Between the Lion and the Unicorn

J B Priestley makes an analogy in his book, Thoughts in the Wilderness, about the nature of this life. He says that the Lion lives in and commands the world of “dreary conformity.” Except that instead of honor, the Lion gets “shrugs, jeers, sniggers and roars of laughter.” He is chained up while we mortals try to impress everyone with our knowledge. Meanwhile the Unicorn, “old but timeless, potent in its magic” represents the heavenly realm where we are empowered to be boldly imaginative as we proclaim that honor, right and “truth that is beauty are neither dead nor undefended.” I believe that when Christ comes again, he will bring with him a new ideal that was only imagined in Camelot and laughed at in Don Quixote. His realm is like a Land of Unicorns. (Priestley/Root)

This essay is going to focus on neither the Lion nor the Unicorn but the space between the two. “Now there must needs be a space bewixt the time of death and the time of the resurrection.” (Alma 40:6) This space, or Spirit World, allows for period of reflection before the redemption and resurrection. It is the nature of this space that I want to explore. Some of my sources are religious and some are secular. 

Jeffrey Olsen, in his book Knowing: Memoirs of a journey beyond the veil and choosing joy after tragic loss, speaks of his own near death experience and this is how he described what it felt like to be out of the land of the Lion, “Was it Heaven? I didn’t know, but it made my earthly existence seem like a foggy dream. What I was experiencing was far more real, far more tangible, and far more alive than anything I had ever known.” (Olsen, ch 5) This personal experience shows us one difference between mortality and the Spirit World. The spirit of man leaves the mortal body and enters a world that is peopled with others who are deceased and they are all waiting for the redemption to come. I believe they are essentially in another dimension on this Earth and that they can see mortals but they are without physical form and so mortals cannot usually see them.

In his book Lilith, George McDonald explores the redemption of a mythical princess Lilith. The main character of the book encounters Lilith in an imaginary world betwen life and death that harks back to a “Spirit World.” She is resistant to any kind of change from her devilish ways and so she remains while those who have submitted to the will of the Creator are at “rest” in the House of Death. 

The first third of the book Lilith is very confusing and necessarily so. Without confusion, the reader cannot understand that the dead in the “Spirit World” are not sure why they are there and what it means to “rest.” They are not necessarily emotional although some are wreaking havoc as usual just like Lilith. The dead enter the “Spirit World” just as they are. “And not one hair, neither mote, shall be lost, for it is the workmanship of mine hand.” (D&C 29:25) The good and the bad are all still identifying character traits of the dead.

Lucifer, the dragon, has cast a shadow on the mortal world but he is not able to influence the dead. The dead may identify more with Lucifer’s mantra than Christ’s. “Lucifer is this accuser. He spoke against us in the premortal existence, and he continues to denounce us in this life. He seeks to drag us down. He wants us to experience endless woe. He is the one who tells us we are not adequate, the one who tells us we are not good enough, the one who tells us there is no recovery from a mistake. He is the ultimate bully, the one who kicks us when we are down.

If Lucifer were teaching a child to walk and the child stumbled, he would scream at the child, punish him, and tell him to quit trying. Lucifer’s ways bring discouragement and despair--eventually and always. This father of lies is the ultimate purveyor of falsehood and cunningly works to deceive and distract us, ‘for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.’

If Christ were teaching a child to walk and the child stumbled, He would help the child get up and encourage the next steps. Christ is the helper and consoler. His ways bring joy and hope--eventually and always.” (Renlund) People tend to think along one of these lines about themselves and others as an expression of what they were taught or how they were treated.

As the book Lilith progresses, we come to understand why Lilith has not gone to her “rest.” In a conversation between Mr Vane, a mortal recently arrived, and Lilith we see her resistance. 

Lilith speaking: “I will be what I mean myself now."

Mr Vane: "If you were restored, would you not make what amends you could for the misery you have caused?"

"I would do after my nature.”

“You do not know it: your nature is good, and you do evil!"

"I will do as my Self pleases—as my Self desires."

"You will do as the Shadow, overshadowing your Self inclines you?"

"I will do what I will to do."

"You have killed your daughter, Lilith!"

"I have killed thousands. She is my own!"

"She was never yours as you are another's."

"I am not another's; I am my own, and my daughter is mine."

"Then, alas, your hour is come!”

“I care not. I am what I am; no one can take from me myself!"

"You are not the Self you imagine."

"So long as I feel myself what it pleases me to think myself, I care not. I am content to be to myself what I would be. What I choose to seem to myself makes me what I am. My own thought makes me me; my own thought of myself is me. Another shall not make me!"

"But another has made you, and can compel you to see what you have made yourself. You will not be able much longer to look to yourself anything but what he sees you! You will not much longer have satisfaction in the thought of yourself. At this moment you are aware of the coming change!”

“No one ever made me. I defy that Power to unmake me from a free woman! You are his slave, and I defy you! You may be able to torture me—I do not know, but you shall not compel me to anything against my will!"

"Such a compulsion would be without value. But there is a light that goes deeper than the will, a light that lights up the darkness behind it: that light can change your will, can make it truly yours and not another's—not the Shadow's. Into the created can pour itself the creating will, and so redeem it!"

"That light shall not enter me: I hate it!—Begone, slave!"

"I am no slave, for I love that light, and will with the deeper will which created mine. There is no slave but the creature that wills against its creator. Who is a slave but her who cries, 'I am free,' yet cannot cease to exist!"

"You speak foolishness from a cowering heart! You imagine me given over to you: I defy you! I hold myself against you! What I choose to be, you cannot change. I will not be what you think me—what you say I am!"

"I am sorry: you must suffer!"

"But be free!"

"She alone is free who would make free; she loves not freedom who would enslave: she is herself a slave. Every life, every will, every heart that came within your ken, you have sought to subdue: you are the slave of every slave you have made—such a slave that you do not know it!—See your own self!” (McDonald)

In this dialogue we see a woman who has made up her mind to be evil even though she was created to be good. She is resistant to the Creator who can see her for who she really is and redeem her back to her good self. We see, “Our reluctance to give away all our sins--thinking, instead, a down payment will do. Likewise, our reluctance to let our wills be swallowed up in His will--thinking, instead, that merely acknowledging His will is sufficient!” (Maxwell) This is not a trivial thing. The will is a force to be reckoned with and controlling it is Lucifer’s greatest wish. The Creator asks us to offer to align our will with His.

The people in the Spirit World who are not at “rest” are those who “have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—“ (Alma 40:13). The shadow of the dragon can’t influence them but they have a spirit of the devil within themselves because they have chosen it. “There is no evil that [Jesus Christ] cannot arrest. All things are in His hands. This earth is His rightful dominion. Yet He permits evil [in mortality] so that we can make choices between good and evil.” (Ezra T Benson) In the Spirit World, the dead are in the Creator’s reality. They may not, however, be happy about being in His presence and so they aren’t immediately ushered into the Land of the Unicorn.

The space between death and the resurrection is a time for the soul to decide whether or not to accept redemption. The revelations say, “Strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am--not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual.” (D&C 67:10) The choice is ours. “Freedom of choice is a God-given eternal principle. The great plan of liberty is the plan of the gospel. There is no coercion about it; no force, no intimidation. A man is free to accept the gospel or reject it. He may accept it and then refuse to live it, or he may accept it and live it fully. But God will never force us to live the gospel. He will use persuasion through His servants. He will call us and He will direct us and He will persuade us and encourage us and He will bless us when we respond, but He will never force the human mind.” (Ezra T Benson)

The Creator sends messengers into the “Spirit World” to convince the souls of men to humble themselves. “And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel.” (D&C 138:31) Mr Vane, in Lilith acts as a messenger. He carries Lilith against her will to Mara, the moon, and she tries to illuminate for Lilith the truth about herself. After all her efforts, Mr Vane carries Lilith to the House of Death for further help. Despite the good intentions of others in Lilith, submission is an individual choice and true redemption is in the hands of the Creator. In the Spirit World, there may not be a Mara or a House of Death but there is a space. “As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.” (Romans 11:28) Lilith and others like her are “beloved enemies.” They have lived in the land of the Lion and they seek to manifest in themselves the power of God. But they have not accepted the truth nor acted in love. When they see the truth, they wish for annihilation, but annihilation is not something they have the power to do. Only the Creator knows how to disintegrate physical things. He said that the spirit of Man is intelligence and that it “was not created or made.” (D&C 93:29) “Annihilation itself is no death to evil. Only good where evil was, is evil dead. An evil thing must live with its evil until it chooses to be good. That alone is the slaying of evil.” (McDonald) The messengers speak of redemption but the evil will must choose to be good or suffer.

The Creator will come in the morning of the resurrection and call us to arise. “But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead and Christ shall give thee light.” (Eph 5:13-14) The Creator will infuse us with His light and all that was damaged or broken will be renewed and receive a measure of the Glory of God such as we are willing to accept. The timing and the environment in which we wait are His. The messengers come from Him. We hold the choice to submit in our hands.

Sources

The Bible

The Doctrine and Covenants

The Book of Mormon

Benson, Ezra T. Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Ezra Taft Benson. Intellectual Reserve, Inc. 2014.

Maxwell, Neal A. “Encircled in the Arms of His Love.” Ensign, Oct 2002.

McDonald, George. Lilith, A Romance. Chatto and Windus, 1895.

Olsen, Jeffery. Knowing: Memoirs of a journey beyond the veil and choosing joy after tragic loss. One Now Holdings, 2018.

Priestley, J B. Thoughts in the Wilderness. Heinemann, 1957.

Renlund, Dale G. “Choose You This Day.” Ensign, Oct 2018.

Root, E Merrill. America’s Steadfast Dream. Western Islands, 1971.

How to Accept God’s Grace

The notion common to most Christians is that you accept God’s grace by declaring your belief in Him. This comes from Romans 10:9 which says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.” (KJV)

My understanding of grace is that it is applied by a loving God universally to his children in the form of a full restitution of the physical body after death, a full restitution of broken hearts and (conditional upon repentance) a full restitution of sin.

I believe that in order to accept God’s grace I have to do more than say “I do” but I have to “do what I say.”

What you send out will come back to you

How My Concept of Salvation is More Specific Than Mainstream Christianity

The concept of an afterlife is vague in mainstream christianity because the Bible gives few details. Mostly I hear about grace and glory and choirs of angels.

My religious tradition contains teachings that are exquisitely more specific. I will share with you the original text and then my comments. To set the stage, the afterlife extends through time and space. It is composed of many spaces which are governed by law. The glorified beings who inhabit these spaces are subject to God’s laws and invigorated by his glory.

D&C 76:16-17

Speaking of the resurrection of the dead, concerning those who shall hear the voice of the Son of Man: And shall come forth; they who have done good, in the resurrection of the just; and they who have done evil, in the resurrection of the unjust.

I see in this verse a resurrection for all who hear the voice of Christ. It is qualified by some quality of the person which is herein labeled in a unique way as “just” and “unjust.” (so vague - yet it makes me wonder when I’ve heard God use the terms just and unjust before)

D&C 88:22-24

For he who is not able to abide the law of a celestial kingdom cannot abide a celestial glory.

And he who cannot abide the law of a terrestrial kingdom cannot abide a terrestrial glory.

And he who cannot abide the law of a telestial kingdom cannot abide a telestial glory; therefore he is not meet for a kingdom of glory. Therefore he must abide a kingdom which is not a kingdom of glory.

This tells me that there are three main kingdoms: celestial, terrestrial and telestial. They are governed by law and the inhabitants abide in that law. That word abide makes me think that they choose to obey and are not forced to abide there.

D&C 88:29-32

Ye who are quickened by a portion of the celestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.

And they who are quickened by a portion of the terrestrial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.

And also they who are quickened by a portion of the telestial glory shall then receive of the same, even a fulness.

And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.

This tells me that the inhabitants of the kingdoms receive a portion of the glory of that kingdom in which they reside which renews and quickens their body and spirit. The resurrection is a gift of glory and this shows me that it is measured out based on our willingness to receive. The gift of glory is not described as a punishment but rather a reflection of what we are capable of accepting. This is curious to me.

D&C 76:70-71

These are they whose bodies are celestial, whose glory is that of the sun, even the glory of God, the highest of all, whose glory the sun of the firmament is written of as being typical.

And again, we saw the terrestrial world, and behold and lo, these are they who are of the terrestrial, whose glory differs from that of the church of the Firstborn who have received the fulness of the Father, even as that of the moon differs from the sun in the firmament.

I see a little bit clearer what it means to be resurrected by or of a celestial glory as opposed to a terrestrial glory. And yet, the magnitude of the sun’s light as compared to the moon’s light is really hard to compare.

D&C 88:34

And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same.

This tells me that the law is an integral part of the glory of God and the sanctifying influence that emanates from his kingdoms.

D&C 88:37-38

And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom.

And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions.

This echoes Christ’s teaching that in his Father’s house there are many mansions. This also tells me that He sets the boundaries. From what I understand of boundaries in this mortal world; they are what gives me a sense of safety and structure. 

D&C 76:98

And the glory of the telestial is one, even as the glory of the stars is one; for as one star differs from another star in glory, even so differs one from another in glory in the telestial world…

I understand that the third kingdom, here named telestial, is not a group of equal states but a group of unequal states. The idea that God has an infinite number of kingdoms which exist in an infinite array of glory shows me that his judgement will be just. There is only one grace and it glorifies us in a precise way. I think the author of liberty understands freedom.

And in all this discussion of God's kingdoms, the details remain in God’s possession and we are left to imagine His glory from our finite perspective.

Subscribe to our mailing list

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name

Website

Realizing Our Divine Potential

We are imperfect human beings living in a mortal world as designed by our Heavenly Father in his perfect plan for our eternal progression. Before birth we lived as spirit sons and daughters with our Father in Heaven. At the designated time, we are born here with a blank slate to parents who ideally provide protection, education and support as we grow. By the time we reach adulthood, we have the mental capacity to make choices of our own and be responsible for the consequences. As our mortal life ends we pass through death and enter the world of spirits where we await our designated time to report on our mortal life. Some time afterwards our Father in Heaven will reward us with a perfected, resurrected physical body as well as a home where we will continue to live as eternal beings. This is part of the perfect plan.

When God Seems Distant

God is omnipresent, yet sometimes he seems far away. If you’ve ever thought about that deeply, you might have assumed that he is immediately available and wondered why you can’t feel or sense his presence. I can believe that you might even race ahead to the next logical conclusion that either you must then be of no value to him (since he isn’t there) or alternately that he does not exist.

Believing in God requires walking this life without seeing everything. That’s faith. 

The Greatest Work

In an election year, each candidate has some carefully crafted “talking points” — oft repeated goals.  What actually gets accomplished by an elected official is complicated.  An elected official’s productivity can be compared to our own.  Our real intentions are not in the things we talk bout but in the things we actually do.  And some of the things we do are just escape routes to avoid the real work at hand.

In people with addictions, the intention may be there, but the mechanism for choosing what actually gets done is broken.  An addiction is stronger than will power.  It must be dealt with before any of the real work can be done. This post helps to identify the real work that can both bridle the passions and lead to a full recovery in people who are looking for relief from addictions.

There are two kinds of work.  The natural appetites are called carnal, and all of us must work to feed ourselves in order to survive.  The work that is spiritual or altruistic requires a determined effort because it is not required for survival.  I believe that the real work in life happens in and for people, first in families, second among friends and co-workers.  A good balance is maintained between the real work and those tasks that appease the appetites by choosing to prioritize real work with lasting value to society.

This post answers the question why soul-enlarging spiritual work in families should be a higher priority than carnal work.  Work among people, specifically family, is the closest imitation of God’s work.  God has said, “My work and my glory is to bring about the immortality and eternal life of man.” Moses 1:39 The work done in families includes teaching, correcting, developing patience, forgiving and learning to repair relationships.  The pain caused by broken families shows how important it is to succeed in this work.

We are immortal, but this life is mortal or temporary.  After we die you won’t have our wealth or status but we will have the truths in our souls that we gained by living and working in families.  These truths and the work by which they are gained should be a higher priority than acquiring wealth or appeasing the appetites.

The family is the ideal place to learn and develop virtues like faith, hope and love.  Specifically love emerges as an expression of lots of virtues.  For the unmarried man or woman moving from relationship to relationship, love is mixed with selfishness.  Ideal love comes from a pure, unselfish heart. 1 Tim 1:5 Family responsibilities demand an unselfish response.  Family responsibilities also moderate the natural appetites to eat, drink and have sex in excess.

We are all natural or carnal until we begin to choose spirituality and develop the virtues Christ exemplified.  “The natural man is an enemy to God.” Mos 3:19  In family life, parents guide and correct children to avoid the lusts of the flesh while they are young.  This gives the seeds of spirituality and virtue a chance to grow and develop.  Children taught in this way reach adulthood with virtuous principles and habits which protect them from unknowingly falling into the trap of trying to appease the carnal desires.  Adults who received no family protection and training have discovered how easy it is to prioritize the appetites over spirituality and how futile it is to try and appease the appetites.  To those who try to choose both the spiritual and the carnal, Jesus said, “no man can serve two masters.” Matt 6:24

The soul of a human being has two parts.  One is immortal and spiritual; the other is mortal and carnal.  Paul teaches in 1 Cor 2:11-14 that the natural man or carnal aspect of the soul cannot understand spiritual things.  It follows that to understand spiritual things and develop virtue, a person must gain mastery over the carnal aspect of themselves.  Christianity teaches that the resurrection will restore the physical aspect of the soul to its original state.  What is not as clear is that the spiritual aspect of the soul will also be restored to the state of mastery developed during the mortal experience.  Alma teaches this principle in Alma 41:11-14 which may sound similar to the Buddhist teaching of karma.  Essentially, the soul is resurrected to an evil spiritual state if the person chose evil with a perfected physical body or it is resurrected to a spiritual state of righteousness if the person chose righteousness with a perfected physical body.  Choosing the carnal over the spiritual has an eternal consequence in the state of resurrection achieved.

A story is told in the Bible of a woman who was brought to Jesus.  She had been capitalizing on the sexual appetites and the Jews expected Jesus to condemn her because that behavior is forbidden in the Mosaic law.  Jesus did not condemn her at that time because she was still mortal and she still had the opportunity to change.  He told her to repent when he said, “Go and sin no more.” (John 8) This story gives hope to all who have spent time and money appeasing the carnal appetites.  Change is possible.  Addictions can be bridled.  Following the path Jesus walked requires nothing less.  He submitted to the will of the Father and so must we.  (Matt 7:21, Matt 12:50, John 5:30, 2 Ne 31:7-15)

The spiritual work done in and for families should be a high priority. It imitates God’s work.  It enables the acquisition of truths that have eternal value. It enables the development of ideal love by moderating the appetites. It protects and prepares the rising generation for adulthood. It enables the soul to reach it’s highest state of mastery. It also helps those who want to regain mastery of their appetites channel their energy and resources into more productive areas.

12 Steps to Change: An addiction recovery program

image credits: used with permission

The Process of Renewal

A mother was working with her son on his spelling words.  She asked him if he knew the difference between the words conscious and conscience.

He replied, “Yes, conscious is when I am aware of something and conscience is when I wish I wasn’t.”

The year is coming to an end.  There may be some things that went badly or that we wish we had handled differently.  Our conscience reminds us of things that we need to change or people we have hurt.

Repentance is a process of tidying up our lives so that we don’t have a lot of loose ends at the end.  It is doing away with some things so that the final result is glorious.

“For if that which is done away was glorious, much more that which remaineth is glorious.” 2 Cor 3:11  I like the idea that repentance leaves us with the more glorious parts of our selves. 

We have two selves.  The outward self is mortal, sensual and prone to mischief.  The inward self is immortal, spiritual and sensitive to truth.  Which of your two selves is in control?  Sometimes the battle is internal. 

In repentance, “the outward man perish[es].”  And though this process hurts a little, it is “but for a moment [and] worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”  2 Cor 4:16-17

Let go of darkness and let the glory in.

Christ makes our purification possible.  “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.”  2 Cor 5:17  He has the power to renew and resurrect the mortal body.  He also has the power to renew and perfect the spirit.  We can engage that power here and now.  Renewal is a powerful process made possible by the Prince of Peace.

I myself have had to do a lot of repenting this year.  After years of handling things in my family relationships badly, it is time to tidy up my life.  I have made some major changes in my marriage, and renewed my dedication to the success of my children.  I could just sit around and wish for things to get better, or resign myself to the status quo but I have the privilege of agency.    It is no surprise that things have fallen into disrepair.  Entropy is a natural law.  It is my choice to build, repair and repent.  I have set goals and kept track of my progress and I have seen some small signs of growth.  Renewal is possible with Christ’s help.  I might feel “perplexed” at times but “not in despair.”  2 Cor 4:8

I’m making room in my life for an eternal weight of glory.

If you liked this post you might also like Shame vs. Guilt

Image of peeling paint courtesy Steven Depolo

Image Into Darkness courtesy  Sario Reale

The Wise Shall Shine

In this post:  The resurrection, Ten Virgins, and baby stars

The Kingdom of God will be inhabited by people whose souls shine like the sun.  (Matt 13:43)  Light is often associated with good and dark with evil.  Is this just poetic or will people really shine?

An angel speaking to Daniel in the Old Testament said, “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the Earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.  And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”  (Dan 12:2-3)  I’m fascinated by the angel’s description of the next life.  A person who is sleeping in the dust of the Earth is dead.  When they awake, they are resurrected to a new life or to an everlasting contempt.  (Contempt is such a loaded word)  

Jesus used similar language when he said, “all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:29)

I looked around and found another verse that puts the state of the wicked in another way.  This one is in Luke 13:28, “There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.”  I know the bitter disappointment of being rejected.  This verse seems to describe hell as state of being left out.  What I read into it, which maybe is only implied, is that the people thrust out are surprised by the outcome.

In another story, the one with the ten virgins (Matthew 25:1-12) there are only five that hold their lamps with oil and all are surprised by the bridegroom.  There are five virgins that haven’t noticed that their lights are gone out.  The verse in Daniel uses the word “wise” which is what made me think of the virgins.  Are they holding their souls (little lights) in their hands?  And when they enter the kingdom of God, is it their souls that shine?

Image used with permission

Paul speaks of turning souls to the light in Acts 26:18.  “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God that they may receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”  He is preparing for the kingdom of God when he talks about the “inheritance.”  Paul hopes to turn souls but really we have to turn ourselves.

I guess I like to think of my soul as a light.  I hope it shines.  I think it probably flickers.  On good days my eyes sparkle and on bad days, they are dull and lifeless.  I hope to be like the wise virgins whose lamps have oil.  I never thought of those lamps as “baby stars.”  Maybe they are going to shine forever.  Pretty thought.

I’ve got a new video that goes into depth on John 5.  You can watch it here.