"Lord, to whom shall we go?" Charting the Course of the Church from Here to the Second Coming: Part 3

SPOILER ALERT

This Series may contain doctrine that is intended for a mature audience only.  Reader discretion advised.

Santa, Baby (An Analogy Regarding Our Place in Prophetic History)

When is the right age to tell a child that Santa Claus is not real?

I have five children and they all came to a knowledge of the truth about Santa at different times, in different ways.

I am no expert on childhood development, but generally speaking, I've noticed that the right time to have the "Santa Claus discussion" is around the time my kids start asking too many questions.  

    "How can Santa visit every child in one night?"

    "How does Santa get into homes without a fireplace?"

    "How do reindeer fly?"

Sure, I could double-down on the deception ― I could make reindeer tracks in the snow in the front yard; craft ever more elaborate milk-and-cookie dioramas for Rudolph; draft letters in the handwriting of elves sent magically from the North Pole . . . . 

But the longer we keep up the ruse, the harder it becomes to come clean.  If we wait too long, our children will look elsewhere for answers.

So at last we confess, "Honey, your friends at school are right.  I've been lying to you your whole life."

   "What?!" they cry, with tearful, beseeching eyes.  "But why, daddy?"

   "Well, sweetie, I wanted to make Christmas special for you.  So I jumped aboard the Polar Express of our cultural traditions and I became part of the ruse."

   Our child wipes their eyes.  "But daddy, you taught me to always tell the truth!"

   "Well, yes, but some lies are for your own good.  One day you'll understand."

   "Stop patronizing me, daddy.  I really want to know the truth.  Please don't mislead me."   

   "But weren't you happy in your little bubble? I recall how your countenance glowed under the lights as you opened your gifts on Christmas morning."

   "But it wasn't real!  How long can my joy last in something that is fake?"

   "Oh, my dear little one.  I never meant to harm you.  It's just that "reality" is much less exciting than make-believe.  A little white lie was all it was."

    * Cue Jingle Bells. *

Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

If you're someone starting to ask questions about why things are not adding up; if you're someone who looks around and wonders what is going on; if you're starting to see through the illusion and fantasy of carnal security; if you're weary of the recurring gaslighting; if the Spirit is moving upon you to prepare for what is coming; if you're beginning to see "things as they really are," then please keep reading.

But . . . 

On the other hand, if you'd prefer to remain in a place of childlike innocence, I do not blame you.  Ignorance, as they say, is bliss.

ADVISORY WARNING:  Proceed with caution.  This Series may shatter the spiritual world view of youngsters who have yet to be weaned from the breastmilk of Mammon (which is to say, the "great whore that sitteth upon many waters" (Revelation 17:1)).

(And really, it is not my place on the playground at recess to spoil things for you.)

   Find out the truth about "Santa Claus" for yourself.

Who Will Build the Ark?

You know who'd be a really good person to know?  Whoever it is building the Ark in the last days ― the Ark that will withstand the flood of fire to come.

    Is it America?  The Church?  Beyoncé?  Who is going to spearhead this project?

    1.  Ark.  A symbol of temporal salvation for the people of God.

   2.  Ark of the Covenant. A symbol of God's word and protection. 

And while we're on the subject, what will the modern ark be built from?  Noah built his boat out of gopher wood because it would float on water.  That was smart, considering destruction came by flood.

But that won't work for us.  Wood burns in a fire.

So buoyancy is not what we're after.  No, we need something flame-retardant.

Actually, maybe we should just stay out of boats for a bit (metaphorically speaking).  The Lord said that "the days will come that no flesh shall be safe upon the waters" (D&C 61:15).  The last place we'd want to be stranded is at sea.

(So if you're gonna "stay in the boat," I wouldn't put much stock in that life jacket.  If the ship sinks, we're sunk.)

Knock on wood.  Whoops!  That was the whole point.  

The Love Boat®

What is the difference between an Ark and a Cruise Ship?

Taking and mixing our metaphors even further (sorry!), let's play devil's advocate for a minute. 

If the devil knew that the "waters" were unsafe, and wanted to "drown" as many souls as possible, what would he do?

   Send them on a cruise, of course!  

That's right ― into the arms of that woman who "sitteth upon the waters."  

   "No, don't take Noah's Ark.  He's a bore.  And the animals stink.  And it'll be so much work!  You'll be up from dawn till dusk shoveling manure.  Join us on the Love Boat® and we'll take care of everything for you!"

Satan would have us believe that safety and security are found on the open sea, away from all those troublesome [promised] land-lubbers who missed the boat.

(Never mind that the scriptures prophecy that the cruise ship will, regrettably, hit an iceberg and sink as a great highway of ice is cast up in the midst of the great deep.)

   "Come join us on the Love Boat.®
We've got a Skipper who will guide us, and a crew who will tell us what to do.  Reax and enjoy 'eating, drinking, and giving in marriage' (Moses 8:21)."

The sad part?  This ill-fated cruise ship will be filled to capacity with "mighty men" and "men of great renown" (Moses 8:21).  

   Bon voyage!

To Be Continued . . . 

Next time we'll look at the following:

   1.  What is the last-days Ark?

   2.  Who builds the last-days Ark?

   3.  How can we get tickets to board the last-days Ark?