PLANTING SEEDS and Harvesting "The Greatest Treasure

PLANTING SEEDS and Harvesting the Greatest Treasure

We are talking about Hastening God’s work through Faith in Christ. God’s work is to invite ALL people to “Come unto Christ and be perfected IN and by Him”.

I have found a great hidden treasure and I am enriched beyond belief by it. May I share this treasure with you also?

As a wheat farmer, I have learned a little bit about planting seeds and doing the nurturing to find a good harvest. This is called Husbandry. There is One who seeks to be our Husband and care for us and heal us and cleanse us, and love us and protect us and deliver us from all our evil.

I don’t know about what you choose, but I am choosing to be done with the fear, the struggle, the self-pity, the Self-righteousness, and the strife.

I am done with being in bondage, and the striving to get my “Self” out of the mess I have created of my so-called “life”.

I am done with living in the great and spacious building of pride and envy and jealousy and competition and ladder-climbing and lusting after power and position and possessions and praise of others. I am too old to mealie-mouth His “Word” anymore.

I am done with fighting what Life brings my way and in fighting others and God – for He is in charge of my life and where I am going. I AM surrendering my will to Him.

I have surrendered my Heart to Him, whereas before, life has been about what I can do to save and perfect and exalt myself into my own Kingdom.

I am done with the fear of never being good enough to merit God’s Love and the rewards of my labors.

I am done with all the labors and being heavy laden with all the things that I thought I needed to do to achieve Heaven and obtain God’s love and approval for what I have made of My Great Big “Self”. I am putting my “Self” on the altar – I have laid my Self Life down in the grave – only to arise by His Power into a whole new life of Joy and Peace In Him.

I have been asking my Heavenly Father for 50 years now – What is the real Purpose of Life?

Pres. Harold B Lee pointed out the one scripture which explains the purpose for which God created us and put us here in this Telestial Pain.

It’s found in 2 Nephi 2: 15-16. Are you ready for it?

2 Nephi 2:15 And to bring about His eternal purposes (for) man, after he had created our first parents, and the beasts and the fowls, and all things which are created, it must needs be that there (is) an opposition; (which is) (1)the forbidden fruit (Tree of Knowledge of Good vs. Evil) in opposition to (2) THE TREE OF LIFE; the one being bitter and the other sweet.

16 Wherefore, the Lord God gave unto man that he should act for himself. Wherefore, man could not act for himself save it should be that he was enticed by the one (bitter) or the other (sweet above all that is sweet).”

So Life is a Gift and the purpose we are here is to see the contrast between living in the gall of bitterness of the Tree of Knowledge, and fighting each other, and competing to climb ladders to Heaven, and the pride of thinking we are “Better” than others, OR; OR to live IN “The Tree of Life”- the perspective and Joy and Sweetness of the Pure Love of Christ.

And the choice is entirely ours – He does not compel us to choose one way or the other. But we ARE enticed by both of them in every aspect of our lives. And we experience the bitterness of living on the Tree of Knowledge each and every day. And as long as we choose to live IN the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, we barr the way to the Tree of Eternal Life. Why do we continue to nurture and grow and prize our own precious Tree of Knowledge, when all it does is give us bitterness and pain? It would do us well to know the difference between these two perspectives and “SEE” the vast difference, so that we can make a choice.

The next question I have been asking for 50 years has been answered in a hundred scriptures and summarized in the last 3 verses in the Book of Mormon.

What does it mean to: Come unto Christ and be perfected by Him and be cleansed every whit of my sins and foolishness and enter into His Rest and partake of the Tree of Eternal Life forever?

You know, we can say that we need to Come unto Christ every day of our lives and never ever understand what that really means.

Moroni 10: 32 Yea, Come unto Christ, and BE perfected IN Him, and deny yourselves of all un-Godliness; and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is His Grace sufficient for you, that by His Grace ye may BE perfect IN Christ; and if by the Grace of God ye are perfect IN Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God.

33 And if ye, by the Grace of God, are perfect IN Christ, and deny not His Power, then are ye sanctified IN Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the Blood of Christ, which is in The Covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot.

What does is mean “COME UNTO CHRIST”? How do we “Come unto Christ”. Elder Richard G. Scott said to this Stake: We have a serious problem in the church: We have been telling each other to Come unto Church when we should have been teaching each other to Come unto Christ.“

What does it mean: TO COME UNTO CHRIST and to BE “IN” Christ and to BE Perfect IN Christ?

God, having taken me through a torment of bitterness and pain, living on the Tree of Knowledge, and having cried out in agony, “O Jesus, have mercy on my soul!”, has given me a glimpse of Heaven, and several gulps of the deliciousness of His Love. As you can imagine, I no longer choose to live on the Tree of Knowledge. My search for the Tree of Life has revealed where that Tree has been hidden for 6000 years.

How many of us likewise, seek to know where the Tree of Life is planted? I choose to share it with you.

Let’s go for a minute to Alma 32, where Alma is teaching the outcasts of the apostate Zoramite church, the great and spacious building where people praise themselves for their own righteousness at the pulpit or Rameumpton of Pride and vanity and Unbelief in Christ.(See D&C 84: 55-56)

Alma 32 says they are apostates because they deny Christ, and worship themselves as the favored of God. They believe they are becoming a God on their own and do not need Christ (as many of us have done).

Alma says it is good to be cast out of the prideful church, so that we may be humbled and find that mercy which God has for us, and to find the Tree of God’s love. And no, it is not found through us developing and growing faith, but through planting a seed called: “The Word” and through nurturing “The Word”, and then harvesting the greatest treasure any of us could ever find. What is that one “WORD” that we may plant in our hearts? Let’s see:

Alma 32: 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.

Now let us first of all find out what “THE WORD” is that Alma is enticing us to plant: In Alma 33:1 He is elaborating on how they should plant The Seed, or “The Word” of which he had spoken, which he said must be planted in their hearts; and ON what or WHOM they should exercise their faith.

Then in 33:11 “It is because of thy Son that thou hast been thus merciful unto me, for in thee is my Joy; for thou hast turned thy judgments away from me, because of Thy Son.”

16. “This people will not understand thy mercies which thou hast bestowed upon them because of Thy Son.”

Then he tells of many prophets who testified of God’s Son who would come to save them, such as Moses; who held up a staff or TYPE (or Symbol of Christ) that was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live. But because of the easiness of “The Way”, many would not “LOOK” unto Christ, and be healed and so they perished by the sickness they brought upon themselves – pride in their own doings.

Alma 33:20 But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. There were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that (Christ) would heal them.

21 O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely looking with your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would NOT look upon (Him), that ye might perish?

22 Then look upon Him and begin to believe in the Son of God, that he will come to redeem his people, and that he shall suffer and die to atone for their sins;

23 And now, my brethren, I desire that ye shall plant this “Word” in your hearts, and as “The Word” (Christ) beginneth to swell even so nourish it by your faith in Him. And behold, it will become a tree, springing up IN you - unto everlasting life. And then may God grant unto you that your burdens may be light, through the joy of his Son. And even all this can ye do - if ONLY ye will.

Then Amulek says in Alma 34: 4 ….have much faith as even to plant “The Word” in your hearts, that ye may try the experiment of HIS Goodness.

5 And we have beheld that the great question which is in your minds is whether “The Word” (or Type) be IN the Son of God, or whether there shall be no Christ.

6 And ye also beheld that my brother Alma has proved unto you, in many instances, that “The Word” IS IN Christ unto salvation. For He shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on His “NAME”.

Then he goes on to explain “The Whole meaning of “The Law” – which is somewhat different that what we teach currently. As we sow, so shall we reap!

John 1:1 In the beginning was “The Word”, and “The Word” was with God, and “The Word” was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made.

4 In Him was Life (Eternal) ; and the Life was the light of men.

9 He IS the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not.

11 He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.

12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His “NAME”:

13 Those which were Born (again), not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but (BORN AGAIN) OF God.

14 And “The Word” was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His Glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

So, “The Word of God” is Christ Jesus, the Lord Omnipotent and our Saviour. Will we center everything on Him and Come unto Him and Look unto Him in ALL THINGS?

Here is what He says in:

D&C 10: 64 I will unfold unto (you) this great mystery;

65 For, behold, I will gather (you) as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if (you) will not harden (your) hearts;

66 Yea, if (you) will come, (you) may, and partake of the Waters of Life FREELY.

67 Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and COMETH unto Me, the same is My “church”.

68 Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not “OF” Me, but is against Me; therefore he is NOT of My “church”.

69 And now, behold, whosoever is OF My “church”, and endureth of My “church” to the end, him will I establish upon My ROCK, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them.

70 And now, remember the words of Him who IS the Life and Light of the world, your Redeemer, your Lord and your God.

Now lets go back to Alma 32 and see what he says about planting “The One Word” Christ, and what happens: The Harvest begins the moment we plant the Seed! But it depends on how we nourish the Seed.

29 Now behold, (does the deliciousness of “The Word” growing in your heart) increase your faith in “The Word”? I say unto you, Yea; nevertheless it hath not yet grown up to a perfect knowledge OF Him.

30 But behold, as the seed swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow, then you must needs say that the seed, “THE WORD” CHRIST is good; for behold it swelleth, and sprouteth, and beginneth to grow. And now, behold, will not this strengthen your faith in Him? Yea, it will strengthen your faith: for ye will say I know that this is a good seed; for behold it sprouteth and beginneth to grow.

31 And now, behold, are ye sure that this is a good seed? For every seed bringeth forth unto its own likeness. (we cannot plant carrot seeds and nourish with water and get Wheat.)

33 And now, because ye try the experiment, and plant the seed, and it sprouts, and grows, then ye must know that the seed is good.

34 For ye know that “The Word (Christ”) hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind (and Heart) does begin to expand.

36 Behold ye must not lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant The Seed that ye might try the experiment to know if The Seed was good.

37 And behold, as the Tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth Fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth Fruit.

38 But if ye neglect the Tree (of Christ), and take no thought for its nourishment (with the water of Faith in Him), behold (the Tree) will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out.

39 Now, this is not because the seed (Christ) was not good, neither is it because the fruit (His Love) thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your ground is barren, and ye will NOT nourish the Tree of (Christ, Life, Light, Love), therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof.

40 And thus, if ye will not nourish “The Word”, looking forward with an eye of faith to the Fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the Fruit of The TREE OF LIFE (The Living Waters, The Pure Love of Christ).

41 But if ye will nourish “The Word”, by your faith (in Him) with great diligence, and with patience, looking forward to the Fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold (HE) shall BE a TREE OF LIFE springing up unto Everlasting Life.

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 (Christ) even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst.

43 Then, my brethren, ye shall reap the rewards of your faith (in Him), and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for The Tree (Christ) to bring forth fruit (His Love) unto you.”

Christ Jesus IS the Love of God, The Tree of Everlasting Life, The Holy One, The Waters of Eternal Life – of Whom we may choose to Re-Ceive Freely.

We read in Alma 22:14 that: Since Man (everyone) has fallen (by daily partaking of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil), we can merit NOTHING of our Selves.

Then in 2 Ne 26: 23 For behold, my beloved, I say that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.

24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for He loveth the world, even that He layeth down His own life that he may draw all men unto Him. Wherefore, He commandeth none that they shall not partake of His Salvation.

25 Behold, does he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.

27 Hath he commanded any that they should NOT partake of His Salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but He hath given it FREE for all men; and He hath commended his people that they should persuade all men to (Re-Ceive) Re-Pent-ance.

28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should NOT partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged, and none are forbidden to (COME UNTO HIM).

Alma 42: 27 Whosoever will come, may come, and partake of the Waters of Life (Christ) freely; and whosoever will NOT Come, the same is not compelled to Come;

And in Alma 11: 40 And He shall come into the world to redeem His people; and He shall take upon Him the transgressions of those who believe on His “NAME”; and these are they that shall have eternal Life, and salvation cometh to none else.

And in 2 Nephi 2: 8 Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto all the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the Presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah.

Take a look at Moses 6: 63 And behold, all things have their likeness (Symbol or type), and all things are created and made to bear record of (Christ), both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: All Things bear record of (Christ).

He is The Tree of Life, the Living Waters of Life, the Love of God, The Light and Life of all of us, the most precious treasure we could ever find, our Bridegroom, Our Husband, our Salvation, Our Righteousness, Our Strength, our ALL.

He is the The Vine, “the TRUE LIGHT that is IN all of us, and we are IN Him, otherwise we cannot exist, nor thrive, nor abound”; as He says in D& C 88:50.

And in D&C 88:13 “He is The Light which is IN all things, which giveth Life to All Things, (He) IS the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon His throne, (He) is in the bosom of eternity, (He) is IN the midst of All Things.

41 He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before Him, and all things are round about Him; and He is above All Things, and IN all things, and is THROUGH all things, and is round about all things; and All Things are BY Him, and OF Him, even God, forever and ever.

Now we may each personally choose to lay our precious natural man Ego selves on the altar and stop trying to exalt ourselves to a position of importance and greatness. IF we choose to lose our own carefully orchestrated lives, and turn back to Him, then we will find a whole New Life IN Him.

He said “He that will lose his (Self) life for Me, shall Find Eternal Life”

Then let us put ALL our faith and trust in Christ and Hasten the “Work” of God by inviting all to plant “The Word Christ” in their hearts, and may we teach one another HOW to “Come unto Christ and BE Perfected IN Him”, by His Grace and to deny NOT His Power to do so, and to cleanse us every whit and heal us and redeem us and Gift us Eternal Life in His Love and Joy and Peace – Entirely and ONLY BY His Righteousness, not our own. As the Prophet Joseph said: “Let no man say he is righteous”. But may we just worship Him who IS Righteousness, and just choose to Re-Ceive His Love, without which we are NOTHING.

ALL THINGS WILL FAIL US, EXCEPT HIS PURE LOVE. Let us not be found withholding Him or His Love from anyone. Let us enter into His Presence NOW! Let us not be as Pharisees who not only do NOT enter in and tell others that they may Not enter in until they perfect themselves. But let us invite ALL to enter into Heaven RIGHT NOW!

This is the GOSPEL that He gave to us, and which we may choose to GIFT to everyone around us – all those whom He loves perfectly - for His Arms are outstretched still to each and every one of us:

D&C 76: 40 And This is the Gospel, the glad tidings, 41 That He came into the world, even Jesus, to be crucified for the world, and to bear the sins of the world, and to sanctify the world, and to cleanse it from all unrighteousness;

42 That through Him all might be saved whom the Father had put into his power and made by Him;

43 Who glorifies the Father, and saves ALL the works of His hands.

Planting & Harvesting a Treasure Dec 2018

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