SECTION TWO
SUFFERING ISN’T IN THE WAY OF HAPPINESS SUFFERING IS THE WAY TO HAPPINESS
Living the Law of Sacrifice
My son has Down Syndrome and attends intensive physical therapy due to low muscle tone. As a child, he is incapable of knowing his potential or understanding his weakness, due to his limited life experience. This particular day he is working on balance and leg strength so he can walk down stairs without falling forward.
The first exercise at therapy is crossing a wobbly board without a handrail. The therapist turns on a jumbo bubble tower that changes colors, as motivation to cross the wobbly board. She removes external sources for balance so he must create strength and balance within his own core. Then the therapist places her hands around my son’s thighs for stability assistance.
My son takes the first step and falls to the ground, but wants to play with the bubble tower so he wiggles across the board on his tummy. This defeats the purpose, so he has to start over. After multiple attempts, his irritation grows into complete refusal to participate. The therapist gently encourages him to keep trying.
He looks at me and something clicks in his mind, like a lightbulb turning on. He knows I love him and he trusts me so he stands up and accepts the wobbly board as part of his journey to the bubble tower. He cooperates with the therapist and he looks to me for guidance and direction. He is intentional and careful with each step and very quickly he’s able to cross that wobbly board without falling!
Upon completion, he immediately cheers for himself by clapping and giggling. We all rejoiced and wept with him, for this was truly an accomplishment to celebrate. To my astonishment, rather than playing with the bubble tower, he wanted to cross the wobbly board again!
When my son mastered the wobbly board, the exercises advanced in intensity. Whenever he resisted, it prolonged the struggle associated with each exercise. Whenever he cooperated, his confidence improved and the difficulty was minimal. His willingness to continue was rooted in his knowledge of my love for him. He didn’t know the purpose, but he knew he could trust me. This was the motivation he needed to endure to the end. After all, the real purpose was to help him to develop the desired balance and strength in order to walk down stairs without falling.
The symbolism: My son crossing the wobbly board represents YOU, and the wobbly board represents the trials in life! The therapist represents Christ supporting you by going through the trials with you, and the toy represents your motivation. However, the purpose of the trial in your life may be unknown. Therefore, we must be like little children, trusting in our Heavenly Father’s wisdom because He has a purpose and He loves us. This is attunement with God’s plan to ultimately reach your potential.
The first exercise at therapy is crossing a wobbly board without a handrail. The therapist turns on a jumbo bubble tower that changes colors, as motivation to cross the wobbly board. She removes external sources for balance so he must create strength and balance within his own core. Then the therapist places her hands around my son’s thighs for stability assistance.
My son takes the first step and falls to the ground, but wants to play with the bubble tower so he wiggles across the board on his tummy. This defeats the purpose, so he has to start over. After multiple attempts, his irritation grows into complete refusal to participate. The therapist gently encourages him to keep trying.
He looks at me and something clicks in his mind, like a lightbulb turning on. He knows I love him and he trusts me so he stands up and accepts the wobbly board as part of his journey to the bubble tower. He cooperates with the therapist and he looks to me for guidance and direction. He is intentional and careful with each step and very quickly he’s able to cross that wobbly board without falling!
Upon completion, he immediately cheers for himself by clapping and giggling. We all rejoiced and wept with him, for this was truly an accomplishment to celebrate. To my astonishment, rather than playing with the bubble tower, he wanted to cross the wobbly board again!
When my son mastered the wobbly board, the exercises advanced in intensity. Whenever he resisted, it prolonged the struggle associated with each exercise. Whenever he cooperated, his confidence improved and the difficulty was minimal. His willingness to continue was rooted in his knowledge of my love for him. He didn’t know the purpose, but he knew he could trust me. This was the motivation he needed to endure to the end. After all, the real purpose was to help him to develop the desired balance and strength in order to walk down stairs without falling.
The symbolism: My son crossing the wobbly board represents YOU, and the wobbly board represents the trials in life! The therapist represents Christ supporting you by going through the trials with you, and the toy represents your motivation. However, the purpose of the trial in your life may be unknown. Therefore, we must be like little children, trusting in our Heavenly Father’s wisdom because He has a purpose and He loves us. This is attunement with God’s plan to ultimately reach your potential.
Step 1 - Alpha and Omega
Christ sacrificed everything for you, what are you willing to sacrifice for Him to return?
We have freedom to evolve and choose our own eternal progression. We can trust in God’s wisdom or respond to God’s wisdom with fear: fear of the unknown, fear of pain and suffering, or fear of losing loved ones. We learn from Judas that even too much excitement can turn into greed, lacking humility or teachability. When Christ spoke to His disciples of things to come, Peter’s heart was troubled and he rebuked God’s will. Christ responds strongly to Peter, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” (Matthew 16:23) This is extreme, but presents a new concept that opposing God’s will makes us His adversary. The humbling reality comes as a wave crashing into the sand.
Tribulations and infirmities provide evidence as the cause for your suffering. The evidence of evil creates fear, which begats vulnerability, which threatens your survival, which begats a trauma response. This justifiable reaction of your automatic emotional response system demands justice in the search for safety. This endless cycle leaves you vulnerable to mistreatment from dangerous sources. An expectation is a coveted reality where afflictions are resolved and suffering is eliminated. An expectation is a self-created guarantee or solution of how life should be or should’ve been. When tribulations occur, this unmet expectation creates resistance to God’s plan and we become enemies to God by unintentionally opposing God’s will. Tribulations are part of God’s plan; the unmet expectation is the root cause of your suffering. Expectations are comparable to a game of cat and mouse; the prize is forever dangling out of reach, creating dissatisfaction with life until you attain the prize you may never catch.
Are you living in the past where everything was “perfect” or are you trying to change a traumatic past so things turn out differently? Are you living in a fantasized perfect reality or a feared potential tragedy? You’re working in opposition to God when you reject the past, your current reality and who you’ve become. When you’re designing an ideal future result, you’re working against God’s grand design. Your expectations are misleading and deceptive to your mind, creating a trap in your progression. We must learn how to sacrifice the things we want, in order to receive the things God has in store and overcome temptations. Are you willing to sacrifice the fantasy and accept reality? In doing so, you shall overcome the adversary and bind the influences of temptation by removing their source of power. Your loving Father in Heaven is watching you progress and cheering you on. Go through the following steps with faith in God’s perfect love for you: sacrifice your will in obedience to God’s will.
Tribulations and infirmities provide evidence as the cause for your suffering. The evidence of evil creates fear, which begats vulnerability, which threatens your survival, which begats a trauma response. This justifiable reaction of your automatic emotional response system demands justice in the search for safety. This endless cycle leaves you vulnerable to mistreatment from dangerous sources. An expectation is a coveted reality where afflictions are resolved and suffering is eliminated. An expectation is a self-created guarantee or solution of how life should be or should’ve been. When tribulations occur, this unmet expectation creates resistance to God’s plan and we become enemies to God by unintentionally opposing God’s will. Tribulations are part of God’s plan; the unmet expectation is the root cause of your suffering. Expectations are comparable to a game of cat and mouse; the prize is forever dangling out of reach, creating dissatisfaction with life until you attain the prize you may never catch.
Are you living in the past where everything was “perfect” or are you trying to change a traumatic past so things turn out differently? Are you living in a fantasized perfect reality or a feared potential tragedy? You’re working in opposition to God when you reject the past, your current reality and who you’ve become. When you’re designing an ideal future result, you’re working against God’s grand design. Your expectations are misleading and deceptive to your mind, creating a trap in your progression. We must learn how to sacrifice the things we want, in order to receive the things God has in store and overcome temptations. Are you willing to sacrifice the fantasy and accept reality? In doing so, you shall overcome the adversary and bind the influences of temptation by removing their source of power. Your loving Father in Heaven is watching you progress and cheering you on. Go through the following steps with faith in God’s perfect love for you: sacrifice your will in obedience to God’s will.
- Embrace the pain: Your emotions serve a purpose so allow yourself to feel those emotions or physical pain. Your body is communicating with you that the pain and suffering is uncomfortable. Your mind is exceptionally powerful and it’s unlocked when you embrace the pain you feel. The pain is not the problem that needs removal, the pain is the teacher. So, let’s embrace the symptom and learn.
- Introspection of Expectations: Gain awareness of your thoughts and beliefs without altering them. Here’s a few examples how unmet expectations create undesirable resistance and even becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy or magnification of suffering beyond God’s plan:
- Maybe you suffered traumatic abuse in your childhood or marriage. You might feel cheated because you didn’t receive the image of a perfect family you’ve created in your mind. You might feel envious that everyone else has the “perfect life” and unknowingly pushing people away. You might feel a gaping hole in your heart and seek someone to fill that hole, but every failed attempt just proves that you’ve been victimized and cannot trust anyone. The unmet expectation was the image of the perfect family that you deserved and didn’t receive. When this unmet expectation is sacrificed, you can accept the family God designed perfectly and your internal narrative can align with God’s plan. A healed heart attracts healed people.
- Maybe you struggle with chronic illness. You might be fighting an endless battle against your body for health and vitality. You might spend countless hours each day trying to make the pain go away so you can function and manage the demands required to survive. You might feel like you’re running a marathon; frustrated, angry or depressed because your body acts in opposition to your needs and desires. The unmet expectation was the body of health and vitality that you wanted, but didn’t receive. When this unmet expectation is sacrificed, you can accept the body that God designed perfectly and even partner with your body to succeed within the context of His plan. The Master Physician awakens within a body filled with love.
- Maybe you committed a grievous sin. You might feel ashamed because you should’ve been strong enough to resist temptation. You might struggle to forgive yourself or the offended party might struggle to forgive you. You might feel defensive, displace blame, argue or contend. The unmet expectation is imagining the sin never happened or never should’ve happened under ideal conditions. When you sacrifice the expectation and accept the resulting consequences of your choices, then you can repent and receive the “clean slate” you need to rebuild your life. Only those aware of the forgiven debt, receive the humbled heart to rejoice in the glory of love.
- Maybe you lost a loved one. You might feel completely broken because they are no longer in your arms. You might blame yourself or someone else. You might resist reality without them, living in a fantasy world where everything is played out in your head with different results. You might emotionally check out because the sorrow of depression is sucking life out of you. The unmet expectation is thinking they’d still be alive if only things had gone differently. When you sacrifice this expectation, you can accept reality and begin to heal in God’s comforting embrace.
- Maybe the world is at war. You might feel it was completely preventable so you might contend with anyone who opposes your methods. You’re focusing your energy on convincing everyone of their stupidity so they can align with the ideal solution you’ve concocted. The unmet expectation is the coveted utopian society led by mortal leaders. When you sacrifice this unmet expectation and accept reality, you’ll begin to see that God had to deconstruct society in order to rebuild His kingdom for Christ to reign. Focusing on partnering in God’s blueprints, is the true utopia we can achieve!
- Symbolism of your Expectations: Money represents your expectations. Money itself has no value until it’s traded for something you want or need. An expectation also represents something you want, but don’t have. God is simplifying this process with a tithing symbolism. Are you willing to sacrifice your expectations in the manner you sacrifice money to pay tithing?
- Sacrifice: Teach your mind by providing visual evidence that you’re willing to sacrifice what you want in obedience to God’s will. As the widow’s mite from Mark 12:42, visualize money in your hand. Offer your expectations as tithing on an altar. Paying tithing is an act of faith; sacrificing things of this world for things of God. Visualize placing one token of money per expectation upon an altar as tithing. Give away all you have and sacrifice your will at the altar of the Lord.
- Relief: The result will be an instant feeling of safety and relief, with the companionship of humility.
Step 2 - The Way, the Truth and the Life
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” (The Serenity Prayer)
In the Garden of Gethsemane, the Savior wept over His impending death, but His willingness to do the Father’s will never waivered. Christ accepted the bitter cup of the Father’s will to endure the sorrows of the world and offer an atonement which was foreordained by God the Father to cover our sins with the blood of the innocent Lamb. Christ has claimed you, all of you, including the bitter and the sweet.
Since the fall of Adam and Eve, we reside in a telestial world that’s “fallen” from the presence of God. We are blessed to prepare ourselves to live in a terrestrial world with our Savior, but we must adhere to God’s will so we may live in peace and harmony with one another. Cooperating with God may seem difficult, but when the Master of the universe is on your team, nothing is impossible.
You’re as a child at physical therapy, being given a choice to cooperate or resist. Your life is full of afflictions, tribulations, temptations, infirmities, pains and sickness. Most trials are out of your control, therefore the remaining choice is to accept the trial or resist the trial. Resistance creates frustration when you are powerless to change the outcome or misleads to a solution residing out of reach. Avoidance of suffering eliminates faith in God by opposing His will or pridefully judging God’s will. Resistance is like swimming against the current, while acceptance is like gliding on top of the waves. The Lord’s compassion is prevalent upon those who endure suffering for His name’s sake. Burdens are perceived and perceptions teach, they form, and they nurture. Be as John the Beloved and seek not to cure the Lord’s will, but receive unto it. Acceptance of God’s will and trusting in His love for you, requires daily effort to align with His will.
Acceptance of what is, connects you to what can be. Trials have the potential to become growth opportunities. When you accept God’s wisdom, then the powers of Heaven shall begin unfolding before your eyes. However, you cannot “know” the sweet taste of goodness except through the redeeming power of God’s eternal life, for you cannot serve two masters. Now you know the bitter taste of evil; you’ve learned right from doing wrong, you’ve learned revelation from being deceived, and you can appreciate God’s blessings after experiencing great suffering. You can cherish the sweet taste of love after having tasted the venom of hate, “There could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. There could be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.” (Alma 36:21)
Since the fall of Adam and Eve, we reside in a telestial world that’s “fallen” from the presence of God. We are blessed to prepare ourselves to live in a terrestrial world with our Savior, but we must adhere to God’s will so we may live in peace and harmony with one another. Cooperating with God may seem difficult, but when the Master of the universe is on your team, nothing is impossible.
You’re as a child at physical therapy, being given a choice to cooperate or resist. Your life is full of afflictions, tribulations, temptations, infirmities, pains and sickness. Most trials are out of your control, therefore the remaining choice is to accept the trial or resist the trial. Resistance creates frustration when you are powerless to change the outcome or misleads to a solution residing out of reach. Avoidance of suffering eliminates faith in God by opposing His will or pridefully judging God’s will. Resistance is like swimming against the current, while acceptance is like gliding on top of the waves. The Lord’s compassion is prevalent upon those who endure suffering for His name’s sake. Burdens are perceived and perceptions teach, they form, and they nurture. Be as John the Beloved and seek not to cure the Lord’s will, but receive unto it. Acceptance of God’s will and trusting in His love for you, requires daily effort to align with His will.
Acceptance of what is, connects you to what can be. Trials have the potential to become growth opportunities. When you accept God’s wisdom, then the powers of Heaven shall begin unfolding before your eyes. However, you cannot “know” the sweet taste of goodness except through the redeeming power of God’s eternal life, for you cannot serve two masters. Now you know the bitter taste of evil; you’ve learned right from doing wrong, you’ve learned revelation from being deceived, and you can appreciate God’s blessings after experiencing great suffering. You can cherish the sweet taste of love after having tasted the venom of hate, “There could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. There could be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.” (Alma 36:21)
- Accept the Lord’s saving grace: The Savior suffered your burdens in the Garden of Gethsemane. “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows.” (Isaiah 53:4) Kneel in prayer and unload all the burdens you carry. Allow Christ to suffer with you and accept His saving grace to cleanse the impurities tormenting your soul. This might feel like unloading the weight of the world from your back or the weight of the baggage you’re carrying. You can’t do this alone and Christ wants to help you receive freedom from the bondage of suffering.
- Accept your cross: Visualize walking next to the Savior, carrying the cross you are called to bear, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24) This cross represents a willingness to face natural consequences or enduring to the end. Maybe your cross manifests as afflictions, tribulations and infirmities. Your mind hasn’t learned how to accept the trial or accept accountability and still feel safe so all you have to do is visualize walking alongside the Savior while carrying your cross. Carrying this cross is like walking across the wobbly board at physical therapy and trusting in God’s love for you. Even Christ had to carry His cross in obedience to God’s wisdom. It’s a sacrifice to be willing to endure the tribulations in your life, but you’re not alone.
- Focus on the Savior: This cross is heavy and burdensome, but Christ is walking alongside you, carrying His. Christ knows the desires of your heart and He wants to walk the journey with you. Don’t focus on your suffering, focus on the Savior to teach you how to proceed. Hold the Savior’s hand and keep on walking. The weight of your cross is bearable when the burden is shared; it may even become weightless for the Lord offers His virtue to all who believe in Him. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” (Isaiah 41:10)
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Step 3 - Merciful Redeemer
Obedience is the song of your love for God,
Salvation is His song of love for you.
Jesus Christ is the beginning of joy and the end of suffering. He is the beginning of freedom and the end of bondage. He is the beginning of forgiveness and the end of guilt or shame from sin. He invites you to come unto Him when you’re suffering so He can end your suffering. Christ paid the debt and claimed you, exactly as you are because your value is not conditional. The natural consequences of your choices will either lead to suffering or rejoicing. Christ wants to free you of your suffering, if you repent of those choices which led you away from God’s light and love. “If you don’t repent, the situation you’ll find yourself in is that of suffering.” (Jared Halverson, Unshaken) God is warning us that sin is suffering, either self-inflicting pain or pain inflicted on one another. Christ doesn’t want you to know the pain He went through, that’s why He died for you. However, you are free to choose to repent and let Him bear your name on the cross. “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)
Christ is the only one without fault or offense so He offered a solution that shall offer sanctuary for those who desire freedom from the bondage of darkness and seek to restore their relationship with God’s truth and light. “If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.” (3 Nephi 9:14) Anyone who believes repentance is unnecessary to overcome the darkness of their afflictions, shall remain in that awful miserable state. The blind and deaf are unaware of their imprisonment, which is infirmity upon the living soul. The Lord hath said: “You’ve been led astray into a prison of debt as you feed on the fruits of your adversary; your hunger shall never be satisfied, your thirst shall never be quenched. This debt is draining your inner bank of its assets. Your debt shall accumulate and destroy the life within you. Are you willing to allow the debt to be paid or will the debt collector take you away? It’s through my power that ye shall be free of the torment of thy soul. Partake of thy freedom. Thy loving Father is singing encouragement towards the path of success. Ye are not lost, for I am here, walking the path with thee.”
You’ve fallen prey to believing your scars are ugly and you must hide your mistakes from God as though He expects perfection. In actuality, we’re all unprofitable servants who are only made perfect in Christ. When you’ve been plagued by unspeakable acts of violence and sin; your memories carry the burden of iniquity, either self-inflicted or imposed on you. The light of God offers life to your spirit, mind and body, but the burdens you carry dim your light until that darkness chokes the light. This torment of darkness distorts truth and bears chaos that’s potent enough to inflict suffering within the body. Christ takes your place on the cross to bear the weight of sin, iniquity or transgression so that you can abide in His light and life. He covers us as a garment covers the body and that garment bears His name; while Christ bears our names on His forehead and conquers the beast on our behalf. You lack the ability to win the battle alone, but the Savior offered His life as a ransom. He has covered you with His body and His blood so you may be cleansed of the darkness and become as clean as a virgin to behold the light of Christ. Nevermore shall you forget your value to God the Father when you realize the depth of His love for you.
God abides in you when you feast on His words, therefore the bondage of darkness is the absence of God’s light in your thoughts. Our Creator resides in light and is absent in darkness. God rules over evil, but not in the sense that He created it, nor does He exist in darkness as a ruler. God organized intelligence and separated good from evil, light from darkness, so that darkness is the complete absence of God. This separation of intelligence created a choice and thus agency was born. God is truth, order and law, but sin, transgression, and iniquity extinguishes the light of God. Each with varying levels of accountability and requiring different acts of justice, all of which is covered by the Savior’s atoning sacrifice. Novels could be written, but none shall be as effective as the words of the apostle who was translated. “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness.” (1 John 2: 10-11)
You may lack awareness of the impurities tormenting your soul, but there shall be no more sorrow for those who repent and come unto God, “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!” (Alma 29:1) Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Savior of this world, was not killed on the cross. He was already translated and nobody had the power to kill Him. He willingly died to save you. “I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down myself.” (John 10: 17-18) The Father sacrificed His only begotten Son, that through Him we might have eternal life.
Christ is the only one without fault or offense so He offered a solution that shall offer sanctuary for those who desire freedom from the bondage of darkness and seek to restore their relationship with God’s truth and light. “If ye will come unto me ye shall have eternal life. Behold, mine arm of mercy is extended towards you, and whosoever will come, him will I receive; and blessed are those who come unto me.” (3 Nephi 9:14) Anyone who believes repentance is unnecessary to overcome the darkness of their afflictions, shall remain in that awful miserable state. The blind and deaf are unaware of their imprisonment, which is infirmity upon the living soul. The Lord hath said: “You’ve been led astray into a prison of debt as you feed on the fruits of your adversary; your hunger shall never be satisfied, your thirst shall never be quenched. This debt is draining your inner bank of its assets. Your debt shall accumulate and destroy the life within you. Are you willing to allow the debt to be paid or will the debt collector take you away? It’s through my power that ye shall be free of the torment of thy soul. Partake of thy freedom. Thy loving Father is singing encouragement towards the path of success. Ye are not lost, for I am here, walking the path with thee.”
You’ve fallen prey to believing your scars are ugly and you must hide your mistakes from God as though He expects perfection. In actuality, we’re all unprofitable servants who are only made perfect in Christ. When you’ve been plagued by unspeakable acts of violence and sin; your memories carry the burden of iniquity, either self-inflicted or imposed on you. The light of God offers life to your spirit, mind and body, but the burdens you carry dim your light until that darkness chokes the light. This torment of darkness distorts truth and bears chaos that’s potent enough to inflict suffering within the body. Christ takes your place on the cross to bear the weight of sin, iniquity or transgression so that you can abide in His light and life. He covers us as a garment covers the body and that garment bears His name; while Christ bears our names on His forehead and conquers the beast on our behalf. You lack the ability to win the battle alone, but the Savior offered His life as a ransom. He has covered you with His body and His blood so you may be cleansed of the darkness and become as clean as a virgin to behold the light of Christ. Nevermore shall you forget your value to God the Father when you realize the depth of His love for you.
God abides in you when you feast on His words, therefore the bondage of darkness is the absence of God’s light in your thoughts. Our Creator resides in light and is absent in darkness. God rules over evil, but not in the sense that He created it, nor does He exist in darkness as a ruler. God organized intelligence and separated good from evil, light from darkness, so that darkness is the complete absence of God. This separation of intelligence created a choice and thus agency was born. God is truth, order and law, but sin, transgression, and iniquity extinguishes the light of God. Each with varying levels of accountability and requiring different acts of justice, all of which is covered by the Savior’s atoning sacrifice. Novels could be written, but none shall be as effective as the words of the apostle who was translated. “He that loveth his brother abideth in the light. But he that hateth his brother is in darkness.” (1 John 2: 10-11)
You may lack awareness of the impurities tormenting your soul, but there shall be no more sorrow for those who repent and come unto God, “O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!” (Alma 29:1) Jesus Christ, the Messiah and Savior of this world, was not killed on the cross. He was already translated and nobody had the power to kill Him. He willingly died to save you. “I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down myself.” (John 10: 17-18) The Father sacrificed His only begotten Son, that through Him we might have eternal life.
- Accountability: Visualize the cross you’ve been carrying being placed in the ground. You might feel like it’s been you against the whole world. You might feel like you’re innocent and “the other person” needs to carry this cross. You might feel like you are a sinner and unworthy of forgiveness. You might even desire to carry the Savior’s cross. Battling against all this darkness has extinguished the light of God as your life source and you might be struggling to carry your burdens. We are unable to be completely free of sin without the Savior.
- The Savior has been carrying your cross all this time: Christ volunteers to bear your name and take your place on the cross. Christ covers your sins and bears your name so you can bear His name. Accept this gift and cooperate with God’s plan of redemption, “He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
- Surrender to God’s omnipotent power: Only God can deliver you from the bondage of darkness through His saving grace and redeem your divine worth as a child of God. Surrender any darkness plaguing you, to Christ.
- Repent of any acts of sin, transgression, or iniquity. This is done by acknowledging, accepting the consequences, apologizing and surrendering to God. When you repent, the blood of the Lamb can remove all impurities so the destroying angel can no longer claim you.
- Forsake darkness: Ask for the Savior’s help in conquering your anger, pride or any other darkness you carry. Then kneel in humility and surrender your anger, pride and all darkness at His feet.
- Ask for forgiveness if you have been acting in opposition to Him and covenant with Him. “I shall lean on thee as my strength and I shall honor thee by keeping thy commandments. Thank you for loving me enough to die for me.”
- In His agony, Christ utters 10 words, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) You’re given a pardon because you didn’t know better OR redeemed so you no longer bear the burden of what’s been done.
- Redemption is transformational! This miracle is offered unto thine heart as the field is white and ready to harvest. Abide in His light, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18) Christ offered you His life! Honor the Lord and receive your freedom from the debt that has been paid by the blood of the Lamb. Christ took the penalty to redeem you so you can bear His name. Offer gratitude for His selfless sacrifice and become humble enough to receive His atoning grace. For the humbled shall rejoice in the song of salvation, “God is my salvation… JEHOVAH is my strength and my song.” (Isaiah 12:2)
Step 4 - Prince of Peace
“Inasmuch as you have forgiven one another your trespasses, even so I the Lord, forgive you.” (D&C 82:1)
Directly following the Savior’s death, there are 3 days of darkness where even the earth mourns the death of the Savior. The first 3 hours, the earth nearly split in two as there was a great battle commencing. The light of Christ had gone out, so the next 3 days there was no light, nor stars, nor candlelight, but pure darkness. Without God, you’d be in darkness even in a world with a glowing sun in the sky. Sin is oppositional to the Father’s living light, opposing the very means by which He orchestrates the complex organization of the universe. Therefore, the Holy Ghost is offended by sin and thus departs in haste.
We live in a world where we crucified our Savior. He was forsaken, abandoned, abused, broken, betrayed and suffered all manner of afflictions at the hands of His enemies. You can relate to Christ if you’ve also been victimized by the hands of the enemy oppressor who inflicted unrighteous domination and caused afflictions aplenty. You’re either holding onto your pain as evidence to enforce consequences on your enemy or you’re holding onto your pain as evidence for your own condemnation. You have plenty of evidence, but forgiving others is the gateway to freedom.
Do you suffer from a grouchy disposition? Do you feel the burden of suffering is weighing down upon your soul to the breaking point which expels itself into a narration of conflict, depression, anger or anxiety? If so, then you bear the mark of the beast whose seal is found upon your thoughts and your deeds, symbolised by a mark upon your hand and forehead. In God’s wisdom, we are commanded to love God first so that we are focusing on His perfection, His light and love rather than the evidence against your enemy. It is only through God’s grace that we can forgive, when justice for evil acts demands consequences. As we focus on God, we become like Him and we naturally have love for one another.
We seek forgiveness and restitution of wrong doings. As we ask for forgiveness, this is similar to asking for freedom from the burden of the enemy. Jesus Christ offers a new beginning to overcome the darkness that plagues your soul so you may receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost, much like a living ordinance of spiritual rebirth. We are forgiven in the same manner as we forgive others. You feel the freedom of forgiveness, when you offer the freedom of forgiveness. The atonement is a rebirth of God’s truth and light unto your soul; symbolised as the seal of Jesus Christ’s name upon your forehead and hands or in other words, your thoughts and deeds.
When you offer forgiveness it frees you of the torment of your pain and suffering you’ve been carrying so you can abide in God’s light. God’s merciful arms await to embrace you, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you.” (Luke 6:36-37) We shall shout with holy proclamation that we’ve been cleansed from all evil and we’re ready to reunite with Him.
We live in a world where we crucified our Savior. He was forsaken, abandoned, abused, broken, betrayed and suffered all manner of afflictions at the hands of His enemies. You can relate to Christ if you’ve also been victimized by the hands of the enemy oppressor who inflicted unrighteous domination and caused afflictions aplenty. You’re either holding onto your pain as evidence to enforce consequences on your enemy or you’re holding onto your pain as evidence for your own condemnation. You have plenty of evidence, but forgiving others is the gateway to freedom.
Do you suffer from a grouchy disposition? Do you feel the burden of suffering is weighing down upon your soul to the breaking point which expels itself into a narration of conflict, depression, anger or anxiety? If so, then you bear the mark of the beast whose seal is found upon your thoughts and your deeds, symbolised by a mark upon your hand and forehead. In God’s wisdom, we are commanded to love God first so that we are focusing on His perfection, His light and love rather than the evidence against your enemy. It is only through God’s grace that we can forgive, when justice for evil acts demands consequences. As we focus on God, we become like Him and we naturally have love for one another.
We seek forgiveness and restitution of wrong doings. As we ask for forgiveness, this is similar to asking for freedom from the burden of the enemy. Jesus Christ offers a new beginning to overcome the darkness that plagues your soul so you may receive the companionship of the Holy Ghost, much like a living ordinance of spiritual rebirth. We are forgiven in the same manner as we forgive others. You feel the freedom of forgiveness, when you offer the freedom of forgiveness. The atonement is a rebirth of God’s truth and light unto your soul; symbolised as the seal of Jesus Christ’s name upon your forehead and hands or in other words, your thoughts and deeds.
When you offer forgiveness it frees you of the torment of your pain and suffering you’ve been carrying so you can abide in God’s light. God’s merciful arms await to embrace you, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: give, and it shall be given unto you.” (Luke 6:36-37) We shall shout with holy proclamation that we’ve been cleansed from all evil and we’re ready to reunite with Him.
- Judgment: Close your eyes and see all the people who judged Christ and all the people who crucified Christ. This crowd represents your enemies; every person who has ever wronged you, judged you, abused you or tormented you. Your heart might still ache with consequential suffering prevalent in your life, but you’re lost in darkness when you withhold mercy. God offered us agency so we could learn for ourselves, which means we will all make mistakes and we all need infinite forgiveness…Even those who killed Christ. He’s already forgiven them, have you?
- Forgive by sharing loaves and fishes: God knows that forgiveness is near impossible due to incriminating evidence so instead share the loaves and fishes. Focus on being Christlike and share the loaves and fishes with the people who judged and crucified Christ. These people also represent your enemies, therefore, you may wish to express apologies or offer forgiveness with each person. It doesn’t matter if the other person reciprocates, we are all imperfect and need God’s mercy and grace. The only solution for your suffering is compassion and generosity, as charity is the heartbeat of God.
- Forgive Judas: Multiple scriptures require we forgive all men, if God is to forgive us and this includes forgiving Judas. You can relate to Judas from your own experiences in life where you might struggle to forgive yourself. Can you imagine being responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ? The power of regret destroyed Judas, but he’s our brother whom we are required to forgive. If we seek to have the heart of Christ, we too can feel compassion for Judas, for ourselves and for all mankind. God loved Judas and doesn’t condone hate, as it mocks God’s love. God’s atoning love is the solution to Judas’s problem and the solution to your problems. We show love for God when we show love for others so let’s forgive Judas and proclaim our commitment to God. Can you imagine a deeper act of love for our Savior, then to forgive Judas? Visualize standing before Judas after he betrayed Christ. Witness his deep regret and feel compassion for him, knowing the Savior was willing to die for all men and His sacrifice offered you the atonement. Walk to the tree as Judas is tying the knot to hang himself, share your forgiveness and love with Judas: “Your life matters, God still loves you, I love you and I forgive you. The atonement was offered by our Savior for all mankind and that includes you.” Then share the loaves and fishes with him as a gesture of forgiveness and peace.
- Proclaim peace: With the power of God, Moses parted the sea. Visualize the staff of Moses in your hands and strike the mighty sea with a proclamation of peace. The sea will part, creating a path of freedom. The parted sea represents your newly broken heart. Free everyone you’ve held accountable; your enemies, your perpetrators, your abusers, Judas, and the people who crucified Christ. Free the evidence you’ve been holding onto. Embrace your agency and offer others their agency with this proclamation of peace unto the world!
- Freedom: The Lord hath said: “All is well, for you hath offered me thine broken heart and contrite spirit as a submissive lamb unto thy Shepherd.“ Feel freedom gently sweeping through your heart, to make room for the love of God. “And ye shall offer a sacrifice unto me a broken heart and a contrite spirit. And whosoever cometh unto me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the Holy Ghost.” (3 Nephi 9:20)
Step 5 - The Resurrection and the Life
Removing darkness can be as simple as turning on a light. Where there is God, there is light.
There are many moments of grief during the storms in your life when death steals a loved one from your arms and leaves you feeling forsaken. You might not know who you are anymore or how to live in a world without them. You might be caught living in the past and constantly trying to fix where things went wrong. You might be living in a fantasized reality where they survived or in the future when you see them again. Then when reality comes crashing down, it feels like you are being crushed and the breath of life has gone out. There is evidence to empower fear when suffering feels like a prison and a constant reminder of your mortality.
True bondage is the separation of the body and spirit, of heaven and earth, of the Father and His children. Regret is the means by which we cannot reverse the age of time, nor can we alter the state of our tribulations. When you come to a remembrance through guilt, born from the denial of God’s love within your heart, then you shall appreciate the gift of the Savior which restores light unto the darkness. When your heart feels the love of God restoring light unto your heart and mind, then you shall know these things are true.
When Jesus Christ shall return, the earth shall be cleansed of wickedness much like the parable of the wheat and the tares. Within your heart lies righteousness and sin, God shall not pluck out the sin or the righteousness shall also fail; both are grown up together. As your righteousness prevails, your faith is gifted to the Lord as your deeds glorify God, not thyself. As sin abides along with your righteousness, repent and receive a forgiveness so that your righteousness may continuously strengthen. This process will become testimonial as the Lord knoweth all things which shall be for your good.
You might fear losing comforts and possessions, you might fear losing loved ones or your own life. You might feel afraid to speak up for the Lord and share your testimony. These concerns are maturing along with your righteous desire to reunite with the Savior. You can relate to Simon Peter who faced a similar situation, but I hope you can learn from his experience to avoid the same regret. There’s a beautiful song that portrays the emotional distress Simon Peter faced when he acted on his fear and denied his relationship with Christ. Rob Gardner wrote ‘The Lamb of God’ and the song is titled, ‘I cannot Watch Them’:
What have I done? Denied Him? What have I done?
So now I am no different from the men who take Thy bread and turn again?
What have I done? What have I done?
I hear their filthy tongues and vicious scorn, the lies they spin with Satan’s yarn.
I watch them spit and strike thy face, they mock Thy name in foul disgrace
and when Thou lookest for a friend Thou findest none for I have fled.
Oh God, what have I done?
As Thou has taken stripes for me, could I not take but one for Thee?
I cannot watch them take my Lord. I can’t endure their cruel hands upon Him.
While His own hands are tied with cord; those hands with power to raise the dead, command the storm, now bound instead
and I cannot hear them mock His name. I cannot bear their foul breath upon Him.
I dare not look upon His face, to see the very son of God, His brow so bruised and stained with blood; His eyes that shed my sorrow’s tears and watch as all hope disappears. I will not watch them crucify my Lord!
For, I know this man! I know Him! I know this man.
I cannot watch what He must bear, for surely He must carry all my burden.
Forgive me, Lord, that I’m not there, but when my eyes are closed in death, these words will hang on my last breath:
I know Him.
True bondage is the separation of the body and spirit, of heaven and earth, of the Father and His children. Regret is the means by which we cannot reverse the age of time, nor can we alter the state of our tribulations. When you come to a remembrance through guilt, born from the denial of God’s love within your heart, then you shall appreciate the gift of the Savior which restores light unto the darkness. When your heart feels the love of God restoring light unto your heart and mind, then you shall know these things are true.
When Jesus Christ shall return, the earth shall be cleansed of wickedness much like the parable of the wheat and the tares. Within your heart lies righteousness and sin, God shall not pluck out the sin or the righteousness shall also fail; both are grown up together. As your righteousness prevails, your faith is gifted to the Lord as your deeds glorify God, not thyself. As sin abides along with your righteousness, repent and receive a forgiveness so that your righteousness may continuously strengthen. This process will become testimonial as the Lord knoweth all things which shall be for your good.
You might fear losing comforts and possessions, you might fear losing loved ones or your own life. You might feel afraid to speak up for the Lord and share your testimony. These concerns are maturing along with your righteous desire to reunite with the Savior. You can relate to Simon Peter who faced a similar situation, but I hope you can learn from his experience to avoid the same regret. There’s a beautiful song that portrays the emotional distress Simon Peter faced when he acted on his fear and denied his relationship with Christ. Rob Gardner wrote ‘The Lamb of God’ and the song is titled, ‘I cannot Watch Them’:
What have I done? Denied Him? What have I done?
So now I am no different from the men who take Thy bread and turn again?
What have I done? What have I done?
I hear their filthy tongues and vicious scorn, the lies they spin with Satan’s yarn.
I watch them spit and strike thy face, they mock Thy name in foul disgrace
and when Thou lookest for a friend Thou findest none for I have fled.
Oh God, what have I done?
As Thou has taken stripes for me, could I not take but one for Thee?
I cannot watch them take my Lord. I can’t endure their cruel hands upon Him.
While His own hands are tied with cord; those hands with power to raise the dead, command the storm, now bound instead
and I cannot hear them mock His name. I cannot bear their foul breath upon Him.
I dare not look upon His face, to see the very son of God, His brow so bruised and stained with blood; His eyes that shed my sorrow’s tears and watch as all hope disappears. I will not watch them crucify my Lord!
For, I know this man! I know Him! I know this man.
I cannot watch what He must bear, for surely He must carry all my burden.
Forgive me, Lord, that I’m not there, but when my eyes are closed in death, these words will hang on my last breath:
I know Him.
- When you stand up for God, He stands with you. When you act in fear, regret inevitably follows. God never says “I told you so”, instead He gives us a million second chances. Regret doesn’t have to destroy; we can learn from mistakes and continue moving onward and upward. See yourself standing beside Simon Peter, in friendship and equality. Reach out and hold his hand, join your voice with his to proudly declare your love for the Lord: We know Him! We are disciples of the Lord; He is our Savior, our Master, and our King. We glorify God’s name and seek to be glorified by God; we know Him and we love Him.
- The Storm: Let’s relate to Simon Peter when he found himself on a boat at sea during a storm and feared his own survival because the Lord wasn’t with hIm. The storm may or may not be God’s will; some trials are God’s refinement tools, other trials God can use as a refinement tool. The problem isn’t your rickety boat or aging body. The problem isn’t the storm or the sea. The storm isn’t your fault and it wasn’t preventable. The storm is an opportunity to surrender and accept God’s wisdom.
- Submit to God’s mercy: Christ has sacrificed everything for you, are you willing to sacrifice the things you want but don’t have, for Him to return? The storm only has power over you when you are focusing on the storm. Nothing has to change externally, but everything can change internally to disrupt the cycle. Sacrifice the desperately coveted reality or feared potential reality at the altar as the widow's mite.
- Surrender to God’s power and take a deep breath, when you exhale let go of your paddles and throw them overboard! You’re not in control and you were never meant to be. Fall to your knees in prayer and surrender your power to God. Let go and let God steer your boat. “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
- He Lives: Jesus Christ overcame death to rescue you! Visualize the resurrected Savior walking on the water with His hands outstretched, inviting you to join Him. Create evidence for your mind of God’s tender mercy and in your mind’s eye see yourself taking the Savior’s hand. You cannot survive the storm alone so consciously turn your attention away from the trials that you cannot control and instead focus on Christ. When you are focusing on Christ and trusting in Him; He might not fix your boat or calm the storm or the troubled sea, but He will hold you up so you can walk on the water. Take that first step and believe in Him.
- Peace be still: Fear will wash away and the peace of Heaven's essence will calm your troubled soul. Each storm in life, whether literal or symbolic, reflects your inner peace. When you focus on God, you will feel His peace and then the storm will calm. Covenant to follow Christ so He may live within you forevermore. Offer a prayer of gratitude as you’re free to rest on the blissful shore. There’s beauty in vulnerability, there’s comfort in comradery, and there’s compassion in understanding. “My voice is Spirit; my Spirit is truth; truth abideth and hath no end; and if it be in you it shall abound.” (D&C 88:66)
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Joy in Sacrifice
True Joy is shared and magnified as it returns unto you, tenfold.
The governing laws pertaining to the telestial kingdom, in which we reside, abide within the laws of obedience and sacrifice. The law of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the stairway that helps us to rise towards God. You’ve practiced the laws of obedience and sacrifice; now the Lord who is patiently guiding you back home to restore your relationship with the Father. Our Father awaits that cherished day of reunion with arms outstretched wide to embrace each of His children. The journey is strengthening your roots so you can blossom into a restored child of God through Christ’s redemption. Your influence may ripple forth as a rock cascading along the riverbed. The Lord hath said: “Your days will be short, but your joy is eternal. Open your heart unto me, for I am here. Open your eyes unto me, for I am here. I love you and will continue loving you all the days of your life.”
Proudly proclaim, “LORD, I BELIEVE!!!” The angels are singing in celebration with you. Can you hear the sound of your soul rejoicing? It feels like dancing in a meadow of flowers, wearing a rainbow dress of light and color while my soul sings, “I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me down, it’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright, bright sunshiny day! Look all around there’s nothing but blue skies, look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies!” (I Can See Clearly Now, Johnny Nash, 1972)
Proudly proclaim, “LORD, I BELIEVE!!!” The angels are singing in celebration with you. Can you hear the sound of your soul rejoicing? It feels like dancing in a meadow of flowers, wearing a rainbow dress of light and color while my soul sings, “I can see clearly now the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me down, it’s gonna be a bright, bright, bright, bright sunshiny day! Look all around there’s nothing but blue skies, look straight ahead, nothing but blue skies!” (I Can See Clearly Now, Johnny Nash, 1972)
