Part 2 - continued
All Good Things…
All good things/feelings invite and entice us to do good. So too, all good things invite and entice us to be loving and peaceful and to have and maintain the fruits of the spirit.
This was explained very clearly by the prophet Alma as he compared the words of prophets to seeds which we can plant to determine if they are good seeds or bad seeds.
Consider for a moment that Alma was not speaking to people who knew him to be a true prophet. He was speaking to strangers who knew very little of him. For all they knew, he could have been a false prophet.
Alma understood this and so told them to try his words in an experiment. He said that if you try this experiment on the words of proposed prophets you would be able to tell the difference between the words of false prophets and true prophets. He said,
“27 But behold, if ye will awake and arouse your faculties, even to an experiment upon my words, and exercise a particle of faith, yea, even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.
28 Now, we will compare the word unto a seed. Now, if ye give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart, behold, if it be a true seed, or a good seed, if ye do not cast it out by your unbelief, that ye will resist the Spirit of the Lord, behold, it will begin to swell within your breasts; and when you feel these swelling motions, ye will begin to say within yourselves—It must needs be that this is a good seed, or that the word is good, for it beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.
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31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? I say unto you, Yea; for every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness.
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35 O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible, therefore ye must know that it is good.
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42 And because of your diligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.” – Alma 32:27-42
Now Alma is telling us exactly how to test the seeds. Good seeds from bad seeds. The first thing he tells us to do is to “desire to believe… until ye believe in a manner that ye can give place for a portion of my words.” Then, “give place, that a seed may be planted in your heart” and “do not cast it out by your unbelief that you will resist the Spirit of the Lord.”
Again, they did not know if the Alma was a true prophet bringing good seeds or not. Alma was telling them how to test the prophets to determine whether they are true or not. This means that he is telling us that we should do the same for false prophets. As we listen to what they are saying, we should set aside our unbelief and “give place, that a seed may be planted in our hearts.”
He promises that good seeds will sprout and bring forth the “fruit thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure.”
He also tells us what will happen to bad seeds that are planted in our fertile garden.
“Therefore, if a seed groweth it is good, but if it groweth not, behold it is not good, therefore it is cast away.” – Alma 32:32
As listeners, our responsibilities include:
- Maintain the spirit with all of its fruits of Love, peace, humility, etc.
- “Believe ALL Things” or at least “Desire to believe”
- Create fertile ground for all seeds to be planted
- Do not cast out the seeds by your unbelief
- Pay attention to whether the teachings entice you to greater love, peace, longsuffering, joy, goodness, etc.
At no time in our interaction with others should we behave like wolves!
You might be a wolf if…
- You preach “against” what you disagree with rather than “for” what you agree with.
- When you hear the message or the words of others that disagree with your own views, you tear them apart.
- You feel threatened by others beliefs and thoughts.
- You respond to others with teeth bared, ready to tear apart the misguided, the Anti-Christ, or “the deceiver”.
There is a big difference between a friendly discussion in which you may disagree with another person and shredding your opponent. Usually wolves will resort to character attacks on their opponents rather than focusing on the content and topics. They will often lack in persuasion, reason and logic and motivated by fear they will resort to less honorable means to discredit the person or their ideas.
We may all at times falter, however, we should be aware of ourselves and how we treat others, apologizing and correcting as necessary. We can become sheep by loosing our false doctrines and beliefs which inspire us to be wolves, replacing them with the peaceable doctrines of the spirit of Christ.
Recognizing the Fruits Others Produce
At the end of Part 1 (Chapter 2), we said, “Although attempting to reason out the results of the message is not encouraged, it is actually the end goal. We want to see where this philosophy and belief will lead us. However, just as Mosiah tells his people to focus on a seemingly unrelated task to receive certain seemingly unrelated results, so too, if we put our attention on the true fruits we will see the results of the message clearly and without effort.”
You can know with a perfect knowledge, “by their fruits, you shall know them”, and “the way to judge is plain and perfect”. Here’s how…
The end results of a persons belief is embodied in that person as they stand right now.
If we judge them and their message based on their past actions, we are not accounting for any growth, change or even repentance that has occurred which makes them who they are right now, today.
This means that we would have rejected Alma the younger and his friends when they had changed from carnal to Godly. When they truly could lead you to great things.
If we look at the fruits they exhibit right now, we will see the culmination of all their beliefs, philosophies, and doctrines. This gives us an updated understanding of the best that this person has to offer right now in the present moment.
If their beliefs and philosophies lead to hate, then they will be hateful right now. If their beliefs and doctrines lead to love and peace, then they will be loving and peaceful right now. They embody the overall message they have to share in the moment they are sharing that message.
Considering the teachings, you can ask yourself, “Do the teachings encourage love and unity or do they create division lines, disunity and separation? Do you feel encouraged to love more, accept more and respect more or not? Do the teachings universally unite mankind in peace and equality or separate them into warring factions?”
If a person is exhibiting bad fruit, does it mean that everything they have to say is bad or wrong? No. But the message they are sharing while exhibiting bad fruit is certain to be mean and hateful if they are presenting it in a mean and hateful spirit. They are, in that moment, a false prophet, a wolf dressed in sheep’s clothing.
The tone of the messenger will tell you a lot about the message they are sharing. If their tone is loving, then they have a loving message. Because God is love, all things that produce greater love in you will make you more like God. Also, if their message produces unity and greater love, then it is Good. If their message creates disunity and greater separation, then it is Evil. The way to judge is plain.
When you add all the good and all the bad together you have an overall feeling and presence which encompasses the sum total of all they have to offer the world at that particular moment.
Again you may see an endless variety and variation from the purest black to the whitest light and each of us fluctuates in some range in this spectrum. You are looking for those messages which are the purest, most loving and most enlightening.
In the scripture regarding the false prophets, we are told they look like Sheep but they act like ravening wolves. There is nothing peaceful or loving about a ravening wolf. These are the people who preach hate, distrust and separation. They themselves are angry, biting and tearing others down. They are truly ravening wolves! The description fits them well, very well!
Wolves are the people who are angry, biting, crewel and unforgiving. They demand retribution, punishment and rejoice in tearing down their enemies. They tear down others, shred those who disagree with them and rejoice as they rip apart the peaceable sheep. They do not feel love or forgiveness toward their enemies. Anyone that does not agree with them seems to be their enemy.
“14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." - Gal. 5:14-18
Wolves need laws to keep them from hurting others. Wolves fight and quarrel with each other and attack the peaceable and defenseless sheep. They dominate the weak with whatever means possible. While the sheep peacefully discuss and share their individual thoughts, experiences and view points, the wolves criticize and contend. They are the cause of wars, strife and contention. Their snapping, biting and growling is unmistakable to those who know what to look for.
Remember, sheep are peaceful, soft and squishy. They are easily discernable from wolves.
Some wolves are recognized from their own messages and some are recognized by their response to the messages of others.
When you share a thought or message, if a wolf disagrees with you, they will shred you with little, if any, mercy. Their attacks will often turn personal.
Grapes of Thorns and Figs of Thistles
Grapes and figs are sweet, soft and nourishing. In opposition to these, thorn and thistles defensive and provide no value. When we gather grapes and figs, we gather those things that come from the fruit bearing trees which are intended to be eaten for our nourishment.
Imagine eating delicious grapes and figs, as compared with hard and bitter thorns and thistles. These present very different feelings and experiences. It seems obvious that men would naturally eat grapes and figs rather than thorns and thistles in our physical diet. So this comparison with our spiritual diet is a perfect match.
If grapes were love and Figs were peace, then it would seem natural that men would desire love and peace over the thorns of hate and thistles of war. But some men, and even women, are spiritually nourished on hate and war. They don’t feel satisfied by the grapes of love and figs of peace.
The result is that they write Anti-literature focusing on what they are against rather than what they are for. They teach for doctrines the commandments of men, having a form of Godliness, (order and organization), but denying the very power thereof, (Love). They draw near to God in words, with their lips only, but their hearts are far from God, who is love. Therefore they are not like God at all.
They teach obedience to dead laws, rituals and leadership but miss the mark to which all these symbols point.
They encourage and live to hate and fight against their enemy rather than to love them. They teach, encourage and even motivate by fear, obligation and expectation.
They seek inequality in laws, wealth, spiritual stature and all aspects of life. They judge others but forgive themselves.
Outwardly they appear to be the peaceable sheep. They maintain this appearance by attending church meetings with the sheep and living the outward actions of the sheep and even speak as if they follow the good shepherd. But they are raving wolves because they tear others down and shred apart those who have come to understand the fulfillment of law. They attempt to turn the sheep into hate driven wolves like themselves.
Part 2 - Conclusion
Christ exemplified for us the pure nature of love. He taught in word and lived in heart and deed the fulfillment of the lower law by embracing love. He told us:
“42 And behold it is written also, that thou shalt love thy neighbor and hate thine enemy;
43 But behold I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you;” – 3Ne. 12:43-44
This is truly a hard thing which cannot be done by the natural man who makes war on his enemies and uses his friends. You must first experience the mighty change in heart like unto the Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s who loved their enemy so much that they would rather die by the hand of their enemies than to fight against them.
Christ told us who would inherit the reward of the righteous and who would not. He taught saying:
“34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” – Matt. 25:34-46
Christ tells us that what we have done to the least is these, (People), we have done to him.
Who is the least? The least are those among us whom we esteem to be the least valued and the most despised. The least is the beggar, the divorced, the excommunicated, the Anti-Christ, the servant or slave, the ungodly, our enemy and those whom we esteem to be the lowest and most undeserving. Whomever we determine to be the lowest and furthest from our ideal is the least among us.
The good or bad that we do to those who are least in our lives is equivalent to that which we would do to Christ if we did not recognize him. Some in his day who did not recognize him ridiculed him, spit on him and even killed him.
The question is asked, “How will you treat your Lord and Savior?” The answer is given in how we treat our enemy and those we esteem to be the least.
It is easy to love our friends, but what praise have we? For even the wicked love their friends and treat them with respect and kindness.
We cannot be wolves and in the end counted among Christ’s sheep. For Christ said, “If you are not ONE, ye are not mine.” A wolf is the enemy of the flock.
There are coming many prophets who will teach from revelation the doctrines of the millennium. These teachings may contradict our own traditions, beliefs and teachings. This does not mean they are wrong.
If we can follow Alma’s counsel, (Alma 32), to give place that the seeds may be planted so that we may try the fruit, we will learn for ourselves to accept the good and leave the bad.
Regarding those teachings and prophets which we have proven by their fruits to be false, we give them a kind word and allow them to be on their merry way.
We echo the wise words of Gamaliel who counseled,
“38 And now I say unto you, Refrain from these men, and let them alone: for if this counsel or this work be of men, it will come to nought:
39 But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God." - Acts 5:38-39
If we can do this, then we will be ready and able to receive the coming prophets who teach those things which will lead us happily into our millennial rest.
It is given for each of us to chose who we will be. We can be a ravening wolf or a peaceful sheep… With that in mind, we leave you with the words of Christ who said,
“43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?" - Matt. 5:43-47
In the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whose example we follow, Amen.