing of his continuous physical presence. Most of us need to rely on accounts of him recorded in the scriptures. We see what kind of husband he is through the recorded interactions between him and his people throughout history. Others have seen him. Those who knew him when he was physically on the earth are vital witnesses to us of who he was and still is. Those who have seen him in vision are equally vital witnesses.

But most of us who are striving to develop a relationship with him need to rely on his spiritual presence. That is, we need to incrementally come to know who he is spiritually, not what he looks like physically. We do this by becoming more aware of when he is speaking to us. We need to become familiar with his voice and learn how it feels when he is spiritually near us. It’s a lot like the Hot and Cold game many of us have played in Primary. When we come to identify his spiritual presence, we are required to fix our Faith on it, depend upon it, trust in it, and never doubt.

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” ~Proverbs 3:5-6

“…and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” ~Matthew 1:23

Listen: “Emmanuel” by Amy Grant

Part of the reason I think he puts up with our “cheating” and still wants us back is that he understands that we’re just figuring out what it means to belong to him. We’re not sure who he really is and what our covenant relationship with him means. We don’t completely understand that this spiritual relationship is as powerful as it is. We don’t have a full knowledge of Him and his Causehood as compared to the physical and temporal Causehood of others. And usually when we doubt, it seems like we’re just doubting ourselves, our own heart, and not Him. It’s all so tricky. And the presence of Satan and his minions make it even worse. We just need time to work it all out. How many amazingly valuable people in history have turned their lives completely around given time and experience with adversity? Alma, the elder.  Alma, the younger.  Sons of Mosiah.  Amulek.  Zeezrom. Paul. Peter. Probably all of Jesus' disciples. These kinds of people are actually my favorite kinds of people.

What is Heaven Anyway?
What are we imagining heaven to be? I know for me, I could be in the most luxurious, exotic paradise that the world has to offer, pampered by spa treatments, warm beaches with sparkling turquoise water, and an Izzy on the rocks within arm’s reach but if I’m not with someone I totally admire and empathize with and vice versa, I am far from being satisfied. That kind of “paradise” doesn’t even come close to my heaven. But if I am in my house, washing a pile of dishes, and I’m having a spiritual conversation with my Savior, and he’s teaching me about something I never even fathomed before, which is causing my heart to swell in waves of unspeakable Joy, because it’s helping me resolve some conflict that has been eating me alive, I am completely and utterly satisfied. That is where heaven is at for me.

Listen:  “Paradise” by Coldplay
AND

The spiritual presence of the Lord and his people is where heaven is at. It is Joy. It is the eternal reward that happens right now when we are keeping His commandments or trying to with all our hearts. This is about living with a Husband who never will cheat on us AND being protected from those who do.

Listen:  “Afterlife” by Switchfoot

The Power of His Presence
During Jesus’ life on earth, when he told people that their sins were forgiven, he was basically saying, “You can come back into my spiritual presence with the non-cheaters (our covenant relationship). Even though you have to deal with cheaters out there in your physical environment, you have this spiritual world of non-cheaters that you can rely on.”  The Pharisees said, “Who can forgive sin, but God alone?” They were all offended, saying he was usurping God’s authority, but more importantly their own authority. They went around telling people who could be in their synagogues and who couldn’t (blind man from birth). They made the church their church instead of God’s church. 

What Christ was saying when he forgave their sins was that they could once again be in His spiritual synagogue, His spiritual church, kingdom, and presence.  So if we're willing to repent, get back on track, and stop trying to cheat, then he wants us back. We are valuable assets to his kingdom. And he and his kingdom are valuable assets to us.

“Yet Jesus and His disciples, with no touch of scorn or exclusiveness, sat down with [the outcasts of society] at the feast…A charity so liberal caused deep dissatisfaction, on two grounds, to two powerful bodies—the Pharisees and the disciples of John. To the former, mainly because this contact with men of careless and evil lives violated all the traditions of their haughty scrupulosity; to the latter, because this ready acceptance of invitations to scenes of feasting seemed to discountenance the necessity for their half-Essenian asceticism.” ~Frederic W. Farrar, The Life of Christ (pg 270)

“Our Lord’s words were constantly a new revelation for all who heard them, and if we may judge from many little indications in the Gospels, they seem often to have been followed, in the early days of His ministry, by a shock of surprised silence…It was only in their secret thoughts that they silently mused and questioned, ‘Who is this, who forgiveth sins also?’ Jesus knew their inward hesitations…He gently sent away the woman who had been a sinner with the kind words, ‘Thy faith hath saved thee: go into peace.’ And to peace beyond all doubt she went, even to the peace of God which passeth all understanding, to the peace which Jesus gives, which is not as the world gives.” ~Frederic W. Farrar, The Life of Christ (pg 240)

“For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent; But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I;” ~D&C 19:16-17

Prove It!

Degrees, certifications, honorary titles and verifications of that nature help us know who we can trust and who we cannot. For example, when I choose a doctor, I make sure he or she has a degree in medicine. I also ask family and friends who have gone to that doctor if they would recommend him/her. I don’t want to be examined and then prescribed medicine, behavioral changes, or surgical procedures by someone who is not well trained and experienced in the medical field as well as having a talent for bedside manner.

But sometimes the system which both trains and bestows degrees can be corrupted. Such was the case during Jesus’ time. The certified Jewish leadership who were supposed to be Holy men of God leading His people in His name had gone astray. They were blinding the people’s eyes to the pure principles of His Gospel. 

“The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.” ~Matthew 23:2-7

Sign by the River Jordan where John baptized

“Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.” ~Luke 11:52

“Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?” ~Luke 20:9-15

Because of the unreliable nature of man and groups of men, God does not fully rely on the certifications given to men of other men as primary validators. He has set up his own system. I talked about it in the Introduction post to this blog. It is the verification of the Holy Ghost. It testifies of truth. The presence of the Holy Ghost enables us to know who to trust and who not to. It enables us to know which statements and prescribed ways of living are true and which ones are not. But in order to wield this sword, our hearts need to be pure. We need to be true seekers of truth. We can’t seek it or use it in Pride and Envy.

Listen:  Will He Really Answer Me? ~Joy Gardner

Frederic W. Farrar's comments on how he envisioned Nathaniel's experience with having received personal revelation in The Life of Christ (pg 139):
"At such moments we are nearer to God; we seem to know Him and be known of Him...That such solitary musings--such penetrating, even in this life, 'behind the vail'--such raptures into the third heaven during which the soul strives to transcend the limitations of space and time while it communes, face to face, with the Eternal and the Unseen--such sudden kindling of celestial lightning which seem to have fused all that is meanest and basest within us in an instant and for ever--that these supreme crises among the recorded experiences of the Christian life, rests upon indisputable evidence of testimony and of fact.  And if any one of my readers has ever known this spasm of divine change which annihilates the old and in the same moment creates or re-creates a new-born soul, such a one, at least, will understand the thrill of electric sympathy, the arrow-point of intense conviction, that shot that very instant through the heart of Nathanael, and brought him, as it were, at once upon his knees with the exclamation, 'Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the King of Israel!'"

Jesus was deliberately placed on earth in life conditions that were not traditional validators of power, authority, or success. He was born in a stable. He grew up in a remote village. He was a "blue-collar" worker. People from that town were looked down upon by the upper ruling classes of Jerusalem. Even the people in his town couldn’t see past the carpenter’s son.

“And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son? And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country. And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.” ~Luke 4:22-24

“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.” ~Mark 6:3

“And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.” ~John 1:46

"For a time they listened to him in awe-struck silence; but soon the old scruples recurred to them. 'He is no authorized Rabbi; He belongs to no recognized school; neither the followers of Hillel nor those of Shammai claim him; He is a Nazarene; He was trained in the shop of the Galilean carpenter...' As though the few who are taught of God--whose learning is the learning of a pure heart and an enlightened eye and a blameless life [or repentant life]--did not unspeakably transcend in wisdom, and therefore also in the best and truest knowledge, those whose learning has but come from other men!" ~Frederic W. Farrar, The Life of Christ (pg 399)

And to top it all off, his life ended in crucifixion, a seeming tragedy and supposed proof that his prescribed doctrine would lead any man to the same final demise. He only showed his resurrected body to the faithful. The happily-ever-after ending to his story that he came to exemplify took place in another kingdom that was not of this world. Success in Christ can only be obtained by faith in the existence of this other kingdom in the face of apparent temporal adversity and failure.

“Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.” ~Matthew 27:41-43

“Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.” ~John 18:36

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.” ~John 15:18-20

“Jesus, once of humble birth,
Now in glory comes to earth.
Once he suffered grief and pain;
Now he comes on earth to reign.”
~Jesus, Once of Humble Birth by Parley P. Pratt

Jesus went to the scriptures and straight to God for his education. He was taught by his Father in Heaven. In this way, he was able to receive pure truth, instead of the convoluted, adulterated, perverted version that existed among men during that time period. His mission was to restore the pure truth that God prescribed for his Children so that they could see and walk the straight and narrow pathway to obtain Sustainable Joy in their relationships. He needed to illuminate that pathway that had been obscured by deviant men.

“And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.” ~Luke 2:40

“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” ~Luke 2:52

“And he served under his father, and he spake not as other men, neither could he be taught; for he needed not that any man should teach him.” Matthew 3:25 JST

“And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned? Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.” ~John 7:15-16

But deviant men certified by other deviant men didn’t want the pathway illuminated. They criticized, disregarded, and persecuted him. Yet, he just kept on steadfastly walking, healing, teaching, loving, illuminating. His mission was not to rely on the worldly honors of men as the proof of his Messiahship. He didn’t want his Children to only believe because everyone else did. He still doesn’t want us—his Children—to follow the crowd or determine truth by the evidence of fame, wealth, worldly success, and popularity. The crowd that we belong to may indeed be following a true leadership who stand for Christ. They may be a prosperous society. Their testimonies will assist us in developing our faith. But if we rely on the popularity-wealth measures for verification, our faith will not be sustained when the going gets tough.

Relying solely on the testimonies of others will not help us to become like our Savior and our Heavenly Father. It will not help us understand why God is God. It will not help us know why we should follow certain people but not others. When we are required to assess truth by faith, two measures rise to the surface of importance. The first is: Does this prescribed doctrine return Sustainable Results in my relationships with others—with God, with my spouse, with my family, with my community, and with the earth? We can reasonably evaluate the answer to that question by putting the prescribed doctrine to the test. We do that first in our minds and on paper. We write it out, ponder it to view it as best we can, making hypotheses and drawing possible conclusions. If it passes that test, we can put it into action. This is using our noggin. It’s using the intelligence and knowledge we have been given.

"Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord:"  ~Isaiah 1:18

“But, behold, I say unto you, that you must study it out in your mind; then you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong;” ~D&C 9:8-9

"Sometimes we can learn, study, and know, and sometimes we have to believe, trust, and hope." ~Elder M. Russell Ballard

The second measure of truth is used simultaneously with the first:  When we ponder and then put this prescribed doctrine into action, we assess how we are feeling. Do we feel Joy? Do we feel Peace in our hearts confirming it’s truth? Are we motivated to go out and put it to the test, to continue in it, and to share it with others? Does it cause a Desire to uplift others to arise in our hearts? (#Charity) Does it make us feel good about ourselves, even if it requires our personal correction?

“The Lord taught us that when we are truly converted to His gospel, our hearts will be turned from selfish concerns and turned toward service to lift others as they move upward to eternal life. To obtain that conversion, we can pray and work in faith to become the new creature made possible by the Atonement of Jesus Christ.” ~President Henry B. Eyring

Or when we implement the prescribed doctrine into our system of values, do we want to criticize and hurt other people or ourselves? Measuring truth like this is exercising our Faith. Joy is of God. We cannot obtain it sustainably in any other way. We may be able to obtain pseudo pleasure and adulterated excitement but those feelings always end in Sorrow. If the prescribed doctrine we are hearing is not truth and if we are not implementing truth into our lives we can’t obtain Joy. That is why this is such a reliable source of validation.

We will feel his Peace when we hear his Word:  “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” ~John 14:27

We will feel his delight when we obey his word:  “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” ~1 Samuel 15:22

“If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” ~John 7:17

From what I can see, the intent of Jesus Christ was to provide real love, real healing, real help for his Children and then to teach them how to keep these things sustainable through his prescribed doctrine.

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~John 8:32

If the people of Jesus' time were looking to wealth, power, dominance, status, or worldly degrees for verification, they would miss their Savior entirely. In fact, he taught that wealth, power, dominance, status, and degrees were all supposed to be used as tools to facilitate temporal forms of love, healing, and help for others, not to become the object of our Desires themselves.

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” ~Matthew 6:33

“But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God.” ~2 Nephi 9:29

If they put this doctrine to the test, they would have PROOF that it was true. His challenge to them and to us is to walk by faith. Those who have ears to hear can clearly identify the pathway that leads to Sustainable Results, including Sustainable Joy. Thus we are really the ones who are challenged to "Prove it!" Our ears, our faith. Are we able to identify truth when we hear it? Do we keep ourselves clean so we can? Do we keep our motives pure so that we can discern what is true and what is false, regardless of who is saying it? Would we recognize Jesus as our Savior if we had lived in his day? Or would we have disregarded him because of his lack of worldly degrees, certifications, and honorary titles? Whether or not we develop the skill to identify the pathway to obtain Sustainable Joy is dependent upon our answer to those questions. And in pondering these questions and their answers, we shouldn't be blaming or shaming others or ourselves. The goal is not to one-up or put down. It's not about Pride and Envy. It's about identifying TRUTH--the pathway we need to take to obtain Sustainable Joy in our relationships with others.

“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” ~Mark 4:9

Introduction

For a Christmas gift to our Savior this year I’ve decided to start this blog.  I want to highlight and then comment on various events of his life and his teachings.  My desire is to testify of Jesus Christ.  I want to write about who I think he is and how coming to know him like this has been my saving grace.  Elder James E. Faust wrote a song called “This Is the Christ”  One verse says, “With saints of old, I too can testify, this is the Christ.”  And so with this blog I echo those words.

Opposite Toby Keith, "I wanna talk about You You You You!"
Over the past eleven years as I’ve studied Jesus’ life, gospel, and atonement I have learned so many amazingly beautiful things about him. I’ve shared some of them in my other blogs and videos. And I’ve been striving to implement them in my life.  Despite the fact that it has been no easy task, it has brought me so much Joy. I love talking about him! I love focusing on him and describing him. When I do, I see him more clearly.

I’ve read a few biographies on Jesus Christ. These mainly comment on his life as is recorded in the four gospels in the New Testament.

“Jesus the Christ” by James E. Talmage

“The Mortal Messiah:  from Bethlehem to Calvary: Book 4” by Bruce R. McConkie

Some biographers, in addition to commenting on the New Testament, bring in other biographies, documents, archaeological discoveries, and unauthenticated accounts to evaluate the possibilities.  

“The Life of Christ” by Frederic W. Farrar

“The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah” by Alfred Edershiem

“Excavating Jesus: Beneath the Stones, Behind the Texts” by John Dominic Crossan and Jonathan L. Reed

“Jesus And His Times” by Reader’s Digest

When I read these accounts, I sometimes agreed with their description of Him and sometimes I didn’t.  Yet their attempts to describe him have enabled the Spirit to communicate to me what was accurate. So it hasn’t even mattered to me if they were off a little here or there.  The fact that they were considering a specific characteristic about him or a specific event enabled me to consider it independently with the aid of the Holy Ghost to ascertain the truth.  That’s why I value each one of these authors.  I love it that they have stood up and shared their opinion of him.  In that way I can more clearly see who Christ is and who the authors are.

"Cursed is he that putteth his trust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the precepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost." ~2 Nephi 28:31

I hope that all who read my comments will do the same thing.  Put them to the Holy Ghost test.  It’s possible that sometimes I may not be completely accurate when I describe our Savior, even though my goal is to see him for who he really is. It is true that my perspective continues to be revised in some ways as I progress along my life journey.  Some of what I saw in him a few years ago has undergone some alterations.  But there are some characteristics  that have not changed at all.  

Evidence
Because the Holy Ghost bears witness of truth, it is the main source of evidence for what I write.  The more closely we are in tune with it, the better we can discern whether what anyone says about Jesus Christ is accurate or not.  I will use scriptures and quotes from the prophets that will serve as further evidence, as I have done in my other writings.  They verify that I’m not the only person who has seen him like this or who has understood his words to mean what I believe they mean.  There are foundational witnesses in the scriptures and the prophets.  

I also plan on using examples of other people who have developed Christ-like characteristics and have put them into action without any intent to “be seen of men.”  Yet I do see them and they are beautiful!

Witnesses of Truth
I love Jesus Christ. I love the scriptures and have been attempting to summarize what they are saying for many years. I’ve been looking for a way to describe the core structure of truth they are all describing or witnessing. That is, I’ve been looking for Christ in them. All scriptures and all the talks given by the prophets are describing this truth. But I have noticed they are repeating themselves.  They are all saying the same thing using different words, perspectives, metaphors, and experiences.  I’m still working on boiling it all down to its essence. But it is my total delight to match up what is said in the New Testament with what is said in the Old Testament or in the Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, or Pearl of Great Price. And the cool thing about it is that much of what other people are saying, singing, painting, creating also matches up! People from all ages all over the world and in so many different religions are echoing this truth. And that’s not all! The physics principles of the human body, the earth, and the universe all testify of Christ! It is so beautiful! It is one of my goals for this blog to bring all these witnesses together to praise Him and them at the same time. 

“But Alma said unto him: Thou hast had signs enough; will ye tempt your God? Will ye say, Show unto me a sign, when ye have the testimony of all these thy brethren, and also all the holy prophets? The scriptures are laid before thee, yea, and all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator.” ~Alma 30:44

“And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me.” ~Moses 6:63

“… for [Isaiah] verily saw my Redeemer, even as I have seen him. And my brother, Jacob, also has seen him as I have seen him; wherefore, I will send their words forth unto my children to prove unto them that my words are true. Wherefore, by the words of three, God hath said, I will establish my word. Nevertheless, God sendeth more witnesses, and he proveth all his words.” ~2 Nephew 11:2-3

Listen:  He Reigns by Newsboys

Note on the Capital H
In all my writings I do not consistently use a capital H for the pronouns that refer to Christ.  Since I refer to him so often, that would be totally obnoxious.  At least that’s how it makes me feel.  Occasionally I’ll use the capital H for emphasis and clarity but usually I’ll use the lower case.  However, I do use capital letters for words such as Joy, Desire, Cause, Process, Effect, Result, and Conflict.  Those are words I have chosen to represent the meanings that are part of the core structure of truth—His core structure.  I’ve noticed that everyone is using those words or their synonyms to describe the truth they are seeing.

So as I give the facts, and my opinion, and my own adoration (I’ll try to keep it down), my goal is actually to picture Him reading what I’m saying about him.  I want him to see that I am talking about him out loud and to hear what I think of him.  In essence I want to be "guilty by association."  I’m hoping he’ll correct me as I go so I can get a better view of him.

My Story:  Writer-Curator of Jesus Christ
I’m thankful to have been helped to and through college by my grandmother, who enabled me to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and Spanish Teaching.  I later obtained an additional year of college towards a degree in Health Science.  My educational training sharpened my intellect and prepared me to study and write about whatever subject attracted me the most.  It taught me how to research and summarize my findings. It also gave me various examples, which I have subsequently been able to use as evidence of core truths I’m trying to explain.  My religious education has been equally, if not more valuable as it has taught me how to develop my relationship with God so that I can talk to him personally in prayer and hear his answers (see blog post The Voice Inside My Head).

About 17 years ago when I started learning how to write stories, I wrote a historical fiction story about Jesus Christ but it was rejected by publishers.  I wrote another fiction story but didn’t get very far in the publishing world with that either.  I read lots of books about ‘how to write.’ I went to writer's conferences. I participated in a writer's group. I practiced, practiced, practiced. All of this was to train me to become a writer. But I still couldn’t accomplish my goal. The criticism was too harsh. The training was ineffective.  Constructive positive reinforcement was lacking. No matter how hard I tried, it wasn’t good enough. I got to the point where I swore I would never write again. But that just made me feel like someone close to me had died. I realized I couldn’t disembark from this journey. I couldn’t quit. I had to find a way to accomplish this goal.

I finally turned my entire self to the Lord for help.  I asked him to help me understand what the structure of story was.  Somehow I knew that was the tool I needed to “build the ship.”

“And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?” ~1 Nephi 17:9

And that’s what He did.  He taught me the structure of story, which turns out to be the same thing as the core structure of truth, which turns out to be the same thing as Himself—the core structure of Jesus Christ. This journey has been the greatest Joy of my life!

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” ~John 14:6

"He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things." ~D&C 93:28

Somewhere along the way, I changed the direction of my writing.  I was given a choice to make.  I could either write the historical fiction novel I had originally set out to do or I could continue researching the structure of story.  I chose the longer of the two journeys—the structure of story.  So I write about our Redeemer's story.  But I don’t focus on the timeline of events and how they all fit together or waste my time trying to prove that he really existed and was really the Son of God or that his miracles really happened.  That’s a given for me and I have no interest in entering into that argument. I focus on who he is Presently and Infinitely. I focus on the Living God and the Living Man.

"Therefore it is given to abide in you; the record of heaven; the Comforter; the peaceable things of immortal glory; the truth of all things; that which quickeneth all things, which maketh alive all things; that which knoweth all things, and hath all power according to wisdom, mercy, truth, justice, and judgment." ~Moses 6:61

The Word
Whether I use his name or some of those core-structure-truth words, every post, every video, every question in the Servant Program is about him.  

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." ~John 1:1

And since his whole focus is on us—his Children, everything I have written is about his relationship with us.  

"Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me." ~Isaiah 49:16

He wants to know what our Desire is.  

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:" ~Matthew 7:7

He wants us to use our agency to choose him as our Cause, and to stay allegiant to him even when the going gets tough.  

"...choose you this day whom ye will serve..." ~Joshua 24:15

He wants to help us with our journey.  He knows each one of us and the pathway we need to take to obtain our Desires.  

"Wherefore, hear my voice and follow me, and you shall be a free people, and ye shall have no laws but my laws when I come, for I am your lawgiver, and what can stay my hand?" ~D&C 38:22

He wants us to know his voice well, pay attention to his feedback—confirmation as well as his warning signs so we can know when we’re on track and when we’re deviating from our desired destination.  

"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" ~John 10:27

He wants us to track our Results so that we can verify that in following his guidance, we’re indeed progressing towards the achievement of our goals.

"...live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and blessings which he doth bestow upon you." ~Alma 34:38

As a writer-curator of Jesus Christ, I have joined the team that testifies of him. That is my chosen career, my occupation.  It is where I spend my time and talents. This blog is an extension of that career path. So I say again, “With saints of old, I too can testify, this is the Christ.”