LeGrand L. Baker

Blog

  • Sealer’s Message, Jan. 2020

    29 January 2020

    Most Christians are grateful to have a Savior who will save them. But most of them understand that the Savior saves them from something, from death and from hell. And that saving comes in the next life. The perspective of those who are perceiving members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is distinctly different. While also being grateful for the opportunity to be saved from death, hell and the devil, such LDS persons are even more grateful for being saved to something, being saved out of weakness unto the opportunity to minister to others. To minister is to bless others, especially through the knowledge and power that Christ shares with his faithful disciples. This ministering I also known as righteousness. But even within the ranks of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints there is confusion as to what righteousness is.

    This confusion arises out of a failure to distinguish actions which are preparation for blessing others and actually blessing others. The following is an attempt to make this distinction and difference clear.

    The parable of the Good Samaritan clearly shows the difference. A man is beaten and robbed on the way to Jericho, left helpless by the side of the road. A priest comes by, sees him, and passes by on the far side of the road. Then a Levite came by, took a good look, and moved to pass by on the far side. But a Samaritan followed and also saw the wounded man. The Samaritan felt for the man, and attended to his wounds, put him on his animal and conveyed him to the nearest inn, where he saw that the man was cared for not only for that day, but until he was better. The priest and the Levite doubtless had done many things to prepare for doing righteous acts, but failed to do so in this crisis. The Samaritan had also prepared but actually delivered righteousness when the opportunity came.

    Let us now count good things we may do to do the works of righteousness:

    1. Pray for help.
    2. Fast.
    3. Partake of the Sacrament.
    4. Hear sermons and testimonies.
    5. Be baptized and confirmed.
    6. Receive the holy priesthood.
    7. Receive the temple endowment.
    8. Be sealed in marriage in the temple.
    9. Pour over the scriptures.
    10. Meditate on the ways of the Lord. All very good things to do.

    Let us now count things we may do to actually perform the works of righteousness:

    1. Serve a mission.
    2. Bless others in the power of the Melchizedek Priesthood.
    3. Comfort those who need such.
    4. Stay up all night to help a sick friend.
    5. Pray for others, especially one’s enemies.
    6. Teach others to love the Lord and to serve Him by serving others.
    7. Give food to the hungry, clothing to the naked.
    8. Bear one’s testimony effectively.
    9. Pay an honest tithing and a generous fast offering.
    10. Faithfully serve in callings in the Church, especially in the temple.

    Each of these works of righteousness is seriously devalued if we do any of them for reward or recompense. While neither of these lists is exhaustive, each clearly demonstrates the idea of the difference between preparing ourselves to be fit vehicles for administering the blessings of Christ to others and actually administering those blessings in the way that Christ Himself would do. May we each glory in both preparing to and in doing righteousness, for this is our heritage. And while we appreciate being saved from, let us fulfill our glorious opportunity to be saved to do the works of righteousness.

  • Righteousness vs Preparing to Be Righteous

    8 December 2019
    by Chauncey C Riddle

    Brothers and Sisters, I rejoice in this opportunity to speak to you. Being the oldest member of this ward, this is probably the only time I will ever be asked to address you. My task here is to say what the Lord would have me say, and I have spent many hours searching out what he would have me say. Your task is to dissect everything I say so that you understand me, but then not believe a word that I say. But you are bound by and will be judged by what the Holy Ghost tells you while I am speaking. Do believe the Holy Ghost and do what he tells you to do.

    But remember that there are two spirits speaking to you while I speak. Satan will entice you not even to listen to me or to interpret what I say incorrectly, while the Holy Ghost will tell you what our Savior wants you to hear and to do after hearing what I say. You are the agent that will choose.

    The topic I have been sent to discuss with you is the difference between doing a righteous act and preparing to do righteous acts.

    A righteous act is blessing some other person or thing as one is instructed by the Savior and done at some personal sacrifice of our own. It must be done as instructed by our Savior because he is the true vine and we are the branches who can bring forth no good fruit except we do it in him. It must be done at some personal sacrifice of our own because only then is it our true gift to the person we bless. Preparation for doing a righteous act is repenting and increasing our faith in Jesus Christ so that we can truly do our Savior’s quality of work in blessing others. Preparatory acts are necessary and good things to do. Acts of righteousness are the best things to do. Let us not confuse the two.

    Our Savior gave us a parable to impress upon us the difference between preparation and real righteousness:  And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise, a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him,

    Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. (Luke 10:30-35)

    Most people see this parable as simply a lesson on who is our neighbor. It is. But the larger message is how do I love my neighbor instead of myself. And here many people get confused. They think they are supposed first to love themselves and then love their neighbor the same way. I submit to you that that is not what the Lord intends. He intends that we love our neighbor instead of loving ourselves. Do not confuse self-love with self-respect. We must respect all that God has given us: a body, a life, opportunity to serve. And that is what this parable shows among other things. The principal other thing it shows is the difference between preparation for righteousness and righteousness itself. The priest and the Levite doubtless were very observant of the instructions of the Law of Moses and prayed and fasted and performed sacrifices of blood on the altar. Praying, fasting and performing sacrifices on the altar were good things to do, but they are preparation to do righteous acts, not righteous acts in and of themselves. We do not know what preparation the Samaritan performed, but we know he did rise to the opportunity to bless another person in real need and at his own expense of time and money. Thus, the Samaritan did acts of true righteousness and the priest and the Levite shrank from true righteousness in spite of all their preparation to do righteous acts.

    Another word for righteousness is charity, and charity is the pure love of Christ. It is the pure love that comes from Christ and ministers to those in need as the one who ministers, has compassion on the one in need to do acts inspired by Christ. All good things humans do come from Christ and are inspired by Christ, for we are nothing without him. Our Savior said:

    I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
    Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 
    Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 
    Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
    I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
    If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 
    If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
    Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
    As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
    If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Fathers commandments, and abide in his love. 
    These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
    This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.
    Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15: 1-13)

    The fruit the Lord wants to bear is righteousness, not just preparation for doing righteous acts. But he also wants us to be well prepared to bless our neighbors.

    What are the acts by which we prepare to bless our neighbors? Let us recount and define some of them.

    1. Repenting of our sins is the unique preparation for exercising true faith in Christ unto baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost. Repenting is thus preparation for ministering to others as instructed by the Holy Ghost, which is righteousness.
    2. Praying sincerely to God for forgiveness of our sins and for the guidance of God is indispensable preparation for performing the acts of faith in Christ which are the sacrifices of righteousness.
    3. Fasting is a wonderful way to enhance prayer, a good thing to do often, but it is good preparation rather than righteousness itself.
    4. Partaking of the sacrament to renew our covenants is a good thing to do, but is preparation for rather than righteousness itself, as is attending our church meetings.
    5. Receiving our own endowments in the temple is a wonderfully good thing to do, but it is preparation rather than righteousness itself.
    6. Being sealed to an eternal companion in the temple according to God’s law is a magnificent and good preparation for righteousness but is not of itself righteousness.
    7. Studying the scriptures is wonderful preparation, but of itself is not the crowning work of righteousness.
    8. Meditating in the Spirit of the Lord is wonderful and good, but is preparation.

    It should be plain that all these good things are great preparation, but of themselves, they do nothing to help our neighbor who lies helpless because he has been robbed and beaten by the servants of Satan.

    If we do all of these things, we are uniquely prepared to be inspired by our Savior to know exactly what sacrifices we should make to bless the wounded people we encounter. Actually, blessing our neighbor by sacrificing something of our own stewardship in his behalf is the only true righteousness. The following are some of the ways of performing acts of righteousness.

    1. Mothering and fathering, service to our brothers and sisters.
    2. Ministering (assigned or not assigned), especially to the widows and the fatherless.
    3. Presiding.
    4. Fulfilling our church calling.
    5. Teaching the Restored Gospel.
    6. Preaching the Restored Gospel. (Every member a missionary).
    7. Performing or being proxy for temple ordinances for others.

    All can be true righteousness if done in the pure love of Christ and as guided by the Holy Ghost.

    And if we do not bless our neighbor through Christ-inspired sacrifice, we actually curse our neighbor by withholding the blessings Christ wants him or her to have.

    Righteousness is also called charity in the scriptures. Charity is really caring about someone unto preparing ourselves in all humility to administer the blessings Christ would have them have. Paul gives us a good list of defining characteristics of charity in 1 Corinthians 13:

    Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

    A person who gives a great talk in church but who will not minister blessings to his neighbors does not really believe the Gospel of Christ.

    And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

    Having sought and received the gifts of the Holy Ghost is wonderful, but that blessing to him is meaningless unless the one so gifted cares about his neighbors enough to bless their lives.

    And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

    Thus, one can give away everything he has, even his life, and not have it be righteous charity unless the person cares enough about his Savior to come unto Christ and cares enough about his neighbor to minister as Christ would have him do.

    Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

    The person who has attained the pure love of Christ is willing to suffer whatever suffering God allows to be put upon him, and he or she is kind to everyone, friends and enemies alike, and envies no one because he or she has the greatest of all the gifts of God, which is charity. The person who has this charity does not toot his own horn to call attention to himself or herself but avoids all pride by proceeding through life as a humble child of Christ.

    Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

    This person who has true charity never tries to call attention to themselves by their dress, grooming, or actions. They do not seek to feather their own nest, which thing all those who love themselves try unceasingly to do. Those who have charity bear abuse with aplomb, not rising to self-defense except when prompted to do so by the Holy Spirit, and never giving in to anger, which always is prompted by Satan. And they never plot evil against anyone, for that also is always prompted by Satan.

    Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

    The true servants of Christ always lament the evil, the inequities they see around themselves, but they rejoice in the truth of all things, no matter where found.

    Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

    Those faithful to Christ are willing to suffer whatever Christ allows to be put upon them, and they believe all that comes from Christ, hope for every good gift from Christ, and endure all the vicissitudes of mortal life in and by the power of Christ. 

    Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

    If a servant of Christ attains the gift of charity, it will never be taken from them as long as they exercise that gift in ministering to the needs of their neighbors. But if one does not gain charity, then eventually their other gifts of the Holy Spirit will be taken away from them, even their ability to prophesy, the ability to speak in foreign tongues will be taken from them, as will be the special insights of knowledge they have been given. For all the gifts of God are given to mankind so that they may minister righteousness to their neighbors. If they never learn to love and bless their neighbors, they will lose their other gifts from God and just be like all the other natural and fallen persons in this world dominated by Satan.

    For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

    Until we attain the gift of charity because our faithfulness to Christ, all of our other blessings from him are temporary and partial. But when we gain the greatest of all spiritual gifts, that of charity, the pure love of Christ, then and only then can our ministering to others become perfected and complete. When we gain the gift of charity, we will have become as Christ in the most important way that can be done, because the essence of Christ is his pure, selfless love for all other persons and things. When we have become like Christ in that ultimate step, then we will be privileged to know him even as he knows us, which is to know him completely.

    And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

    The greatest gifts God gives to mankind are faith in Christ, hope in Christ and the pure love from Christ. And clearly, the greatest of these gifts, the ultimate fruit of the Holy Spirit, is the ability to minister to our neighbors in the pure love of Christ, which is charity. (1 Corinthians 13: 1-8, 12-13)

    So how does a covenant servant of Christ gain this greatest and most desirable of all the gifts of God? Mormon tells us plainly in the Book of Mormon:  

    And because he hath done this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men. For behold, they are subject unto him, to minister according to the word of his command, showing themselves unto them of strong faith and a firm mind in every form of godliness. (Moroni 7: 29-30)

    The requirement for receiving the gift of charity is the same requirement to receive the ministering of angels and of coming into the presence of Christ himself. The covenant servant of Christ must pursue faithfulness to Christ until his faith in Christ is so strong and unchallengeable that the servant has attained strong faith and a firmness of mind and will unto the keeping of all of the commandments of Christ. The words of Christ will show us all things we must do to attain life, salvation, and a completeness or perfection of our power to minister in the name of Jesus Christ. Nephi also makes this very clear:

    Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do. (2 Nephi 32:3)

    So if we will press forward in the vicissitudes of this fallen world, thrusting aside all of the temptations of Satan until through feasting upon the words of Christ unto receiving from him instruction as to all things we should do, then doing all things he instructs us to do, we will come to know him face to face and will be like him when we see him.

    Verily, thus saith the Lord: It shall come to pass that every soul who forsaketh his sins and cometh unto me, and calleth on my name, and obeyeth my voice, and keepeth my commandments, shall see my face and know that I am; (D&C 93:1)

    It is my hope and prayer to be able to truly come unto Christ through calling upon his name unto the faithful keeping of each and every instruction and commandment that he gives me until I see his face and know him as he knows me. For then I will have shown that I truly have taken upon me that greatest gift he has to give, his pure love and his personal ministering to each of his created children. And I desire that blessing for each of you also, that with one accord we can come to the fountain of eternal life and minister the pure love, in righteousness, to others through him, unto all eternity.

    Conclusion: Do diligently prepare to be righteous, but also earnestly fulfill righteousness.

    This talk was constructed as an admonition to myself. And if there is any one person who now hears me who is being helped to come unto Christ and to be perfected in ministering in the pure love of Christ to his or her neighbors, I would be most grateful.

    I bear you my witness that the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is true, and that the only true and living church on the face of this earth is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Other churches have much truth, and there are many persons who do not now belong to the true Church of Jesus Christ who are good persons and who do much to bless others because of the light of Christ which is in them. When all of Israel has finally been gathered, every soul who loves Christ will have been brought under his influence and love unto a fulness of all that they can stand to receive of his blessings. What a blessed day that will be indeed. And for that day all who love Christ will serve him with as much of their heart, might, mind and strength as they can muster.

    In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

  • The Fall of Adam: Part One

    October Message 2019
    by Chauncey C Riddle

    In recent years there has been a great emphasis in the Church on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. That emphasis is well-deserved, for that atonement is the most important event in the history of mankind. But as we dwell on that atonement, we must not forget the second most important event in the history of mankind: The Fall of Adam. The Fall is important because it is the event that makes the atonement necessary.

    An understanding of the Fall of Adam has three necessary parts: 1) The condition of Adam and Eve before the Fall. 2) What happened in the Fall. 3) The condition of Adam and Eve and all of their posterity after the Fall.

    Before the Fall, Adam and Eve were immortal beings. They were children of the Gods, having the same DNA as the gods (as made evident by the fact that God the Father became the literal father of Jesus Christ by siring Jesus Christ with his mortal mother, Mary.) They did not have blood in their veins, but rather spirit matter (which is why they were immortal beings who never would die if they remained in that unfallen condition. And they were like children, not knowing very much, and especially not knowing the difference between good and evil. But they knew enough to tend the Garden of Eden and to enjoy its delights.

    The Fall itself came as Adam and Eve deliberately disobeyed God the Father and did obey Satan by partaking of the forbidden fruit of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, a simple physical act having eternal consequences.

    That disobedience to the Father and obedience to Satan gave Satan power over Adam and Eve and their posterity, the power to tempt them and to try them in every way. Now that they knew the difference between good and evil, they became free to choose between the two. They had the light of Christ to show them the good, and the constant companionship of Satan to tempt them to do some degree of evil.

    (Evil is anything that is less than the best thing to do. In any human situation there is one best thing to do, the Good, and an infinite variety of other things to do other than doing the Good. Thus evil ranges from lesser goods than the Good which God would have us do, to opposites which are totally evil. All evil is inspired by Satan to try to get human beings not to do the will of God.)

    Father in his mercy decreed that the power to choose and do good would always be preserved to Adam an Eve as long as they chose good. If they chose evil, the influence of God would be lessened in their lives. If they chose evil repeatedly and continually, the enticement to do good would eventually be taken away. The person who does this can eliminate the influence of God in their lives, having killed their conscience, which is the light of Christ in their lives. If a person chooses good continually, that does not eliminate the power of Satan to entice them to do evil. In fact, the more faithful they are to the influence of the Father and the Son, the more powerful become the temptations of Satan. The godly enticement to do good is always balanced by an equal and opposite temptation from Satan. Thus the person retains perfect freedom to choose.

    And thus Adam and E became free to choose for themselves, either The Good or some degree of evil. But they are also accountable for their choices and the results of those choices. On the day of Final Judgment each of us humans will come before God having a perfect memory of all the choices we made in our mortality. The evil choices we repented of and made restitution for through the power of Jesus Christ will not be brought up, but all other choices will be manifest then. Each of us will see and know exactly what we deserve at this bar of judgment, so no one will argue with the judgment they receive.

  • Notes on having a testimony of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ

    1. A testimony of the gospel is a matter of heart more than mind. The mind must be involved to form a content of ideas, but the acceptance or certification of those ideas is a function of the heart. It is our hearts that are being tested and proved, not our minds. This is important because whatever a normal human being does stems from the desires of the heart. The mind furnishes alternatives for the heart to consider, but the heart is the ruler. Thus we always do what we want to do. Wants are of the heart.
    2. Thus testimony of the gospel, or the absence thereof, is a spiritual matter, not basically an intellectual one. The heart entertains spirits, and the mind entertains ideas. There are two spirits, the Holy Spirit and the unholy spirit. The Holy Spirit testifies of truth, but the unholy spirit tells us that whatever we want to believe is true and whatever we want to do is the good thing to do. The unholy spirit is the influence of Satan. The unholy spirit tells us humans that there is no such thing as Satan, and those who like the unholy spirit agree, and say that Satan is not real. So having a testimony of the Restored Gospel depends on how much we are influenced by either or both of those two spirits.
    3. Then there is desire. Some people do not want to have a testimony, no matter what. Sometimes this stems from their ancestors belonging to another church. Sometimes it stems from a desire not to be in the minority. Sometimes it stems from specifically wishing to break one or more of the commandments. Those who are hungry to know the truth and to live it will eventually find a testimony and will live by it.
    4. And there is selfishness or a lack thereof. Those who are intent on doing their own will and in obtaining the pleasure or worldly rewards that are dear to them will not seek nor often find a testimony. But those who enjoy ministering to the needs of others and heavily invest in doing so will eventually find their way to the Restored Gospel and its ordinances because there one finds the power to bless others maximally.

    My most precious possession is my testimony that Jesus is the Christ and that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church on the face of this earth. My personal testimony rests on three pillars. First, I can pray and get answers to my prayers. I do not get answers always or about every matter, but I get enough that I am completely sold on prayer to the Father in the name of Jesus Christ. The second pillar of my testimony is the Book of Mormon. As I read and study it, I receive revelation that quickens my understanding and often shows me the path I must follow to do good. The third pillar of my testimony is the power of the Holy Priesthood as I see it exercised by those in authority and also by others and by myself.

    One strong component of my testimony is an awareness of the existence and power of Satan. I find I must struggle with his temptations every day, almost every minute. It is as if I were walking on the top of a wall where there is a path just wide enough to walk comfortably. But there are ropes attached to my arms and legs which someone uses to pull me to one side or the other to try to topple me from the wall. I find that by paying very careful attention to what I am doing, I can resist the tugs when they come. If I do not resist, then I am pulled off the wall. Only by arduous effort can I then get back on the wall (the arduous effort is sincere repentance and then partaking of the sacrament). It is my firm belief that the many persons who do not believe in the existence of Satan and his power to tempt us have no real defense against his power.

    Every normal adult has a testimony of something. But those who have a testimony that Jesus is the Christ and how to come unto him are very specially blessed.

    May each of you be blessed.

    C. C. Riddle

  • Sealer’s Message, May 2019

    11 May 2019
    amended 18 May 2019

    The core of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ is to act always in faith in Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ is to trust Jesus Christ in all things and willingly and gladly obey the instructions that He gives us as attested by the Holy Ghost. Trust is essential, the same trust we give as we cross the bridge spanning a deep canyon. Obedience is not enough, for the devils also obey Christ, but not willingly. It must be done gladly for a grudgingly given gift is not given for the right reason. And one does not pick and choose among the instructions given, pleasing only oneself, for that is opportunism, not faith.

    The core act of living by faith in Jesus Christ is repentance. Repentance is changing our actions from whatever we have been doing to act in faith in Jesus Christ. Repentance is complete when one acts only in faith in Christ. It involves changing motives and actions until faith in Christ only becomes our deeply ingrained habit of action. It is not done in a day, but may be done rapidly if one tries with all of one’s heart, might, mind, and strength. The goal of repentance is to become a new creature, transformed into the same character and actions as Christ Himself. Our character is our habits. We form habits each time we choose a thought, a feeling, an action. As we choose the same way repeatedly, the choice becomes a habit. Most of our daily actions are performed out of habit. Our habits are our character, who and what we have chosen to be.

    Two factors are of special importance in relation to repentance. The first is sanctification. The word “sanctification” means to make whole, or holy. It is a gift from God to those who sincerely repent and it happens when we have the gift of the Holy Ghost as our companion after baptism and confirmation. It is in essence the forgiveness for past sins we have committed. A sin can be forgiven only if there is a firm determination never to commit that sin again accompanied by recompense for the damage caused by that sin in the past. If an individual makes recompense for having damaged another person or thing, they must restore at least one for one: eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But if the person making restitution for a sin really wants to do it a celestial way, they will restore four-fold. We human beings cannot make restitution for some sins, but it is important that we do so where we can, and the sooner the better. Full restitution for sins is possible only through the mercy of Jesus Christ, He making restitution for us where we cannot.

    Our Savior can and will and does make recompense to each individual for every sin committed against them whether we repent or not. That restitution counts for our sins only if we are faithful covenant servants of Christ. Thus sanctification is real and complete only in Christ and only for His faithful servants. Those who will not put their trust in Christ and thus be forgiven of their sins must personally pay the debt of justice which thy have incurred in each of the sinful acts of their mortal lives. They do this by going to hell, the place of suffering for sin, and there personally receive the same amount of suffering that they have caused others to suffer by their sins. Thus going to hell and suffering for the sins one has committed is a blessing and a privilege, for then one can become clean and inherit glory from God. But those who do it this way will never be trusted like those who have repented in Christ.

    The second factor of special importance to repentance is justification. The word means “to make just.” There are two kinds of justification: human and divine. Human justification is doing wrong and then finding a good reason for having done that wrong. It is pretending to be just. Divine justification is replacing the character flaws that cause us to sin. It comes as we repeatedly act in faith in Christ to gain the habits and character of Christ. Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the indispensable key to both sanctification and divine justification. Knowing the Gospel lays out the path one must follow to gain each of them, and the temples of Jesus Christ give the specific knowledge and power to obtain divine justification.

    Sanctification normally comes at the time of baptism by water and the spirit. It leaves whenever we sin after baptism and can be regained only by partaking worthily of the sacrament. Being in a state of sanctification and having the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost are the same thing. And that companionship, sanctification, is necessary for any of the process of justification to take place. Complete justification normally consumes a lifetime of strict and conscientious endeavor to come into the measure of the stature of the fulness of the character of Jesus Christ. But only those humans who use their probation time to acquire full justification can ever be fully trusted. These are they who are just men made perfect, the only heirs of exaltation through Christ.

    Some members of this Church think that justification is something Christ will bless a person with if they give keeping their covenants a good try but can’t really keep all of His commandments. I think that idea is whistling in the dark, hoping for something that is impossible. That makes God a liar, saying someone is just when they are not. The point of justification is to become perfect, completely like Christ so that we can be trusted always to do the right thing with no one looking over our shoulder to mop up for any mistakes we make. Only such a person can be exalted. Real justification is to make righteousness our unshakable character through step by step repentance, changing ourselves from a natural man into the likeness of Christ Himself. We cannot do this by ourselves, no matter how hard we might try. But the power and grace of God assisting us make it possible if we will love and obey God with all of our heart, might, mind and strength. We are saved to exaltation by grace, but only after we have done all we can do.

    Every person in every kingdom of glory is there because they do keep some of the law of God. Some keep a lesser law, and the good they produce is like starlight. Some keep a greater law, and good they produce is like moonlight. Some keep most of God’s law, and the good they produce is like sunlight. Those who keep all of God’s law produce a good and light that is brighter than the noonday sun, for they are exalted, and their course is one eternal round of creating and blessing. Sanctification is all or nothing, but justification is a matter of degree.

    The capstone question is, does one have to keep all of God’s law in mortality to receive exaltation? The answer is no. But what one does have to do is to give everything they have to God. This is to learn to love Him with all of our heart, might, mind and strength. One does not have to become exactly like Christ in mortality to be exalted, except in one regard: To give ourselves completely to God in that we always do His will and not our own.

    Thus every human has an equal opportunity to be exalted. What each must do is to obey God, live His law, until one can finally deliver all of one’s will to God. Those of lower gifts or quickness of mind are thus on the same footing as those having great gifts and great intelligence. They may not be equal in earthly attainments, but they can be equal in giving all they have to God. Giving all they have to keep God’s law makes them just persons. Then in eternity God can add upon them until they are perfect, complete in all the abilities, powers, and dispositions of a god. Thus we have just men made perfect. And only just men made perfect can be trusted with exaltation.

  • On this Christmas Day:

    The most important thing for any human being to understand: We humans are all literal children of the Gods who control this universe, and because we have their DNA in us and they have made us free to choose, we have the potential to become gods also or any lesser thing of our own choosing.
    The most important thing for any human being to do: Pray to the Father, using the key name of his Son, Jesus Christ, with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, asking and seeking what we most desire. If we are persistent enough to show them we really mean what we ask for, they will bless us, and if we do what they say through the Holy Spirit, we will inherit all we can stand to receive.

  • Christmas Message 2018

    from C C Riddle
    Only Two Churches – Only Two Foci

    Know ye that in the Latter Days
    There will be only two churches.
    The one will serve the Lamb of God
    The other will serve the devil.
    The first will be few in number
    The second will dominate every land and people.
    How to tell the difference between the two?

    By their fruits shall ye know them.
    One creates a Master State to save everyone temporally
    (except those who are unwanted).
    The other raises up a people whose are sent to bless everyone
    Especially with eternal blessings from the Lamb.

    One church creates converts by force and by controlling information,
    The other creates converts by revelation.
    The one insists upon a party line,
    The other leaves each person to conscience.
    The one operates on pride and glory,
    The other grows on humility and service to others.
    Neither can prove it is correct by science;
    Both prosper only by faith in the unseen.

    Know ye that you are free to choose either church
    And that your choice will last forever.
    By the end of this mortal scene
    You will have chosen your eternal path.
    Forever hence you will seek to please yourself
    Even as Satan does
    Or you will lose yourself in the service of others
    Even as Christ does.

    There is no middle ground.

  • Oh Say What is Real?

    A lecture was given by Dr. Melvin Morse, 28 October 2018 at the IANDS meeting in Salt Lake City. He is a pediatrician in Washington State who is studying near-death experiences in young children (10 and under). He is attempting to get the scientific world to recognize the validity (the reality) of what these children experience when they die and then come back and bring reports back of their experiences while dead. At issue is the question: What is real? What follows here are my answers to that question.

    The scientific definition of reality is usually something like: Something is real if it is observable by more than one person, testified to by more than one person, can be reproduced at will by some procedure, and can be quantified (measured in some way). The purpose of these strictures originally was to separate false traditions and claims from things that really are so and do work. The germ theory of disease is a good example. Many people once thought that disease was a spiritual matter, caused by evil spirits. Since evil spirits are not observable nor measurable, that explanation was rejected in favor of the germ theory which postulates that disease is caused by microbes which are observable and measurable: the identifiable germs are present and observable in every instance of a given disease. So the germ theory is scientifically acceptable, and the evil spirit theory is rejected as unsubstantiated folklore. (The germ theory does falter a bit because sometimes the germs are present and the individual carrying them does not get sick.)

    The problem that then arises, however, is that there are many things we want to think of as real that are not observable by more than one person and do not have a perceivable (materialistic) cause. The love of one person for another is such a matter. So shall we say that a specific love-bond is not real because it is personal and limited to one subject and perhaps to one object? Those who feel love for another person are often convinced it is very real, even more real than the material things on which scientists focus their attention.

    To understand and clarify this question of reality we must explore human knowing.

    We understand the following things about human knowing:

    1.   To know something is to be assured by evidence that our ideas are correct. Sensory experience is one of those evidences.

    2.   There are about 25 human senses which report evidence about the universe to our human minds.

    3.   But we do not see in our eyes, hear in our ears, touch with our skin. Our human organs of eyes, ears and skin all report their sensations to the cerebral cortex in the back of the human brain.

    4.   The cerebral cortex assembles all of the sensory evidence that comes to it from the 25 human senses and sorts and groups those sensations into an image of what might have caused those sensations. The brain thus forms a hypothesis as to what might have caused the sensations reported by the body. The brain then usually tests the hypothesis by asking questions such as:

    • a.   Can I predict what sensations I will have next?
    • b.   If I move my hand or foot to the object I think I perceive, can I predict what will happen?
    • c.   Do repeated observations give me the same hypothesis as to what I am experiencing?

    5.   The short version of this account of human knowing is that our consciousness of the universe we live in is all invented by us, an attempt of a sometimes rational mind to imagine the universe in which it finds itself.

    Conclusion: This I have given is a very short account of an important, complex matter. But it must suffice for present purposes. Moving from that description, I now state the following conclusions about human knowing and “reality.”

    1.   We do not really know anything about the universe (that which exists beyond our selves) we live in for sure. The fact that we are sure about some things about the universe is a measure of the strength of our belief in something. If I am really sure about something “out there,” that is simply to say that I really believe it. I believe that this mortal state was carefully designed by a loving Heavenly Father so that we would have to live our lives according to our beliefs, not knowledge. His purpose is to give us an opportunity to find out who we, ourselves, really are, by allowing us to construct a universe in our minds as to how we think the universe really is.

    2.   The best we can do in imagining the universe is to be able to do something again and again. So you and I believe strongly that we understand the universe in relation to what we can accomplish. Rene Descartes, the French philosopher, took this tack by saying: “I think, therefore I exist.” The thing we are most sure about is our own existence, because we can think and plan and do things. Even here we sometimes are not successful, not being able to do something we have done before many times. What this teaches us is to be humble. We are not great “knowers.” But we are good believers, even convincing ourselves that we are so right that we can tell others what to believe. Some people believe what others tell them, but the more thoughtful people are, the less they tend to believe what others say.

    3.   The purpose of human life, I believe, is for each of us to construct a universe in our minds, then to live in the universe to see if we can become happy persons. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ because it is the plan of happiness, and those who live it fully are the happiest people I know. Those who reject it or who play around the edges of it, never fully embracing it, are less happy in my observation (my belief) than those who fully embrace and live it.

    4.   One marvelous blessing the Christ brings to our lives is understanding. He gives us a set of beliefs that make sense as to who we are, where we came from, what we can and cannot do, and where we may likely find ourselves in the future. The Gospel message makes full “sense” to me. All of my life I have sought to make “sense” of this world and all that goes on in it. The Gospel, the scriptures, the revelations of the prophets of God fill in the blanks so beautifully that I am able to live my life in a very satisfying way. Obviously, what is true and real for me, that which I believe and live by, is not true and real for many others around me, including many in my own family. But, thankfully, what I believe and live by is true and real for some others also, including many in my own family.

    5.   The bottom line is that each of us is constructing and living in a universe of our own choosing. I think God designed our existence to be this way so that we would be able to choose our own future out of a myriad of possibilities. I believe God will give us to live for the rest of eternity in just that universe we choose and want, and thus each of us will be as happy as he or she can possibly be. That happiness will be God’s gift to each of us, His children.

    6.   Meanwhile, we get to live, act and believe according to our own choosing. I believe that there is a universe out there that is real. We interact with it all of the time. But we do not “know” it. We simulate what we think it is and act accordingly. Some of us are very successful in accomplishing what we desire to accomplish, I think because those who are successful have better beliefs and better discipline to do what they think should be done than those who are not so successful. But all of us are successful in building and living in a universe that suits our desires, and we each call that universe of our desires “reality.”

    7.   No person can know what is “real” to another person unless it is revealed to them by God. The Holy Ghost is specifically sent to us to bear testimony of what is true and what is not true. The only way that you and I can know that Jesus is the Christ or that Joseph Smith is the head prophet of this dispensation is to have those truths revealed to us by the Holy Ghost. The only way we can know that the gospel taught in the Book of Mormon is the true doctrine of Christ is to have it revealed to us by the Holy Ghost. The only way I can know if someone who is telling me of their experiences is telling the truth is if the Holy Ghost reveals that to me. That is why the gift of the Holy Ghost is the Pearl of Great Price. Anyone who understands what that gift is and does and who has good sense would be willing to give all else he possessed to obtain that most precious gift.

    So, are the experiences people have of near-death experiences real or not? They are very real to the persons who have them. But of course such experiences could also be “pretended,” conjured up by a vivid imagination, and possibly some are.

    The answer is that one person cannot be the final judge of the experiences of any other person. Each of us is the master of what we ourselves believe and do, and none of us is or can be the master of what any other person believes and does.

    Isn’t it comforting to believe that an omniscient, divine being, a loving Heavenly Father, will be our judge at the end of our mortal lives? He will see things as they really are, and because He is pure, will judge those things and reward each of us as the best we can be judged and rewarded. No partial, twisted view of us will be the basis of how we will be judged.

    That is why I try with all my heart, might, mind and strength to serve that God whom I worship. I just wish I could fully deliver in that attempt.

  • Tributes to LeGrand

    Hi Everyone!

    This is Tonya Baker Miller, LeGrand’s daughter.

    As many of you already know, LeGrand passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 2, 2018. He left such a legacy of love – love for the gospel coupled with love for each one of us! I miss him so much, but have a strong sense that he is thrilled with what he is learning and experiencing now!

    His funeral will be a week from today, Saturday, August 11th, at 1:00 p.m. (Please email me if you would like more details.)

    I am currently compiling tributes to my dad and want to invite any of you who are interested to share a story of time spent together, a favorite passage of scripture you read with him, etc. Please email your tributes to me at tonya_b_miller@yahoo.com

    This website will continue to be maintained but not added to, and my family and I hope that you will still use it!

  • Christmas Letter, December 2017

    Chauncey C. Riddle
    December 2017
    Provo, Utah

    1. We are the literal children of an all-knowing, all-powerful Heavenly King and Queen who love us with a pure love and want to share with us all they have and are.

    “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.” (Genesis 1:27)

    “And then shall the angels be crowned with the glory of his might, and the saints shall be filled with his glory, and receive their inheritance and be made equal with him.” D&C 88:107

    2. We can inherit all our Heavenly Parents have and are only if we change our natures to become as they are. Otherwise that inheritance would crush us.

    “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:11-13)

    “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a fur more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Corinthians 4:17)

    3. The good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that if we put our full trust in Jesus Christ through baptism and actually receiving the Holy Ghost, our Savior will help us change to become like our Heavenly Parents so that we can inherit all things as he did (save us from ourselves). He also saves all of us from the grave in resurrection, and might save us from having to pay for our sins in hell, depending on our own actions.

    “And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying alone upon the merits of him who is mighty to save. Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father, Ye shall have eternal life.” (2 Nephi 31:19–20)

    4. Whatever we make of ourselves by our choices and actions in our mortal probation determines how we will spend the rest of eternity. We will live forever in a level of knowledge and power, happiness or misery, of our own choosing.

    “Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be miserable like unto himself.” (2 Nephi 2:27–29)

    5. Righteousness is blessing others, usually at a sacrifice of ourselves. Prayer, scripture reading, taking the sacrament, etc., are good preparations for being righteous but are not righteousness.

    “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and the widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” (James 1:27)

    6. Everything that happens to us is God’s hand helping us to receive all the blessing we can stand.

    “And in nothing doth man offend God, or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments.” (D&C 59:21)

    7. The family: husband, wife and children, is the most important social unit in time and eternity.

    “The family is ordained of God, … is the fundamental unit of society.” (Proclamation, 1995)

    8. Rejoicing and profound gratitude should be the daily stance of every human being. (Psalm 32:11)

    “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous, and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.”