"Now I Have a Priesthood": Part 4

Choose Ye This Day?  What?

​Like you, I love the gospel.

I also love the Church.

But Jesus said:

   No man can serve
   two masters.

(Matt. 6:24)

So which do we choose? 

When Church policy or practice is at odds with the gospel (the word of God), what do we do?

I don't know about you, but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

The Church Was Never Meant to Be Our Master

​The Church was never meant to be our master.  

   Really. 

We already have a Master!  His name is Wonderful.

   For one is your Master,
   even Christ;
   and all ye are brethren.

(Matt. 23:8)

Was the Church meant to rule over us, or is that Christ's job?

What does the Lord mean when He says, "All ye are brethren?" 

Does He mean the Church was meant to be a place of fellowship, where we gather as a family, and not a place for leaders to exercise authority: controlling who speaks and on what topics; dictating how funds are spent; ordering members into callings without counseling with them . . . . 

   What happened? 

   How did the "priesthood" become so controlling? 

   When did priesthood keys become so oppressive?

What is the Priesthood?

   1.  What is the priesthood?  

Usually we hear it defined as "the authority to act in God's name."

But doesn't that mean we take the Lord's name in vain (a lot), using our "authority" to gratify our pride and our vain ambition, sitting in the high seats, exercising control and dominion upon the souls of the children of men? 

So what is the priesthood, really?

We're told the greater priesthood:

   (1) administered the gospel, and
   (2) holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom
   (3)  even the key of the knowledge of God.

(D&C 84:19)

So here's the million dollar question:

What does it mean to "administer the gospel?"

2.  Whose Priesthood is it?

This one is easy.  The priesthood belongs to God.

But notice how we use this subtle sleight of hand:

   a.  The priesthood belongs to God.

   b.  The keys of the priesthood, though, He's given to me.

   c.  The priesthood cannot be used without my keys.

   d.  Ergo, for all practical purposes, the priesthood belongs to me.  

Yikes!  Is it any wonder the Lord is displeased with us?

   - Will a man rob God?

   - Wherein have we robbed thee, Lord?

   - In taking strength unto yourselves and in taking my name in vain through your boasting.

So . . . what are we gonna do?  

   How about: repent.

Say Nothing But Repentance 

Before the Church was even restored, the Lord commanded us:

   Say nothing but repentance
   unto this generation.

(D&C 11:9)

This blog and the poetry I have written have been my attempt to invite us all to repent. 

And what does it mean to repent?  To have a change of mind?  To turn around?  

   To turn to God, and live?

All I've been trying to do here is call the Lord's people to repentance. 

I don't have a trump, but I have a keyboard.  I don't have a seer stone, but I have wifi.  I don't have a special title, but I am a child of Christ who is Known by Him.

And so EVERYTHING I have written is to point us to our Father, Jesus Christ, so we may live in Him forevermore.  

Well, are you wondering which way we're facing, if we're not facing the Lord?

Let me ask: how are we currently oriented? 

I think it is apparent to anyone listening with half an ear that we are currently facing the Brethren, being told to follow the prophet. 

And so we are not oriented toward the God with an EYE SINGLE TO HIS GLORY.  

On a personal level, I have had friends and family see me trying to build on the sure foundation of Jesus Christ (as opposed to the foundation of the Brethren) and say I am lacking faith ― as though faith meant trusting the arm of flesh!

But being faithful to the Lord is different than being a faithful member of the Church, isn't it? 

How do we reconcile the difference?