LDS Perfect Day's Podcast

This blog -- and its accompanying podcast -- is just the tip of the iceberg with respect to what's being discussed online about all the concepts I mentioned above. The concepts are introduced here, on the blog; that's the tip of the iceberg. The vast majority of the iceberg, analysis -- the good stuff -- is discussed in our Facebook group, which is comprised of many members who are focused on deepening their relationship with Jesus Christ in a responsible, safe environment.So, if you haven't joined the Facebook group yet, I invite you to do so today. Click here to start the process. Don't wait another day, and potentially miss out on all the things being discussed. And if you don't interact on Facebook, then do what others have done -- create an account just to join our group. There is no other way to engage in the below-the-waterline iceberg of this blog than on Facebook.Want to get close to God? Then quit the excuses. Study these concepts and actively engage in ways to share them with others. Don't have the time? God can easily help you. Not a great writer? God will help you with that, too. Don't know what to say? Then strap in your seatbelt; God's got other plans.2,000 years ago, Yeshua started the ball rolling by showing us how to do it. Now, it's time to take off the training wheels and do what He would do, if He were alive today. Wherever you go, whatever you do, be a reflection or extension of Him. The ONLY way to be a true disciple of Yeshua is to let Him live His life through yours -- to move in your moving, to love in your loving, to minister in your ministering, to speak in your speaking, to touch in your touching, to rejoice in your rejoicing. After all, it's His life anyway. Live it for His glory so that you can't tell where your life ends and His begins, so that when you look in the mirror, you don't see your life; but only that of THE Rabbi. And to live His life means to love a life focused on others, not yourself."A man filled with the love of God is not content with blessing his family alone, but ranges through the whole world, anxious to bless the whole human race." (History of the Church, 4:227; from a letter from Joseph Smith to the Twelve, Dec. 15, 1840, Nauvoo, Illinois, published in Times and Seasons, Jan. 1, 1841, p. 258; this letter is incorrectly dated Oct. 19, 1840, in History of the Church)"Sometimes it's the very people who no one imagines anything of, who do the things that no one can imagine." (Alan Turing, "The Imitation Game")As you take these ideas seriously, as you take them to heart and act on them, you, too, will experience greater light within you and around you, until you, too, experience...The Perfect Day.

There are several in our midst who have been healed not by doctors, nor by priesthood blessings, but by someone exercising the Gift of Healing. Their stories are profound.Thanks to all who sent me their examples of the Gift of Healing (not priesthood or medical healings) in which a person exercised faith which helped heal another or themself. Some I've included in the body of this post; others (because I can't have this post be miles long) I've included in a Google doc (here).I leave you with my testimony that the Gift of Healing is a real thing.I've seen broken hearts mended in the blink of an eye. I've seen Stage 4 cancer healed on the spot. I've seen people healed of abnormalities which doctors and stake presidents had long given up hope of healing.Yeshua is a real person. I know this fact independent of anyone else. I know His face, His hands, His feet and yes, especially His smile. He is so full of life and love and passion. If I were to guess what His favorite activity is, I think He would say "Healing." He loves to turn that which is seemingly dead or dying into something -- or someone -- full of life. He delights in shattering our mortal expectations of just how merciful and giving a God is, and in doing what's been called "impossible math." As we read in Ephesians 3:20, He "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think." I testify that what He says in Jeremiah 33:3 is true: "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."And I know that He longs for the day when He gets to hold you, look into your eyes and say to you, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43:1)If you REALLY want to experience a mind-blowing adventure with Him, then I invite you to re-read this series, as well as previous ones on Charity, Discernment and Alignment. The future -- the *near* future -- needs all the true healers it can get.So go forth, and make sure that together with Yeshua, the fire that will burn within you will be more powerful than the fire that will burn around you.

(To use a baseball metaphor), we mortals tend to see healing opportunities in terms of first-base runs. But our God, and His perspective, continues to send YOU home run-level opportunities. Whether you just stay on first base, or take the run to home plate, is up to you.The story of Jesus Christ truly is the greatest story ever told. One of the greatest aspects of that story is the fact that it's not over. Though Jesus ascended to Heaven, He is still working here on earth. Jesus is still changing the hearts and lives of people, and still healing in truly miraculous ways. And He's using mortals to accomplish His work.What about you?Have you ever seen the Gift of Healing in action? Note that I'm not talking about a priesthood blessing; again, even the church's Handbook differentiates between “priesthood blessings” (calling “the elders of the church” to “let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord”) and “exercising faith.”Do faith-based healings still exist today?You tell me. Erase any doubts people may have that such miracles don't exist today.I invite you to contact LDS Perfect Day via its contact form or via email at ldsperfectday@gmail.com by Saturday, August 15, 2021. Share your experience with me, and let's share it with others (don't worry; I'll delete any identifying information).It's up to you to convince others that miracles have not been done away with, but still exist, among true believers of Yeshua HaMashiach!

When you give the Savior your rocks, eliminate your reliance on man and his "wisdom", have proper motives, step out of the box and hearken to God and peel away the false traditions, you should be left with only the Savior to turn to in times of healing. In my opinion, trusting Him and healing naturally go hand-in-hand. What's next? Here are some common denominators of the Gift of Healing...This post isn't intended to be a "How to" of the Gift of Healing. If you treat it as such, you're missing the point.Healing is a Gift of Faith. And whenever, wherever faith is truly present, so is God's power. Thus, the Gift of Healing should be, at the minimum, a clear manifestation of God's power.I have no words to describe the times I've witnessed blessings which incorporated all of the above characteristics. They transformed not only the person receiving the blessing, but also me (as the one giving or witnessing the blessing).How many times have you actually felt the power of God before a blessing, during a blessing and after a blessing? I mean, you could PHYSICALLY feel it?These are supposed to be events when God's knowledge, words and power are manifest in miraculous ways! As I have said since Day 1 on this blog, "Aim higher! Reach further! Attain greater!"UNLEASH THE POWER OF FAITH, THE POWER OF HEALING AND THE POWER OF GOD! (See 1 Kings 18:30-39)In doing so, you'll never, ever forget the experience.

Today, the Spirit of God is bypassing many because they're too full of self to be filled with anything else -- pride and selfishness. It blinds and it binds the Saints from experiencing the outpouring that only comes upon the humble. Jesus Himself told us there would be those who do miracles in His name and He will declare that they do not know Him. In Matthew 7:15, He warns us there will be wolves who pose as sheep. Please understand, it is not ‘speculation’ to believe that these things will be so. In other words, over the decades, we church members have, by and large, picked up some awfully nasty habits which can erode, and even inhibit, our ability to perform miracles. Before we are able to perform these miracles, we must do more than think we can hearken to God, step out of the box and have pure motives. We need to make dang sure we are not perpetuating the foolish traditions of our fathers or the teachings of men mingled with scripture.

Once you've demonstrated to God that you're spiritually living "outside the box" by having successfully identified and thrown away the traditions of men (which are often mingled with scripture), once you've acknowledged your nothingness before God, once you've checked your motives and have essentially "lost yourself" with an eye single to the glory of God, and once you're hearing Hs voice and relying on Him instead of a mortal-made checklist, then you've passed the pre-requisites to the Gift of Healing.

Per the General Handbook of Instructions, we members have three official options for healing: (1) competent medical help, (2) exercising faith and (3) priesthood blessings. While there is a place for diagnosis and treatment by competent, licensed medical practitioners, we both know modern medicine has its fair share of shortcomings which, as the scriptures demonstrate, are nothing in the face of true healing by God. While we are encouraged to "call for the elders of the church," it's distressing how passionately and frequently worldwide church leaders have publicly pronounced their votes of non-confidence in priesthood holders. And because I, and many others, continue to see a lack of priesthood power in blessings given since Pres. Nelson requested local leaders to intervene in this issue, it's reasonable to conclude that the situation isn't improving. Then there's that third recommendation given in the Handbook: "exercising faith." The Gift of Healing is a merciful solution to the inadequacies exhibited by modern medical science and the lack of priesthood power. It works, too. We have oodles of scriptural accounts testifying of it. Wanna hear one recommendation on how to get started with the Gift of Healing? Listen away...

On Friday April 9 2021, I awoke in the morning from a sound night's sleep with a strange word in my head: It took me a few minutes to Google this word and find out what it meant, but when I did, a whole new dimension of the Gift of Healing opened up to me...

A little over nine years since its first article "Symphonies," LDS Perfect Day's 240+ blog posts have helped tens of thousands worldwide to elevate their relationship with the Savior of the world. As a result, they have cast aside the traditions of men, enabling them to better hear His voice, hearken to His words and enjoy a life far more transcendent than they ever imagined. The new LDS Perfect Day Volumes 1 and 2 are compilations of these posts through the year 2020. They are intended to safeguard the blog's insights against a coming day when there will be no power and no internet. Each book is over 500 pages long and 8.5" x 11" in size, making them real bargains for the $20 price. Both are exclusively sold on Amazon. Additionally, you can now print all the posts not included in the book – that is, all the posts since January 1, 2021. Each of those blog posts now have a button at the top of the page which allows you to view and print a PDF of that post. All posts prior to 2021 are included in the books and will not be converted to PDF. There are no plans to convert the books to other readable formats or into an audio book (many posts can be downloaded as MP4s via the podcasts link on the blog). The priority has only been to convert posts into a printed format impervious to disruptions in power grids. The softcover books can be purchased via ldsperfectday.blogspot.com. Just click the "Books" menu tab.

It is so amazing to know that through anything we go through, and through anything that happens, we can hold on to Yeshua. We can be assured by his words that say we'll be OK. There is nothing else in this whole world that has that reassurance. There is nothing else that we can hold onto with our lives besides Yeshua. His hand is holding all of ours. If you wanted a mental picture, it's kind of like falling off the edge of a cliff (popular movie scene). When you look down, the fall is endless and you know you would die, but right when your last finger slips off the edge, a bigger, stronger hand catches you and keeps you from falling. You hold on to that hand with your whole life. It's that same way with Yeshua. No matter how hard our lives get, no matter how often we think we're going to fall off the cliff, Yeshua always catches us and we can always hold on to Him.

If you'll recall, Yeshua never condemned the woman at the well. He never condemned the woman caught in adultery. He never, ever said, "Well, read these scrolls and come see me weekly for six months, then we'll see if you're sufficiently repentant enough." No. Did you read what I just wrote? HE DIDN'T CONDEMN THEM! Yet today, we allow ourselves to carry equal or even lesser burdens, and somehow justify it...all while demeaning and diluting the power of a non-delaying atonement. All things are created first spiritually, then temporally (D&C 29:31-32). That includes healing. And that healing starts with you, for "God has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also." (Alma 60:23). If you want to ensure, with a 100% guarantee, that you have made Yeshua smile, then start by valuing His atonement. Give Him ALL your rocks. Every one of them.

Our nations are murdering babies, boldly challenging sexual and even gender-based norms, stamping out not only Christianity but also religion, morals and ethics. And the priesthood is increasingly powerless to stop it. So, what has God done historically when mankind defiantly chooses evil over good? He sends us warnings. We've had two so far. Listen to this podcast and prepare yourself for the third.

As we embark on this series of posts/podcasts regarding the Gift of Healing, I thought I should let you in on a little-known fact: These blog posts, these podcasts, are simply the opening stanzas of a beautful discussion on this profound gift. They are, to use an analogy, just the"tip of the iceberg." The *real* discussion, where some *real* meaty content is found, lies in our Facebook group. For example: just yesterday, a brand new subscriber posted their story of healing from scoliosis which involves two generations of women hearkening to the Lord's quiet reassurances, despite all medical advice to the contrary. You can't join "The Perfect Day" Facebook group by simply clicking Facebook's "Join the Group" button. There's also a form to fill out, which clearly explains what the group is and isn't about. We really look forward to your participation and engaging in the discussion about the Gift of Healing (and more!) on our Facebook group. Start the process today by clicking the button below, which will take you to our subscription form. And if you want to remain anonymous in our group, that's fine. Email me at ldsperfectday@gmail.com for some suggestions on how to anonymously participate. We hope that our focus on the Gift of Healing will be meaningful not only to you, but those in your life as well. We know that as we turn our hearts, minds, hands and feet over to the Master Healer, He will give us ample opportunities to see that He is still enthusiastically healing people these days, and wants you to not only be a spectator, but also a participant, with Him in these healings.

This year, LDS Perfect Day will focus most of its posts on one thing: the Gift of Healing. Here’s what you can expect in the weeks and months to come as we present perhaps the most comprehensive examination of this gift found anywhere on the internet: * Why there’s an urgent, critical need for the Gift of Healing...more so than at any other time in mankind’s history. * Why church leaders are consistently saying why you can’t count on priesthood blessings. * The real reason why we don’t see the Gift of Healing being exercised in this, the restored church. * What traditions you must unlearn so you have a snowball’s chance of exercising the Gift of Healing. * At least six myths/traditions latter-day saints believe which inhibits the Gift of Healing in their lives and the church as a whole. * Knowing God’s will: A prime pre-requisite in exercising the Gift of Healing. * How to proceed in healing people. * One of the most important things one can do with the Gift of Healing (which most don’t do).

For every truly-pronounced prophecy, there are usually many, many more false ones. I mean, these are the last days! Why expect anything else? Over the last few months, we've been exposed to quite a few prophecies about President Trump's "sure" and "certain" inauguration. And as of this minute, they were all proven wrong. Biden, not Trump, was inaugurated today. There are many -- including some within our own faith -- who also gave similar/verbatim prophecies. In some cases, repeatedly. Given that these prophecies are now officially "false," it's legitimate to ask why they were pronounced in the first place...

This last fall, I spent dozens of hours listening to these recordings and doing extensive research into the life of Yeshua. As a result, I feel far more familiar with Him. He is more real to me than ever before. I know there are many who choose to just be satisfied with knowing only the four gospels and 3rd Nephi accounts of Yeshua. But if you truly desire to be immersed in all things Yeshua, then I invite you to take advantage of these two presents: [1] Listen to my Glenn Kimball interviews (linked on the blog). [2] Join this blog’s Facebook group. It’s a safe, moderated forum where we talk about one thing only: Yeshua -- all about Him, and how to become more like Him. There’s no other LDS-aligned forum on the internet whose sole topic is the Savior. Hundreds have testified that it’s helped them grow closer to Him. Are you pretty tight with Him now, or could you use all the help you can get? This holiday season, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I’m excited about what we’ll be exploring on this blog, and discussing in our Facebook group, in 2021!

The scriptures are very consistent: If you wanna meet God, it may be on the top of a mountain. Unfortunately, the path to that peak is filled with valleys -- ones which may require you to sacrifice your health, your reputation, your relationship with your family, friends, co-workers and ward members -- in fact, anything and everything -- to know Him. Are you prepared to go through (perhaps years of) loneliness, pain, sickness, humiliation and more as part of a descent phase? It may be just that hesitation to walk in the valleys of life that is preventing you from seeing Him in the first place. In this post, we'll talk about "Coming Down from the Mountain" -- What's likely required of you AFTER you've met God...and why that very thing may be required of you now as well.

What’s the greatest blessing one can receive in this life? That’s a question I wondered about, and asked others, my whole life. The answers have been fairly consistent: “Calling and Election”, “Seeing Jesus” or “Second Comforter”. But over the years, I’ve come to discover that there’s a blessing that’s higher than these. It seems to happen only to those who have their calling and election, and have personally received profound blessings from our Lord. I’ll let others explain the details and particulars of this blessing. But suffice it to say, it’s called The Third Comforter. It’s when you are introduced to Father. Go ahead -- Google the phrase "Third Comforter". You won't find very much by way of answers. But the answers ARE out there. And I've tried my best to collect them all in this post.

As your relationship with God continues to develop, you may eventually be confronted with a thought: “Invite Father, Mother and Yeshua into your home.” When this is combined with real intent, nothing wavering, and many of the “Formal Prayer” concepts elaborated in my previous post, you’ll discover that this is no ordinary request. It is spirit-inspired. It’s God wanting you to boldly, yet humbly, take your relationship with them to an even higher level. Are they willing to do just this? Absolutely! Check out John 14:23: "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him." Also, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” (Revelation 3:20) Seek Him. Invite Him. Welcome Him. Expect Him into your heart, your mind, your life, your home. Never give up. Never diminish your desire. Always know that Yeshua is a perfect gentleman, and when the time is best, He’ll take you up on your offer. And when He does, your friend (who loves to spend time with you) will radically revolutionize your life filled with the cool and abundant springs of living waters that will rejuvenate you, your family and beyond.

I invite you to disregard any statements which increase the distance between you and God. Always remember that God wishes to converse with you as one man converses with another. I also invite you to do what Yeshua, and his prophets both ancient and modern have advised us to do: Stay in touch with Him continually, throughout the day. True, there may be times when you’re at work, and you can’t focus on a dialogue with God. There may be times that you’re working on homework with kids, and you’re more focused on algebra than the Almighty. That’s perfectly fine; just get back with Him when you can. As you do these things, as you tighten your relationship with Father and Yeshua, you’ll hear Father’s words to you, and you’ll heed them. You’ll hear Yeshua’s words to you, and you’ll heed those, too. You’ll find them drawing closer to you, because your heart (intentions) and hands (actions) are in sync with them.

We don't hear very much about people who walked and talked with God. Sure, there are accounts of this happening in the scriptures. But these anecdotes about people, places and times that are foreign to us. Yet three facts remain. First, God isn't silent. Not by a long shot. Second, He speaks to all of us, especially regardless of gender or church calling. Third, we have written accounts of people who have actually walked and talked with God -- centuries ago, and today. And in this post, they tell us how it happened for them. They are proof positive that for those who seek Yeshua's common companionship on a daily basis, their interactions with Him are not finite (as is typical for a Second Comforter experience), but infinite. They're frequent, continuous, transformative. And in them, you discover for yourself, independent of any other person, that these words (based on Isaiah 43:1) were written for you: "Thus says the Lord who created you, and He who formed you: Fear not. For I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You...are mine." Seek this dialogue with Him. Crave it. Yearn for it. Desire it more than anything else in your life. I did. And the results…well, they've been far and away beyond anything I could have imagined. Now it's YOUR turn…YOUR moment. He's just waiting - RIGHT NOW -- to spend it with you.

Here, let’s try an experiment. I want you to say “I AM”, and then your name. Maybe “I AM Sharon” or ‘I am Chris.” See? Before you say your name, you must first say His name. So it’s two names, always. That’s pretty cool. Even when you say “I AM a mother” or “I AM a dad” or “I AM a grocery store clerk” or “I AM a secretary,” it always starts with His name. Are you going to the store? You say “I AM going to the store.” Going to the park? You say “I AM going to the park.” Whoever you are, I AM is with you. Wherever you go, I AM is going before you. All that you are comes from I AM. Your identity begins with I AM. You were created in the image of I AM. You’re redeemed by the blood of I AM. You only exist because of I AM.

It seems to me that what the world calls wisdom is vastly different than what God considers wisdom. Divine wisdom, which comes directly from God, is different than intellectual knowledge: * Man's intellect can physically save a life, but not a soul. * Man's intellect can reach the moon and other planets, but not heaven. * Man's intellect can help bring forth a child, but not an immortal spirit. * Man's intellect can unveil new scientific discoveries, but not all things supernatural. You see, there is a limit to human intellect and worldly wisdom. After all, look at current events. Even with the collected human wisdom of our world, we are still a mess.

As we read in the previous two posts (”The Best Friend You Never Knew Part 7: ‘Ye Never Knew Me’” and ”The Best Friend You Never Knew Part 8: The Non-Judgmental Savior”), we stand rejected by Yeshua the minute we withhold mercy, or unleash judgment, upon another (see here for more). Also, the more merciful you are towards others, the more merciful God is with you (1 Corinthians 13:2). The less judgmental you are towards others, the less judgmental God is with you. So, it seems to me that God’s primary judgment criteria regarding you is best summarized in 1 Samuel 16:7: “for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” The advantage of this criteria: “charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8) Judging or being uncharitable towards a person doesn’t define who they are; it defines who you are. And with the best possible definition you can have -- “he/she was non-judgmental and full of charity towards others” -- you are far more aligned with the Savior. In my opinion, it’s at this point that not only dialoguing with Him, but also seeing Him, becomes an inevitability: Unfortunately, there are times when you may be exerting all of your heart, might, mind and strength towards being more charitable and less judgmental, and heaven is still silent. This blog has addressed this issue several times. Here are a few possibilities...

“WOMEN in Jesus’ day weren’t treated well. Understatement. They had few choices, held no positions, and were often considered less valuable than the men. But not to Jesus. The adulterous woman was caught in the act and dragged to Jesus for judgement. But He called her accusers hypocrites, dispersed the crowd, and extended her grace. The bleeding woman found Jesus and, upon touching his robe, was immediately healed of her twelve-year-long affliction. In front of the crowd that had deemed her unclean, Jesus honored her for her faith. The Samaritan woman was drawing water from the community well at the hottest time of day. Translation: she was avoiding people because of her seedy reputation. But ahead of everyone else on earth, Jesus told her He was the Savior they’d been waiting for. And she got to tell the others. Bottom line: when the world chose to abuse, alienate, or brutally judge these women, Jesus chose to rescue, restore, and redeem them. To ascribe them value. Because Jesus makes us what we’re not.” (“The Chosen”)

Despite whatever callings, titles, covenants, number of dead baptized, amount of tithes and fast offerings paid -- no matter what earthly things you’ve done, if you haven’t been charitable, you’re not bound for heaven, but hell. I know there are some who might say, “Well hey, I paid my fast offering. I’ve been charitable. So you can just go right ahead and check that box off as having been completed.” Really? “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Matthew 23:23) Perhaps I’m wrong here, but something tells me that simply going through the motions and checking off boxes isn’t quite what the Savior has in mind for you. So let me ask you: Are you absolutely positive that writing out a monthly check equals the charity-centered life and behavior the Savior expects from His disciples?

Around 1528 BC, at the stroke of midnight, God visited the last of the ten plagues on the Egyptians, killing all their firstborn. While doing so, God also spared the children of Israel, “passing over” their homes—hence the name of the holiday, "Passover." Ironically, tomorrow begins the Jewish holiday of Passover, an annual commemoration of the first Passover. Only this year, we, too, are praying that the angel of death (COVID-19) passes over us. We Saints have never really paid much attention to Jewish holy days, despite the fact that God never rescinded the importance He ascribed to them. Even Yeshua celebrated Passover. Ever heard of The Last Supper? Rabbi Jonathan Cahn will be hosting a very special online Passover meal tomorrow night. I plan on watching. I hope you'll consider it too, as together, both of us pray that the angel of death passes by our homes. Click the link below for more details. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYyYnZp6Yzo

Who among us has the faith to do as Jesus did: to bless as He blessed...even those considered the most physically and spiritually unclean and diseased among us? Might I suggest that what the Lord is truly asking of His disciples these days isn’t just fear, and believe it or not, it’s not just faith. It’s superfaith -- the kind the Brother of Jared had -- which pierced and cracked open the veil. It’s time not just for prayers, but also power which flows not through another mortal to you, but instead, it flows directly from God to His true believers, both male and female. Spiritual gifts know no gender. It’s a time for knowing not just that “God is aware of you”, “God loves you”, and “God watches over you” (Come on! We’ve known these things since we were in Sunbeams)! Instead, it’s a time to obtain a personal knowledge, independent of anyone else, that Yeshua is a real person, who laughs, cries, gets mad and loves life more than possibly anybody who’s ever walked the earth. Oh yeah...and that He would love nothing -- and I mean NOTHING -- more than to establish a personal relationship with you. Everything the enemy tries to throw at you is a sign as to how much God has available to you. The spirit of fear is nothing compared to the spirit of God. More powerful than a thousand lukewarm Christians, more powerful than the coronavirus in your city, county or state, is the one who will stand for God in a day of darkness. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13) YOU get the chance to stand for God in a day when the world is against God. What a high, powerful honor! I invite you to embrace this opportunity...while you still have the chance.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." (John 14:12) Are you a disciple of Jesus Christ? The Savior’s miracles were real. His promise to those who believe in Him are just as real: YOU can do the same and even greater works as He performed.

The scriptures also give us some insight into Yeshua’s personality. On both sides of the world, Yeshua said, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12; 3 Nephi 9:18). Now, when I hear that someone’s the light of the world, I don’t envision someone who’s dark, gloomy, moody, always depressed, despondent, low-spirited or sad. Neither would He be emotionless, passionless, expressionless, cold, unexpressive, aloof, flat or just plain old spaced out. But that is precisely the image of the Savior we have been and continue to be continually exposed to. Why is it that some of our most popular images of the Savior depict Him as emotionless, dispassionate, perturbed, sad or mad? Could those be true depictions of our Savior? I invite you to get to know Yeshua. As you show interest in Him, He’ll show greater interest in you (D&C 88:63).

Imagine a religion in which there are no scriptures. Absolutely no discussion of ordinances like baptism, confirmation, sacrament, priesthood advancement, baptism of the dead, initiatories, endowments, sealings. No explanations of garments. Imagine zero evidence of spiritual gifts and personal revelation. No testimonies. No personal inspirational stories. In fact, imagine a theology banning all discussion of the creation of the earth and mankind, the atonement, the resurrection and any appearances or dialogues of God to man. What you’ve just read about is a religion which places a paramount importance of sacredness over secrecy. After all, isn’t the atonement sacred? Of course. The First Vision? Definitely. Aren’t families sacred? Marriage? Freedom? Justice? The U.S. Constitution? When you stop and look at the list of things we consider sacred, it can get pretty long: * The Sacred Grove’s a sacred place. But anyone can visit it. * The same holds true for our temples. We invite anyone -- anyone -- to pass through them during Open Houses. In fact, we allow into our temples members who are later proven, in courts of law, to have been conducting evil, criminal actions while holding temple recommends (and presumably using said recommends). * Baby blessings, baptisms, confirmations, sacrament meetings and priesthood blessings are sacred, but can be attended by anyone (believer and non-believer) as well. * Our garments are sacred, hidden and not discussed. But on October 22, 2014, the church posted the video “‘Mormon Underwear’ is the Temple Garment and is Sacred to Latter-day Saints”. * People continue to post sacred testimonials to open Facebook groups, Instagram, Twitter, blogs and podcasts. Thus, we have a situation where the most sacred events in history are freely discussed, our most sacred places are visited by some who may not match the sacredness of the property, our most sacred clothing is freely publicized and our most sacred thoughts and dreams are freely bandied about on social media for anyone to mock and denigrate.

Jesus was probably never called Jesus in His life. Although it’s not 100% certain, it’s highly likely He had a given name in Aramaic that approximates Yeshua -- the name which His family and friends, prosecutors and defenders, called Him. There’s no doctrine, no policy, which requires you to refer to Him as Yeshua or Jesus. I suspect He doesn't have a strong preference because He hears our hearts regardless of what name we use (Luke 9:47). As we see in 3 Nephi 9:15 and D&C 6:21, Yeshua says, “Behold, I am Jesus Christ the Son of God.” Yet others have found it rewarding to refer to Him as Yeshua. As one Facebook subscriber once said, “I love the name Yeshua most. I repeat it softly to myself as a way to bring his energies to my heart. It seems to me to fit his nature better than Jesus. Yeshua sounds so strong and yet compassionate. It reminds me of the rushing of waters. Living waters. Loving waters.” I myself have found a newfound power and strength when using the name of Yeshua. When I factor in the fact that we are to take upon ourselves His name, Yeshua carries far more significance and meaning to me than the Greek/Latin Jesus. “The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (Exodus 15:2) “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.” (Isaiah 12:2) Imagine enjoying and commanding greater strength, more deliverance and redemption from life’s challenges, because you speak strength to it! Yeshua is the answer to everything: Rescuing. Safety. Deliverance. Salvation. But I do think there is something that matters to Yeshua. Now that you’ve taken upon yourself His name, what are you doing with it? Do you actively promote Him to others, or are you ashamed (and come up with a multitude of excuses) to do so? "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believeth." (Romans 1:16) Are you taking your concerns, challenges and problems to Him? Are you putting His name -- as a rescuer and deliverer -- to the test? “The name of the Lord [Yeshua] is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10) It’s now 2020. Now’s the time to start the new year off right. I invite you to take Yeshua up on His offer: Look unto Him in every thought; doubt not, fear not. (D&C 6:36) I testify that as you draw near unto Him, He will draw near unto you. Seek Him diligently, and you’ll find Him. (D&C 88:63) “thou shalt call his name JESUS (Heb.: Yeshua): for he shall save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21) NOTE: As I've occasionally done in the past, this blog post features a guest narrator. Enjoy!

Draw near unto Him. Seek Him, spiritually, with your eye of faith. Everything is first created spiritually, then temporally. The same holds true for frequent, meaningful experiences with Jesus to where you can “know for a certainty the character of God.” After weeks, months and years of doing just this, you’ll likely develop a far greater realization of His presence in your life. Because of this, * You naturally drop the first-person pronouns of I / me / my, because you realize that all along, those I’s / me’s / my’s were actually we’s / us’s / our’s. * You learn just how much you need Him -- His forgiveness, His wisdom, His compassion, His guidance. * And you learn first-hand what He’s really like. You sense His friendly advice, His laughs, His cries, and more. MUCH, much more. His presence in your life will be like sweet honey on your lips...like the sound of a symphony in your ears...like holy water on your skin. You’re invited to practice doing this every day. Let US know how it’s going. Let US know how we can help. And in the meantime, we’ll be praying that your spiritual experiences with Jesus will precede future physical experiences with Him.

If you sincerely wish a personal experience with the Savior (“If any man will come after me”), then humble yourself enough to heed Jesus’s advice: Take yourself out of the equation (“deny himself”). Because truth be told, we’re ALL a bunch of prodigals. Make sure your reasons for seeing the Savior don’t include a first-person pronoun. It all starts in our hearts, and is outwardly manifest in our interactions with others. Simultaneously, our disavowal of first-person pronouns rightly and accurately places the credit onto whom it should be given: Jesus.

NOTE: This post's title illustrates to what extent we've deleted or minimized Jesus from our church, not that a new church is being formed. Much has been written, stated, drawn, painted, sculpted and filmed about our Savior. I dare say that at no time in the history of mankind have we had so much knowledge about Jesus at our fingertips. We can go to libraries and bookstores, or even stay in the comfort of our own homes, read, hear and watch all about the minutest details about Jesus, the times and the environment in which He lived. Yet it seems that those who have a personal knowledge of, and experiences with, the Lord are extremely rare in our church. Such testimonies are highly discouraged in our meetings and not sold in our bookstores. As a result, we’re not only not casting our pearls before swine, but we’re also getting our pearls and burying them so deep, no one will never know of their existence. As a result, real, personal insights into Jesus have almost been snuffed out of existence. Many are “ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7). We know all about Jesus, yet it’s apparent in our church meetings and almost all published works that few actually know Him. Many in our church who accepted Jesus, were baptized and promised to follow Him for the rest of their lives, no longer walk with Him. They set at naught the counsels of God, follow after the dictates of their own will and carnal desires (see D&C 3:4) and walk under the apparent glow of their own self-importance, or Babylon. Simultaneously, other issues, topics, doctrines, programs, policies and persuasive personalities have positioned for preeminence in our attentions: * Many have become idolatrous, living in costly homes with opulent interiors, expensive wardrobes to go along with our expensive cars, and of course our gold, platinum, diamond and double diamond statuses. * Many pay tithing and fast offerings, and consider that sufficient enough charity. They pass by the beggar and essentially tell themselves, “It’s not my problem”. * Many eagerly and enthusiastically idolize and trust in the arm of flesh, despite repeated commandments not to. * Many ignore and dismiss significant injustices and even crimes which occur under our own noses. * Many prioritize the internet, sports and entertainment above meditation, the scriptures and dialoguing with the one who loves us the most. * And yes, many prioritize our church titles, our church connections and our church pedigrees over and above anything meaningful regarding Jesus. “Will ye also go away?” It’s as timely a question today as it ever has been, because in all likelihood, we don’t have very many more years left until the pre-millennial tribulations are in full swing. "And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord; First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord." (D&C 112:23-26; emphasis mine) In other words, if you don’t know the Lord, then you’ll be one of the first ones invited to take your party elsewhere.

The first step in solving a problem is recognizing you have one. And we, as a people, have lost our way when it comes to casting out evil. True: We never hear about it in General Conference. We never read about it in the Ensign or New Era. We never see books about it for sale in Deseret Book. Yet we are also told in D&C 58:27-29 that we should be anxiously engaged in a good cause and do many things of our own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness. We’re also told that it's not meet to be commanded in all things. If you feel differently, then great, the Lord has a category for you: "slothful, unwise servant." The Lord saw fit to cast out evil from people not once, but over and over again. We are told that what's written about Him is just a fraction of His works while in mortality. We can only assume that He cast out evil a lot more often than what we read. And so it falls to us, the oft-described Lord's chosen people, to show the way. To be the exemplars. To turn our backs on slothfulness and needing to be led about like we have a ring in our noses. It's up to us to cast out evil from ourselves, our homes and our lives as much as possible. To do otherwise, to neglect this clearly beneficial route, is to concede and succumb to Satan's consistent drumbeat of apathy, ignorance and denial. In this series, you've learned not only how to cast out evil, but you've also seen living proof that it works well among fellow Saints. Now that you know these things, what will you do with them? Just let them gather dust on a metaphorical shelf, or receive them, use them, with gratitude and happiness? Will you keep what you've learned to yourself, or will you share with others? There is nothing Satan would like more than to see you bury what you've learned, and not help others along the way. These posts, this series, is just the beginning of the dialogue. It's my prayer, my wish, my invitation, that you continue it.

“We live in a wicked world. Never in our memory have the forces of evil been arrayed in such deadly formation. The devil is well organized. Never in our day has he had so many emissaries working for him.” (Pres. Ezra Taft Benson, “Satan’s Thrust: Youth,” Ensign, Dec, 1971). (Pres. Benson made those remarks 48 years ago. I can only imagine what he’d say now). Among church members, there is a predominant tradition which says we shouldn’t know about Satan and how he attacks us. That ignorance is bliss. Ignore Satan, and he’ll go away. Joseph Smith said it’s a “great evil” to be ignorant of the nature of evil spirits -- their power, government, intelligence, the laws by which they are governed and the signs by which they may be known. In fact, without that knowledge, Joseph said, you invite darkness, suspense and doubt, experience spiritual captivity (Isaiah 5:13, 2 Nephi 15:13) and thus, evil spirits will have greater power over you. It’s no wonder that Ezra Taft Benson said that because Satan knows where and how to strike you, “A study of Satan’s methods can alert us to his seductions.” So, I extend to you three invitations: 1. If you’d rather remain ignorant of Satan’s ways, then feel free to keep napping, or 2. If you’re interested in leaving behind your ignorance of Satan, studying his methods and being alerted to his seductions, keep reading, or 3. If you’re interested in looking beyond your own needs, and seeking ways to help others avoid spiritual darkness and captivity, then comment on this post below. Add more knowledge and more testimony to it. Make this post stronger.

There are members of the restored church who believe that we can make friends with evil / unholy / impure spirits. They privately teach that we can chit chat with them, council with them, have a court of love with them, forgive them, establish a relationship of trust with them, then send them to the light where they can learn the gospel, accept it and progress alongside us. There’s only one problem with that: There’s absolutely no doctrinal or historical precedent for this teaching. Not one verse. Not one phrase. In fact, the scriptures teach the exact opposite is true: “And behold, others he flattereth away, and telleth them there is no hell; and he saith unto them: I am no devil, for there is none—and thus he whispereth in their ears, until he grasps them with his awful chains, ***from whence there is no deliverance."*** (2 Nephi 28:22; emphasis mine) Heavenly Father never tried to convert Satan prior to his banishment from the Garden of Eden. Moses never tried to buddy-buddy up with Satan on the Mount. Jesus never tried to convert Satan during his 40-day fast in the desert. In fact, in all the casting out accounts in the New Testament and church history, we are simply told that mortals should cast out evil, period, end of discussion.

In the Pearl of Great Price, we read of God giving the seed of the woman (Eve) the ability to crush Satan’s head:   “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed; and he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:21 JST)   “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, between thy seed and her seed; and he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” (Moses 4:21)   This isn’t God saying that we can only cast out Satan. No; in the ongoing spiritual battle between good and evil in our lives, Satan can inflict blows upon us, but we can inflict even more devastating blows upon him (actually, the original Hebrew says we can “crush” (yasupeka) Satan’s head).   Yet it’s been my experience over the decades that we latter-day saints are closer to latter-day aints when it comes to crushing Satan’s head. We rarely, if ever, cast Satan from our midst. And crushing Satan’s head? It’s a phrase we only read in the scriptures, never really pondering whether it applies to us at all.   Are we or are we not the seed of Eve? If so, then why do we constantly allow Satan to bruise our heels, while we neglect to crush his head?   Casting out Satan isn’t the same as crushing his head. Telling Satan to “beat it” does not equal beating his head with significant and severe consequences for his actions. We read that “His [the wicked’s] mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.” (Psalm 7:16)   God is a God of love, but also consequences for those who are disobedient and even evil. He has invited you to join with Him in crushing Satan’s head. Those who have done so experience relief from evil in ways they never dreamed.   If you’re interested in some suggested guidelines on how to exact consequences on Satan and his forces, then seriously consider subscribing to this blog’s Facebook group. Just go here: https://sites.google.com/view/ldspdtc/home   I look forward to reading your comments here, on the Facebook group or via anonymous email (at ldsperfectday@gmail.com) about how “Consequences” has worked for you. 

2,000 years ago, Christ overcame the deepest, darkest depths of hell and claimed victory over Satan. Today, he beckons you to follow in His footsteps. Yes, Satan can bruise your heels, but God also invites you to join Him in crushing Satan’s head. Indeed, God’s victories can be yours as well. Over the years, it’s been my privilege to know many who have learned from God how to do just this. They learned how to cast out evil not from any scripture, lesson manual or book. Nothing copyrighted nor “curriculumed.” Instead, they learned their lessons (or in educational terms, received “experiential learning”, or learned from experience) straight from God. So, here are some true stories of those who have successfully cast out evil from their homes, despite the assurances by many that they couldn’t or shouldn’t. They are real people with whom I have communicated. They are presented to you anonymously.

These four scriptures -- Mark 16:17, Mormon 9:24, D&C 35:8-9 and D&C 84:65-67 -- are the only ones which definitively identify who can cast out devils. All four say the same thing: believers. Now, my next question is, are believers in Jesus only limited to men? Of course not. The scriptures, the church and even your local fast and testimony meeting definitively proves one undeniable truth: Believers know no gender...

Are you judgmental of others because they aren’t what you think they should be, or don’t do things as you believe? Do you self-justify liking thoughts which are incongruent with gospel truths because, after all, it’s a friend who’s saying them? Is church attendance and church activity an accurate method to determine worthiness? Should we be contemplating others’ worthiness in the first place? If you find yourself relating to Marshall, Dave or any of the members mentioned by Natalie or Mike, then repent. Change your heart. Be the example of love Christ created you to be. I’ll make this real simple: Love is the answer.

Most New Testament scholars agree that "poor in spirit" does not mean lacking in spirit, be it courage, the Holy Ghost or religious awareness. Instead, it is that poverty is not only a physical condition, but also a spiritual one. Such true, undefiled humility is absolutely genuine and unlike it's identical counterfeit, "spiritual pride." How can you tell the difference? The personal pronouns of "I," "Me" and "My" are absent or rare. And the attribution of anything good, wholesome or worthwhile is genuinely, sincerely and solemnly redirected to another source. They recognize that they are utterly and completely nothing. In my opinion, the Savior was saying, "Blessed are they, who in spirit, recognize that they possess nothing" or "Blessed are those who, in their spirit, are conscious of the fact that they do not possess one thing."

“Karma” is Buddhist/Hindu concept that states the way you live your life will affect you. It’s the spiritual principle of cause and effect, where the intent and actions of an individual influences the future of that individual. It’s perhaps the ultimate form of “what goes around, comes around.” or even "poetic justice." There is a concept in Judaism called “midah k'neged midah,” which is translated as "value against value" or "measure for measure." It essentially means that one's actions affect the world, and will eventually come back to that person in ways one might not necessarily expect. The word “karma” isn’t found in any scripture nor general conference talk. Yet as I go through life, I get the sneaky suspicion that it’s a very real thing, and quite likely, doctrinally supported.

“We are, on the whole, an idolatrous people -- a condition most repugnant to the Lord.” (President Spencer W. Kimball, “The False Gods We Worship,” First Presidency Message, Ensign, June 1976, p. 6). President Kimball wrote those words in 1976...to and about we members of the church. That’s right: He wrote them to you and me. We haven’t heard much about idolatry since then. In those 43 years, idolatry has been directly mentioned in General Conference a grand total of 12 times. But just because it hasn't been mentioned much doesn't make the doctrine any less important. Quite the contrary, I believe we are far more deeply entrenched in idolatry than we were back then. The only questions are, “how deeply entrenched in idolatry are you” and “what can you do about it”?

"But with some I am not well pleased, for they will not open their mouths, but they hide the talent which I have given unto them, because of the fear of man. Wo unto such, for mine anger is kindled against them." (D&C 60:2) Of this scripture, President Spencer W. Kimball said, "The Lord says in the 60th section of the Doctrine and Covenants, ‘With some I am not well pleased for they will not open their mouths’ (D&C 60:2). What does he mean? He says that if they do not use it, they will lose what he has given them. They lose their spirit. They lose their testimony. And this priceless thing that you have can slip right out of your life." (Spencer W. Kimball, "President Kimball Speaks Out on Testimony," New Era, Aug. 1981, p. 6)

Why do we constantly see those who have taken upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ judging and condemning others? Where do we read in the scriptures that we're justified, that it's OK, to spread rumors and speak ill of others behind their backs? If Jesus didn't judge and condemn others, why do we -- who are all prodigal sons and daughters -- unilaterally assume a judgmental status superior to that of Jesus? Do we not realize that when we do so, we destroy *our* spirituality and further the distance from Christ possibly far more than the person being spoken of? We sift ourselves right out of the gospel and a possible future among those who *are* merciful and kind to others. "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things." (Romans 2:1) Evil speaking injures the reviler more than the reviled. Those who assassinate characters, reputations and more -- even if the facts are true -- are ranked among the uncharitable, for “In being just, one will not condemn, find fault, or gossip, as there is no salvation in being critical of another.” (Elder Franklin D. Richards, “Justice, Mercy, and Humility,” April 1970 General Conference).

Your ability, your destiny, to be a chosen, joint heir with Jesus Christ is directly tied to your willingness and ability to put away your traditions. When we embrace traditions which deviate from the doctrines and teachings found in the Standard Works -- no matter how long they've been around -- we make ourselves vulnerable to Satan stealing away our light. This loss of light (which comes by aligning with false traditions) catalyzes our dwindling into ignorance and ultimately unbelief, which therefore disqualifies us from being joint heirs with Jesus. Conversely, if we do the opposite, we entitle ourselves to far greater manifestations of God: By teaching man-made traditions as the word of God, people turn the profane into the sacred. They are "lighters of fires, who illuminate with mere sparks." (Isaiah 50:11). How about you? How many of false traditions have you thought, said or taught?

When you judge another, you only deepen the spiritual depths in which you live. It increases your disharmony with the Lord, His characteristics, His attributes, His personality and His doctrines. The Lord has told us members of the church what will happen to such members very soon: “Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord. And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord; First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord.” (D&C 112:24-26) I believe there is only one way to rise above the spiritual death and decay of judgmentalism: Jesus Christ. I can tell you by direct, personal experience that He, the greatest of all of us, is also the least judgmental of all of us. The amount of love He has for us is incomprehensible. Perhaps the most important thing you can do to dig yourself out of the pit of judgmentalism is to passionately study the Savior. I mean, make not just knowing about Him, but knowing Him, a primary focus of your life. Then emulate what you read about Him. Jesus’ counsel to the Nephite Twelve illuminates this concept: “Ye shall be judges of this people, according to the judgment which I shall give unto you, which shall be just. Therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am” (3 Nephi 27:27).

* Whether we’re aware of it or not, we’re influenced by a cacophony of spiritual sounds every minute of our lives. * Just the sheer diversity and attractiveness of these sounds makes it nearly impossible to focus on what’s right. * Further complicating the situation: Satan is highly motivated and extremely adept at drowning out these loud, colorful, enticing signals with his own counterfeit subtle signals. * Naturally, it’s difficult for us to make heads or tails out of what is right and what is wrong. * Some of the best and brightest among us have been led away by these sounds in hopes of better spiritual or temporal statuses for themselves. Because of all the abundant evidence that the Savior of the World saw the need to just (literally and figuratively) get away from it all, meditate and pray, what about you? If we are so anxious to enjoy communion with God -- to pass through the most secret, most sacred doors into His presence -- then why are we emphasizing busy-ness, and not meditation (as not one, but two, latter-day church presidents have asked us to do)?

We have been told that “When priesthood authority is exercised properly, priesthood bearers do what He would do if He were present.”. We have also seen church leaders lament the lack of this power, both in 2010 and 2018. What about you? If this “tragedy” is to be “eliminated”, then who does it realistically start with? If you have priesthood (“the authority and the power which God has granted to men on earth to act for Him”), do your blessings reflect “what He [Jesus] would do if He were present”? If you’re the recipient of a blessing, are you going to be satisfied with a blessing that’s incongruent with “what He [Jesus] would do if He were present”? How satisfied are you with generic, “cardboard-tasting” blessings? I certainly am not. Don’t settle for second best. Approach the throne of Grace with boldness. Ask God -- beg and plead with Him, weary Him with your importunings -- that a priesthood holder with true priesthood power will come and work a miracle in your life.