ADDED UPON 5

One of life’s most difficult lessons for most people, and it seems to be a fact that there are many who never come to an understanding or at least their actions seem to indicate that is the case, is that of accepting responsibility and accountability for one’s actions.

There seems to be a deep-seated need, which probably comes from a deeper need to safeguard our self-worth, to sluff off responsibility and accountability on everything and everybody but ourselves. Parents, society, governments, school systems, employers, employees, the devil and every other identifiable entity including God are frequently invoked as the cause of our wrong decisions and inadequacies.

If we are not careful while studying Lehi’s dream and Nephi’s Spirit inspired additional insights, we could easily come to the conclusion that our path towards the tree of life is aided or hampered by two opposing influences: the one being all truth and righteousness springing from the Fountain of Living Waters and made available to us through the Rod of Iron (Inspired Writings) and the other represented by the Filthy Waters and the Mists of Darkness.

A more careful searching brings to light other powerful influences by which we will find ourselves acted upon by during our life: the one being the Great and Spacious Building which represents the pride, greed, vain ambitions and wisdom of the world and the other represented by Father Lehi who is a manifestation of those whom Isaiah identifies as Publishers of Peace.

We quickly learn that along with the Filthy Waters which have the purpose of drowning us in evil and the Mists of Darkness which would cause us to be lost and wander away from the Word of God, the dream also identifies those who have chosen to follow the natural inclinations of a telestial body and desire all to be like unto them.

Although the scriptures identify Satan as the author of the carnality and worldliness of those in the Great and Spacious building, the occupants therein are totally responsible and accountable for choosing to take up residence in that enormous facility.

Although the scriptures identify God as the author of the Plan of Happiness, Salvation and Exaltation, we also see in Lehi as he bids his children to hold to the Rod of Iron and bids them to come to the Tree of Life and partake of its fruit, the personification of those who become His disciples and choose to join the mighty army of Publishers of Peace.

One would think that even a casual reading of Lehi’s dream would move Heavenly Father’s children to choose to hold to the Rod of Iron and heed the loving beckonings of those who Publish Peace from the mountain; but alas, it is not so and in the end we will find all our efforts to shift the responsibility and accountability for our thoughts, words and actions onto any source other than ourselves, will hold as much validity as a bucket without a bottom holds water.

One of the principles which has become clear to me during my life, it that as important as it is to drink from the Fountain of Living Waters, hold fast to the Rod of Iron and safeguard from falling into the Filthy Waters or getting lost in the Mists of Darkness, it is likewise just as important to choose whether I wish to take up residency in the halls of the Great and Spacious Building or place my feet firmly upon the mountain with those who have chosen to Publish Peace.

REQUIREMENTS FOR RESIDENCY IN THE GREAT AND SPACIOUS BUILDING

You so pledge to:

Disrespect the Agency of others by dedicating yourself to bind and control their minds and actions.

Establish ranks of importance which result in divisions and create exclusion based on riches, race, philosophies, heritage or any other traits which can be identified and defined.

Exploit the weaknesses of the telestial body by glorifying those activities and consumptions which will lead to mental or physical addiction.

Dedicate yourself, your time, talents and resources to the destruction of the Saints of God or any who might be deluded by the words flowing from the Fountain of Living Waters.

REQUIREMENTS FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE TO DWELL UPON THE MOUNTAIN AND BECOME A PUBLISHER OF PEACE

You covenant to:

Become a preparer of the way dedicated to removing obstacles from the path of those who stumble.

Become a light for those who might temporarily be floundering in the mists of darkness.

Be willing to throw a life line into the filthy waters to rescue a drowning soul.

Become dedicated to establishing Zion by publishing the oneness of the inhabitants of the world and helping to do that is necessary for all to feel included.

Listen to the whisperings of the Holy Spirit and be willing to publish them to those who fall under your stewardship or to whom the Holy Spirit directs you to publish them.

Endure in your covenants to keep the commandments you have made to increase your effectiveness as a Publisher of Peace.

Maintain your publishing in accordance with the Plain and Precious Truths which come forth from the Fountain of Living Waters and are found in His Word.

Invite all to come unto The Lamb of God, The Son of The Eternal Father and The Savior of the World.

Even this slight expansion of our understanding from searching the Tree of Life Dream should help us to understand that the Light and Love of God which flows unto us from the Fountain of Living Waters and the expanded commissions we receive beyond holding to the Rod of Iron, avoiding drowning in the Filthy Waters and keep from straying into the Mists of Darkness, also include eschewing residency in the Great and Spacious Building and permanently planting our feet upon the mountain as a Publisher of Peace.

As I conclude this five week exploration of Lehi’s Tree of Life Dream I want to add a scripture from the 88th section of the Doctrines and Covenants verse 40.

For intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things.

My prayer for all of us is that we will not weary in our quest to be ADDED UPON during this stage of our existence or throughout the eternities.


THOUGHTS FOR A SABBATH DAY – WILLIAM L. RILEY

EDITED BY – KATHLEEN W. RILEY