WHERE ART THOU?

I have talked to the printer and it appears that the best way for me to self-publish my first 100 Thoughts will be to do them in spiral binding. The books will cost $15 plus postage. I have the names of those who responded last week. If you wish to be added to the list or taken from the list reply to me with your desires!!

Shortly after having partaken of the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve heard the voice of the Lord and quickly following the counsel of Satan, hid themselves and made themselves coverings of leaves.

Although I am very sure that the omniscience of the Lord included knowing what had taken place, the Lord called out, Adam where art thou? The question seems to be directed at the physical location of our ancestral parents, but considering that Adam and Eve had just gone through a trial of obedience and had chosen to follow the counsel of Satan rather than the admonition of their Creator, I suspect that the Lord might also have been asking that they consider their spiritual situation.

With modern GPS, Google maps and apps which seem to be able to trace our every step, it pretty much takes deliberate and destructive acts for us not to know our exact physical location. But even with all the devices available knowing where we are would be meaningless unless we could link that information with a previously familiar landmark, such as our home or a city.

Likewise, where we are spiritually can only be identified if we are able to compare our present self to what we have been and where we want to be.

Sadly, there are many who have been confused by the cunningness of Satan and have chosen to believe that the reason we are in this mortal sphere is to gain as much pleasure, wealth, power or fame as we possibly can. Because of that confusion it is not only difficult for them to know where they are, much less where they ought to be.

Satan seeketh to turn their hearts away from the truth, that they become blinded and understand not the things which are prepared for them. (Doctrine and Covenants 78:10)

But behold I say unto you that there are many among you…have sinned a grievous sin, in that they are walking in darkness at noon-day…If you keep not the commandments, the love of the Father shall not continue with you, therefore you shall walk in darkness. (Doctrine and Covenants 95: 5, 6, 12)

However, the Lord revealed to Moses His purpose for our existence and, hence, the implication is that it would be well for us to also make it our purpose. As one earth shall pass away, and the heavens thereof even so shall another come; and there is no end to my works, neither to my words. For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. (Moses: 38, 39)

Just as with our physical location we will only be able to judge our spiritual situation if we constantly evaluate where we are with where we were and where we want to be.

There is strong scriptural indication that when, through the process of mortal birth, our spirit body is joined with our mortal body the preferences of our mortal body commands dominance over our spirit body. During that stage of life our choices seem to be heavily swayed toward doing that which will bring comfort and keep us absent from pain. We seem to be naturally prone to yield to the desire to accumulate the material stuff of the world. We seem to be motivated to have dominance over all who surround us. Our own desires take preference over those of everyone else.

Satan, sometimes subtlely and sometimes blatantly will do all he can to convince us that the fulfillment of these desires is our natural and only purpose for existence. He goes forth to and fro upon the earth striving with all his might to keep us from the light whose understanding gives us the true purpose of our probationary state. For they receive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men. (Doctrine and Covenants 45: 29)

If we are allowing the work and glory of God to influence us, we will not tarry too long in this selfish state, but we will begin to know that the fulfillment of our real and eternal progression depends on becoming good and honorable people. If we continue to follow Heavenly Father’s plan we will come to realize that we must likewise be striving to become like He and His Son.

Our escape from the subtleties of Satan and the precepts of men will largely be determined by our willingness to be enlightened and edified by the amount of light (truth and knowledge of God) we are willing to receive and how much darkness we can cast off. That which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness. That which is of God is light; and he that receiveth light, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. (Doctrine and Covenants 50: 23, 24)

What a grand key the Lord has given us to help us know if we are actualizing our purpose for being on earth. That which doth not edify! If the choice we are making does not make us better and more honorable than we have been and does not form a foundation upon which we can build attributes and characteristics of Godliness, we need to be reconsidering the course our thoughts and actions are taking us.
What a grand promise the Lord has given us; that we will not be restricted in the amount of light we can receive if we but continue to walk in his light.

And if your eye be single to my glory, your whole bodies shall be filled with light, and there shall be no darkness in you; and that body which is filled with light comprehendeth all things. Therefore, sanctify yourselves that your minds become single to God.

What a grand plan our Heavenly Father has given us which includes a magnificent challenge, which undoubtedly will still lack completion long after this we have laid this mortal down.