LeGrand L. Baker

Author: Chauncey Riddle

  • Sealer’s Message, Jan. 2017

    20 January 2017

    There are two worlds important to every human being: The seen world and the unseen world. The seen world is everything we sense here and now. The unseen world is the larger “box” of beliefs about the universe by which we understand and interpret the seen world. The unseen world includes all the past, the future, anything not now sensed about the present, the very large and very small aspects of the universe, plus all ideas about what causes what to happen in both the seen and unseen worlds.

    Metaphysics is the study of the unseen world. Metaphysics is the most fundamental of all disciplines, because whatever conclusions one comes to about the answers to the questions of this field determine the possibilities for all work in other fields. Historically, metaphysical thinking has grappled with such questions as: Is the universe matter or ideas only, or is it both, and what are they? What are time and space, and how do they relate to existence, whatever it is? What causes things to be as they are, and to change as they do? Is there a divine realm or is all natural? What are human beings, and how did they come to be? What are the causes of change in the universe, and can they be controlled?

    The most interesting thing about all of these questions is that the answers to any of these questions cannot be verified by any human objective means. (Objective here meaning that a conclusion is agreeable and acceptable to all normal human beings.) Thus human beings are divided along ideological lines, depending upon their metaphysical conclusions. Since no metaphysical conclusions can be “proved,” all metaphysical conclusions are matters of faith, an individual trusting in something he or she cannot prove or guarantee. And everyone has and uses a metaphysics. This is the main reason why there is no such thing as “objectivity.”

    Thus the most fundamental thing to know about any person is their metaphysical beliefs. Those beliefs are the mental and emotional “box” in which all of our thinking, decisions and actions take place.

    Because metaphysics is so fundamental and controls all a given person thinks and does, there is a struggle in society to influence metaphysical thinking. Governments, churches, schools and societies all attempt to affect the metaphysical thinking of their constituents. Affect that is not liked by someone is called by them “propaganda,” and their own ideas are called “truth.” It is interesting to note that in our modern society (2017), news has largely ceased to be the reporting of facts and is now largely propaganda. And that is why the control of propaganda machines (newspapers, magazines, television broadcasts, radio, social media, books and textbooks, schools and clubs) is so much coveted and sought after because it enables political control. And political control (which is influencing the thinking, choosing and acting of other human beings) is the dearest thing to most human hearts.

    Some of the most important metaphysical questions and answers are the following:

    First: Is there a God over us or not? If there is, what kind of being is it, and how does that affect us as individuals? We know that God is a perfected once-human being who loves us with a pure love and is trying to share with us all that He is and has. Knowing that is true makes a great difference to us. The world believes that all is natural, there is no god, and we exist as chance creations of a blind universe.

    Second: How long has man existed, and what is the future of mankind? The world says man evolved from an ape and will probably destroy his own species eventually. We know that Adam was the first man and lived about 6,000 years ago, that all human beings are his descendants, and that the world (meaning those who deny and/or defy God) will be burned in the next few years, which will usher in a thousand year reign of peace by Jesus Christ Himself.

    Third: How did man come to be? We know that Adam was created by the God Jesus Christ. I believe that Adam was born to celestial parents with no blood in his veins. One of my former bishops believes God took an ape-like creature with blood in its veins and put a conscience and consciousness into it, and that creature became Adam. This metaphysical problem is very important. Each of us needs to have a satisfying answer which is true. But you and I cannot now prove what is correct and true to anyone but ourselves.

    Fourth: Does man live after death? The world discounts the many appearances of deceased and resurrected beings to living humans, believing that we cease to exist because humans are only a physical body, and that evidences of life after death are but evidences of a frenzied mind. We know that as intelligences we have always existed, were clothed with a spirit body by our Father in Heaven, were clothed with a physical tabernacle by our Savior, and are literally of the race of the gods.

    Satan sows lies everywhere, but especially about metaphysical things.

    We Latter-day Saints have the temple to anchor us in the truth of metaphysical matters. If only we will receive what the Lord is trying to give us. Metaphysics, that is to say, our faith, matters.

  • The Testimony of Chauncey Cazier Riddle

    I speak to all who love truth. If you are among them, please hear me out. If you are not, this writing doesn’t matter.

    Know that first and foremost I am a disciple of Jesus Christ. I count my testimony of Him to be my most prized possession.

    My testimony of the truthfulness of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has many facets, among which are:

    1) the Gospel,
    2) the Church and the Holy Priesthood,
    3) the Book of Mormon,
    4) the New and Everlasting Covenant,
    5) the existence and power of Satan,
    6) Joseph Smith as a prophet of God, and
    7) the natural world around us.

    I will here discuss each of these facets individually.

    The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is what Jesus Christ taught in his earthly ministry and is called the Plan of Salvation, the Plan of Happiness. It was known by Adam, the first man, and will be known by all of Adam’s descendants before they are judged by God and assigned to (choose) an eternal kingdom.

    The Restored Gospel is a plan that takes account of eternity. Eternity is time that goes forever back before this mortal experience and forever after this mortal experience. The existence of eternity and of the gods who control all things in eternity is an essential piece of information to understand human life and its purpose. The key idea is that every human being has been in existence from all eternity, and is a child of those gods who control the universe and that after this life we mortal human beings will live forever in whatever condition we choose in our mortal probation. The purpose of the gods in creating us (giving our eternal intelligences spiritual bodies, then physical bodies) was to give mortal men and women the opportunity to become gods themselves or to attain to any lesser degree of happiness and power to do good they desire. The great news of the Restoration is that each human being is free to become and is becoming whatever he or she chooses to be. Each human being chooses to be whatever whatever he or she chooses to do here and now in mortality.

    How do I know all this is true? I have had these ideas confirmed to me time after time by the Holy Spirit. To believe the Holy Spirit is an act of faith in Jesus Christ. I cannot share that witness of the Holy Spirit with you, my reader, but you can obtain the same surety for yourself. If a person wanted physical proof of immortality of human beings it could come by seeing and conversing with a resurrected being or a spirit who has departed from this mortality. I personally know persons who have had such an experience. One such experience was the visit my dear wife, Bertha Allred Riddle, had from her grandmother, Ruth Longson Allred. Grandma Ruth brought a message about her first child, which child BAR had never heard about but who needed to be included in the genealogical record she was preparing. I consider my witness from the Holy Ghost to be as sure as the experiences of those who have seen persons from the next life. For me this same surety attaches to all of the ideas in this testimony.

    The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is absolutely fair to every human being. Every person, born into any age, culture, epoch or condition is given by God a full opportunity (sooner or later) to know the truth about Jesus Christ and how to become like Him before he or she is judged. The great glory of the Restored Gospel is that every human can change, can become like Christ, to gain His full personal attributes of character. This means all of His power, all of His knowledge, but especially all of His righteousness, and then share with Him the blessing of others just as He did in His mortality. He lives to bless others, and did this before as Jehovah and does it now as Almighty God. The main thing He as Savior can and will save us from is from ourselves, from being the weak and flawed persons we all now are. Christ offers this salvation to every human being who is willing to trust and obey Him. And he saves everyone from physical death in the resurrection whether or not they trust and obey Him.

    The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is self-consistent and is fully articulated. There is an answer to every seeming problem in the Gospel and everything fits with everything else. One of the great pleasures in learning and living the true Gospel of Jesus Christ is to see an apparent inconsistency, then to pursue the problem until an answer to the problem is received through the Holy Spirit. This has happened to me time and again. That is why I am willing to assert that the Gospel is self-consistent and fully articulated.

    The Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is rational. For instance, every law that God gives to man has a reason behind it. Sin is not sin just because God says it is. Sin is the transgression or breaking of any commandment God has given. Such breaking is sin because every law, every commandment, positive or negative, is designed to create a society in which every person can have all power and knowledge and yet live in perfect harmony and pure love for every other person and creature of that society. Every law God gives us is to perfect our character so that we may live peaceably in an eternal society of like persons, a celestial kingdom. That kingdom is celestial because each inhabitant constrains himself or herself not to hurt or diminish any other being there, but rather works to enlarge the blessings and happiness of each other being. This is the work of the gods, to enlarge the blessings and happiness of every other creature they affect.

    My summary of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ:

    1. There are gods, who are perfected former human beings, who preside over this universe with the purpose of begetting children and blessing each of them with the opportunity to become gods themselves. But no child of God is forced to become a god. Each may choose and enjoy any lesser degree of blessing.
    2. The Gods have sent one of their own to this earth, to create, populate, and to save all this creation unto eternal blessings. The name of this God is Jesus Christ.
    3. All human beings are offered the opportunity to gain the character and powers of this god, Jesus Christ, but no one is forced to accept or do anything. Humans are set free by Christ to become whatever they want to become for the rest of eternity.
    4. Those human beings who actually do attain the character of Christ do so by submitting themselves to a strict discipline which is prescribed and administered by Christ. This discipline, if followed, makes a person a disciple of Christ. It consists of five basic steps:

      First: Put your whole trust in Christ and his merits, learning to obey Him in all things. This is called “Faith in Jesus Christ”. Everyone lives by faith in something. The challenge is to trust nothing and no one except Jesus Christ Himself.
      Second: Deliberately and carefully change your every personal act and habit to conform with the pattern of life set forth by Christ. This is called “Repentance.” The challenge is to become so acutely aware of each choice, thought, feeling and action that we bring everything we are and do into the pattern established by Christ. This is difficult, but every human being is given the opportunity to do it and the ability to do it either in this life or in the spirit world that follows mortality (but not both; everyone gets one full opportunity to choose his or her course for the rest of eternity).
      Third: Formally commit to becoming as Christ is in character and action by making a special covenant or contract.
      This covenant is called “baptism,” and must be administered by one who has the legal authority from Christ Himself to represent Christ.

      In this covenant the covenantor makes three promises: 

      First promise: To be willing to take upon themselves the name of Jesus Christ. To take his name begins by being identified to the world (all other people) as a disciple of of Christ, and concludes by receiving the name of Christ in His Holy Temple.
      Second promise: To remember Him always, which is to make one’s life a continual mental conversation with Christ, seeking to understand all things by His light and striving to do in every situation what He would have us do.
      Third promise: To obey every instruction or commandment He gives, so that one’s life comes into total conformance with the will of Christ.

      Fourth: Have the laying on of hands by authorized servants of Christ and be given the Gift of the Holy Ghost, then actually accept and receive the Holy Ghost as one’s constant companion. Only by fulfilling this fourth step can one actually complete the first, second and third steps of becoming a disciple of Christ.
      Fifth: Through humility and obedience, maintain the constant presence of the Holy Ghost in one’s life unto attaining the stature of Christ, His character becoming our character, then enduring in that pattern until one is taken into the next world by physical death.

    This five step process is more demanding than becoming a great musician or a great mathematician. No one can do it by simply taking thought or simply wanting to do it. In other words, it cannot be done by human means. It can be done by any and every human being by accepting the gifts of God and continuing in that receptive, humble mode unto the end of mortal life. Each human has an individual path to this salvation through accepting and living by the gifts of God, which are His graces. We are saved from our weakness and sinning only by the grace of God. But we receive this grace only by doing all we can do to accept and live by that grace.

    The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only true and living church upon the earth today. It is true because it is the only church that has the true priesthood authority from God. It is presided over and governed by that priesthood authority. I know this priesthood authority is true and real because I hold that priesthood and have seen its power to perform miracles and to bless the lives of God’s children. I know that it is operative only under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is the guidance and power from God. I know personally many of those who preside over me in this priesthood: my bishop, my stake president, and many of the General Authorities. Some of the General Authorities have been students in my classes at Brigham Young University. I know these men to be called of God as their words and acts are attested to me as good and appropriate by the Holy Spirit, which happens constantly. I see the works of the Church and they fit exactly what I would expect if Jesus Christ is the head of this Church, which He is. The Church reaches out to every human being on earth to share with them the wonderful news of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. It reaches out to allay suffering among the poor and the needy. It encourages everyone to be honest, true, chaste, benevolent, and to do good to all men. It promotes the learning of every good and useful thing. It promotes the sharing of all good things. It will eventually produce a Zion society where every person will be a true disciple of Christ (fully righteous, but not self-righteous) and no person will be poor. (I hope that Zion will come very soon.)

    This Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was established in these latter days to prepare the human inhabitants of this earth for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. There are two main parts of that preparatory work:

    The first great task of Christ’s church is the preaching of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ to every human being on earth who is accountable. This is done so that every accountable human being can make an informed choice as to whether to be burned (killed) at the Second Coming or to become righteous enough to be saved alive. The threshold of righteousness necessary to be saved alive at the Second Coming is to accept Jesus Christ as the God of this earth and to at least live by the Ten Commandments which he has given mankind. Every person who breaks any one or more of the Ten Commandments and will not repent will be burned as unfit to live in the new world that will be presided over by the personal presence of Jesus Christ in the Millennium. Thus will there come peace on earth for a thousand years.

    The second great task of Christ’s church is to establish a Zion. A Zion is a people who not only live the Ten Commandments but who also abide the Law of the Celestial Kingdom, which is Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a people who have learned to love God with all of their heart, might, mind and strength, and who love their neighbor instead of themselves. They have done these two things by accepting and living the whole Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. They are the ones who have to see to it that the Restored Gospel is offered to every accountable human being. They have wards and stakes that fully implement the work of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They man the Holy Temples of Christ in patience and love for all. The do their genealogical research because they love their ancestors, and do the ordinance work for them in the Holy Temples. They do not need police or prisons because they are all law abiding. They do not need armies or navies or an air force, because they have power in their priesthood to protect themselves from evil doers, and which they will need both before the Millenium and again at the end of the Millenium when evil again comes to power. They spend the Millenium teaching those newly born to be disciples of Christ and doing the work for all of their kindred dead, all the while enjoying the paradisiacal glory of a redeemed earth and people. Then after the final great battle in which evil is overcome for the final time, the earth will die and be resurrected as a celestial kingdom, the eternal abode of all who have learned to love Christ with all of their heart, might, mind and strength.

    The Book of Mormon is truly what it purports to be: a record of the ancient inhabitants of the American continents written by prophets of God to teach Israel and the world about Jesus Christ and how to be saved through Him. I know the book is true because the Holy Ghost testifies to me of its truthfulness and importance every time I read it (the promise of Moroni 10:4-6 really does work!). I see that the book is marvelously internally consistent. There is only one explanation of the origin of the book which fits the known historical facts: It was translated from ancient plates by the power of God by a man (Joseph Smith, Jr.) who had almost no schooling but was called and empowered by God to bring the work forth. The Book of Mormon is a great complement to and support of the Holy Bible which the world knows so well. The Bible witnesses the coming forth of the Book of Mormon, even as the Book of Mormon testifies of the truth and importance of the Bible. The Book of Mormon has many earmarks of having been translated from records written by Hebrew speaking people, such as the phrasing and word order, the frequent use of “and it came to pass,” chiasmus, etc.

    My belief is that there is abundant physical evidence which proves the historical authenticity of the Book of Mormon. One day that evidence will be brought forth so that everyone could prove the Book of Mormon to be a true record without revelation. My guess is that the physical evidence is being suppressed by the authorities of the Church and by the Savior so that the Book of Mormon can do its true work: To be a spiritual sifting mechanism, to make an entire separation between the righteous and the wicked in preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.

    The Book of Mormon truly is the keystone of the religion of the Latter-day Saints. Because it is true, Joseph Smith, Jr., was and is a prophet of the true and living God, Jesus Christ. And therefore the Church Joseph Smith restored is the true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. As the prophet Joseph said, you and I can become closer to Christ and better be His disciple by abiding the teachings of this book than by abiding the teachings of any other book. The Book of Mormon truly is the most important book in this world.

    The New and Everlasting Covenant is the crown jewel of the Restoration of the Gospel and the Church of Jesus Christ. This covenant clearly marks out the strait and narrow path which leads to exaltation in the celestial kingdom by helping each person become remade as a person, a new creature in the image of Jesus Christ. This new creature can inherit all that Christ is and has, even as Christ has inherited all that the Father is and has. This remaking is delivered by the total earnest efforts of the individual (all we can do) supported and enabled by the saving power of Jesus Christ (grace). That saving power came to Christ by his living a perfect life in mortality in this earthlife, fulfilling the New and Everlasting Covenant himself and then performing his Atonement for the sins and weaknesses of all mankind (making possible the grace of God). The New and Everlasting Covenant consists of the following parts:

    Baptism: The individual agent person promises to be willing to take upon himself or herself the name of Christ, to always remember Him, and to keep the commandments He has given them. This is done by accepting immersion in water (baptism) by one having true authority.

    Confirmation: After baptism, the Savior has his authorized servants bestow upon the baptized person the Gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. This gift is the right to the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit, which is the pearl of great price spoken of in the Bible. That pearl is so important that a person who understands its importance would give all he or she possesses to obtain it. It is so valuable because only under the tutelage of the Holy Ghost can one continue to the end of the strait and narrow path, which end is the stature or character of Christ and the eternal life that character makes it possible to receive and tolerate.

    Ordination to the priesthood of Melchizedek: As those who have authority to bestow this priesthood do so, the worthy recipient shares the power to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to bind a witness upon his hearers, to administer the ordinances of the Gospel, and to bless others in the capacity of a called administrator in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

    Temple endowment: Every person receiving the endowment (the word means “gift”) receives the promise of blessings which lead to exaltation in eternity, accompanied by instruction, obligations and precautions which the person must carefully observe to claim those blessings. Those who carefully fulfill those obligations are fulfilling the measure of Christ (see Ephesians 4:11-13). Only as they attain the measure of Christ himself, His character, can they stand to receive the blessings which God the Father and Christ are attempting to share with them.

    Temple sealing: A man and a woman who mutually agree to be complete servants of Christ and do His works are married and sealed by the authority of the Holy Priesthood to form an eternal family. This family is instructed to bring posterity into this mortal world with the promise that that posterity will be an eternal family to them if they are faithful. This family institution by those partaking of the measure of the stature of Christ is the essence of exaltation and godhood. That is why the family unit is so sacred. And that is why the adversary of Christ, who is Satan, tries in every way he can to destroy the family as an institution, to destroy the chastity and righteousness which make an eternal family possible, and to get LDS families to have as few children as possible.

    This series of ordinances: Baptism, Confirmation, Ordination, Endowment and Temple sealing constitute the fulness of the New and Everlasting Covenant which true disciples of Christ enjoy. And let us not forget the precious ordinance of the Holy Sacrament which members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints can use each week to renew each part of their New and Everlasting Covenant with the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost.

    The existence and power of Satan: I believe that no person can fully appreciate the power and greatness of Jesus Christ and his Father unless they also have a testimony of the existence and power of Satan on this earth. Satan has the following principal ploys to keep human beings from inheriting their potential as children of God. He assures mortals that:

    There is no God, no spiritual existence, no Satan, no afterlife.

    No such thing as right and wrong.

    No difference between good and evil.

    It is all right to go against one’s conscience.

    That they should fully indulge their physical appetites and do “all that comes naturally.”

    For those who believe in God, that a little sinning won’t really hurt anything.

    For those who are covenant servants of God, that they should relax, not be valiant.

    For faithful members of the Church of Jesus Christ that they should find fault with their leaders.

    This is by no means an exhaustive list.

    Joseph Smith, Jr. is God’s prophet of this dispensation: I marvel at what Joseph Smith had to endure while he brought forth the last dispensation of the fulness of times. The scriptures he gave us, the understanding he gave us, the keys he shared with us are all most precious. I have some unanswered questions about him, but the greatness of the revelations he brought forth, attested and interpreted by the Holy Spirit, convince me that he was and is a prophet of God. I am content to wait upon the Lord for further revelations to answer my questions about him.

    The order and beauty of the natural world: The earth upon which we live is a marvel of order, complexity and beneficence as the habitation of mankind, and a perfect environment for the probation of each person. I believe this is the best of all possible worlds. Father gives us this earthly experience so that we can prove to Him that we can be good stewards and use the potential of this earth to provide the necessities of a good mortal life for every human being. One of the great false theories of uninspired men is to pretend that the natural world is the result of blind chance operating in a strictly physical universe. That hypothesis is insanity to my way of thinking. That false hypothesis is dear to many hearts because if there is no God, then there is no judgment and we humans can do as we please in mortality and then cease to exist.

    Please remember two things as a framework in which to view my testimony. First, everyone on earth is a blood descendant of righteous persons who knew and accepted the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ I have tried here to portray. Why do now so many persons on earth not know the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Because they are also descended from persons who knew and rejected the Gospel of Jesus Christ, preferring to be social, worldly, carnal, sensual and devilish. But this was part of God’s design to give each of his children a real choice. That choice is not dictated by their genes and thus not by their ancestors. It is a matter of freeing the intelligence/spirit within each human physical tabernacle to choose for itself, regardless of ancestry. The second point is like unto the first. Every human being who lives on this earth will eventually hear and have the opportunity to accept and live by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and become an heir of all that God is and has. The fact that the world is filled with lies and half-truths is no different today than it was in the time of Adam. The smoke screen of mis-information is physical and affects everyone. This is by design, so that no one will accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ by reason of their physical environment. Each must rely solely on his or her spiritual instincts. This is designed to set the intelligence/spirit free to be itself. Thus no human being is compelled to accept Jesus Christ either by heredity or environment. Each truly is free to be and become what the intelligence/spirit within wants to be and become.

    I rejoice in being free. I glory in this freedom and hope to make the most of it. I know there is a God because I have had many revelations from Him as to specific answers to my questions and needs. I believe that if I were to deny what I know, I would be a son of perdition. I will not fight against Christ. I love Him and support His cause on earth. I am willing to do whatever it takes to learn to bless others as Christ does, to join him in this blessing of others to all eternity.

    This is my testimony and testament.

    Chauncey Cazier Riddle 3 January 2017

  • Agency, 2016

    16 November 2016

    Definition of the word “agent”: Webster: 1. A power that acts; a moving force; as by some other than human agent. 2. One who acts or performs an act or who has power to act; as, a free moral agent.

    To be an agent, one needs to have three things:

    1. Be intelligent, having the power to believe and to choose.
    2. Have a knowledge of alternatives among which one may choose in a given situation.
    3. Have the power to carry out what one has chosen to do among the available alternatives.

    We humans are agents in degree, and our agency is always situational. The degree depends upon how much knowledge we have of our alternatives and how much power we have to implement those alternatives. Our knowledge and power vary with each situation. Only God is fully free.

    When Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden, he was given agency by God. But he had very little agency. His agency was limited to partaking of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, or not. Adam used his agency to partake of the forbidden fruit, and by so doing greatly increased his knowledge of alternatives. This increase came because of his having followed Satan in partaking of the forbidden fruit, which gave Satan full access to tempt Adam in every choice, not just to partake of the forbidden fruit. Thus after the Fall, Adam had the opportunity to choose and follow either God or Satan in every matter in which he knew what God wanted him to do.

    What kind of being is a human? We are given to understand that a human being is three in one:

    1. Each human is an intelligence which has always existed.
    2. Each human intelligence was clothed in a spirit body by our Heavenly Parents.
    3. Each human spirit body was then clothed in a physical body by Jesus Christ.

    What is the real person in each human? It seems to be the intelligence clothed in a spirit body. The physical body is but a temporary housing and facilitator. All humans will be resurrected, but only some are promised to have the same body in the resurrection.

    How do human beings increase in knowledge and power, to gain more agency? Christ is the source and giver of all truth and power. Persons who are faithful to Christ gain more knowledge and power until they have a fulness of both. Satan’s role is to tempt humans to believe in falsehoods instead of truth, and to use the power each has from Christ to hurt others (to sin). Christ increases agency. Satan tempts people to misuse their agency, which misuse eventuates in the loss of agency. But the temptations of Satan supply the full value of faith in Christ, for without Satan’s opposition, faith in Christ would not be nearly as note-worthy or rewarding.

    How do human beings gain knowledge? Most of what humans think they “know” is actually only belief. What one knows is limited to things one senses with the physical body and understands correctly. One can sense something and not understand it, so in that there is no knowledge. One can sense something and think they understand it, but can be wrong; so in that there is no knowledge. To sense something and understand it by the light of Christ is to have true knowledge.

    How do human beings gain the power to act? All power to act comes from Christ. In Him we live and move and have our being. When any person sins, they do so by using the power Christ has given them to obey the prompting from Satan. That is one reason each must stand before Christ as judge and account for each sin. Having used God’s gift for evil, each must satisfy God’s demand for justice in accounting for each sin. Justice demands that the sinner suffer an amount of suffering equal to the amount caused by each instance of sinning.

    So how do human beings use their agency? Every agent person has two choices in every act. A person may obey Christ or obey Satan. What makes each an agent is having these two choices. If a person does not have both choices available at a given moment, at that moment they are not an agent.

    Do human beings affect each other’s agency? Yes. No human being of normal intelligence over eight years of age lacks the influence of Satan, so that is always in place. Humans can reinforce the temptations of Satan under the influence of Satan, which is a use of the reinforcer’s own agency. But what the person being tempted is responsible for is how he or she reacts to the direct temptation of Satan, not for what some other human entices them to do. Everyone is free to reject the evil influence of other persons if they have the influence of Christ within them. And if they do not have the influence of Christ, they are not agents.

    But the most important influence one human can have on another is to help or hurt their opportunity to have the light of Christ within them. Parents who know of Christ and do not teach their children to have the influence of Christ are denying agency to those children. This is a sin for which the parents will have to answer. But if parents truly teach their children of Christ, so that those children actually come to enjoy the influence of Christ in their lives, those parents will have contributed greatly to the agency of those children. In Christ, and in Him only are we made free. Parents who teach their children about Christ and help them to gain His influence greatly affect their children’s agency by enlarging it.

    Because God loves each of His children, each human being will eventually be taught the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and thus will have the full opportunity to gain full agency, whether or not their parents teach them so or not.

    Thus it is that no person can control the eternal salvation of any other person. One human can help or hinder another person’s timing of coming to know of Christ, either hastening or slowing the time when the person is set free in attaining their own personal witness of the life and mission of Christ. But no person has the power, in the long run, to give or deny agency to any other person.

    Thus every human is or will be an agent, and will choose his or her own eternal destiny, regardless of any environmental influence other than the influence of Christ and Satan.

    Pertinent scriptures:

    Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down; And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice. (Pearl of Great Price 4:3–4)

    And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments; and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit; And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom. (2 Nephi 2:28–29)

  • Review of Universal Model by Dean Sessions

    I have just completed reading the first two of the three systems of the new Universal Model (UM) project of Dean Sessions. I am greatly impressed and delighted by what I found. It was like seeing an exciting, powerful new movie that deals with some of my favorite topics and concerns. To specifics:

    1. Sessions is right on in pointing out that much of present-day science is theory-oriented rather than being fact-oriented as it should be. For many scientists, theory is more important than law. Scientific laws are demonstrated by facts, but theories cannot be demonstrated by facts. There are always an infinite number of possible theoretical explanations for any finite set of facts. Theories can be eliminated by facts, but only if the persons involved in evaluating them will make the correct application: face the facts. When a theory is an article of faith, many people refuse to apply the pertinent facts which should cause them to abandon a particular theory. Sessions has called attention to specific facts and laws which should cause any honest person to reject the theories of organic evolution, the great age of fossils, the magma theory of the history of the earth, etc. How refreshing to see such candor in scientific thinking!
    2. Sessions is also correct in showing that technology is as important as scientific theorizing. Technology enabled the work of Galileo to establish the heliocentric theory of the solar system, much to the consternation of the self-appointed scientists of his day. Sessions has shown by technology how granite rock is actually formed, as well as other minerals. He has shown how fossils are formed, such as petrified wood. Diamonds are now produced by technology. All of these technical achievements create facts and laws which every honest scientist must recognize and apply to theories affected by them. Technology trumps scientific theory because technology demonstrates what is (facts), whereas scientific theory only muses on what might be. Theory in science is actually metaphysics, not physics. Only when substantiated by facts and laws do theories become acceptable, and are always subject to elimination if new facts and laws come forth to negate them. Sessions has done an admirable job of showing how some present theoretical darlings of some scientists must be rejected.
    3. Session’s discussions of hydrofountains, hypretherms, the Universal Flood, organic evolution, fossils, climate, history, anthropology, etc., are all refreshing and challenging. Reading this book is having one’s imagination stretched at every turn. Every serious reader who has an interest in knowing the truth will be delighted with the challenging ideas found here.

    Will there be criticisms of this work? Most certainly. What form will they take?

    1. One will be ignoring this work and discouraging others from reading it. Just as the politicians in charge try to marginalize everyone who is not “politically correct,” so will influential members of the science community try to ignore and belittle this work. But every honest seeker after truth will relish the opportunity to think freshly about important scientific matters, in a refined paradigm of science, and with new facts and laws to ponder.
    2. Some critics will say that this work should be ignored or discounted because the author, Dean Sessions, is not a professional scientist and does not have the “necessary” academic background to propound such a work. This attitude is rubbish, of course. That is like saying someone cannot run fast because they are not part of an official Olympic Team. The proof of science is not in who says it but in the physical evidence brought to bear in evaluating our ideas about this physical world we live in. Sessions is right in pointing out that theory (which cannot be proved, but can be falsified) has become more important to many current scientists than are facts. The great example of this is the theory of organic evolution which is the darling of much of academia right now and which is completely unsupported by the facts, specifically the fact that there is no observable speciation in nature. That plus the inability to prove the immense time frame necessary for the theory spell the death-knell for the theory of organic evolution for every honest person. But evolution is a religion, a matter of faith for many persons, and they would rather give up their honesty than give up their favorite irrational article of faith.
    3. Some will say that Sessions has picked and chosen very carefully the quotations of other writers which he cites to support his case. But that is not a fault. Every person picks and chooses among potential citations, a necessity in the flood of writings about every topic. What is most remarkable and commendable is the breadth and depth of the scholarship which Sessions exhibits in his writing. He has searched the literature of many fields of endeavor with exciting and telling results. Most people know the literature only in their own field. Sessions has no primary field and delves into what others have said from all the fields he deals with to help his readers realize what is being said and not said in the areas of his interest. Be grateful he has been selective and brings to you a summary of what others are saying.
    4. Sessions will possibly be proved wrong about some assertions he has made in his work. This is almost inevitable for anyone doing serious thinking and writing. But the finding of such errors will not be an embarrassment for Sessions. He will laud such a finding, because that will mean that the cause of truth will be advanced. His purpose is to bring truth and light to important matters, and if his work stimulates others to produce more truth and light, even unto showing his work needs to be amended, he will be grateful. He will be grateful because he writes not to give the final word but to further the ongoing human inquiry into the powerful ideas about the true nature of the universe that gives us all more understanding and power.

  • Sealer’s Message, Sept. 2016

    10 September 2016

    Some Changes Latter-day Saints Could Make to Establish Zion
    My opinion only. Please make your own list. CCR

    1. Receive baptism with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, really wanting to take upon us the name of Christ, to keep every commandment He gives us, and always remember Him; then make it a first priority to do those things every day.
    2. Receive the Melchizedek Priesthood with awe and reverence, knowing we are unworthy to bear that power of ourselves, determined to act only as the Savior prompts us to act after constant and mighty prayer. Then to search out each day those we can bless using that power, and do it.
    3. Constantly use our minds to search out the ways of Christ and understand how he saves people from themselves, then strive to lose ourselves in becoming new creatures in Christ.
    4. Strain our spiritual ears to hear the word of the Lord and pay less attention to the advice of doctors, lawyers, professors and neighbors, but pay more attention to the advice of our spouse.
    5. Look with spiritual eyes to discern truth from error through constant prayer, recognizing that Satan controls most of what is said in newspapers, television and radio reports, and in hearsay.
    6. Pay close attention to scents, for evil has an odor.
    7. Speak less, and then only what which uplifts and edifies, as given by the Holy Spirit, never being self-serving, not critical nor pointing out evil unless strongly impressed by the Lord to do so.
    8. Bow the neck in humility, never being haughty or supercilious.
    9. Assume and execute every task and burden as the Savior would were He in our shoes, wasting our lives in the service of others, never seeking pleasure unless it has a priesthood purpose.
    10. Treasure good health and use it for service to others, not for self-seeking, recognizing that the Lord gives the marrow that sustains us.
    11. Yearn for and cherish the sweet distillations of the Spirit that put true principles and good intentions into our hearts, that we might continue in humility to bless others.
    12. Recognize that the physical strength we have comes from Christ, and that if our vitals and bowels are not functioning well, turning to Him is always the first resource, using doctors and medicines only as He recommends we do so.
    13. Seek in the Lord’s way to obtain just power to promote truth and righteousness.
    14. Know that the seed of our body is the most precious thing we have, a special gift from God, never to be wasted or despised. Strive to bless and nurture all the children God chooses to put into our stewardship. Never use contraception unless commanded by God to do so.
    15. Let our legs take us wherever the Lord would have us serve, that we might run the good race and claim the opportunities to bless others as God would have us do so.
    16. Recognize and thank the Lord for His love and might which created this earth and this universe for our eternal opportunity, and reject the puerile notions of ungodly men that it all happened by chance, naturally.
    17. Be determined to and do search out and obey every commandment from God, treasuring each instruction, carefully carrying each out without procrastination or complaint.
    18. Make every sacrifice necessary to faithfully keep the commandments of God, even if it costs us our lives; but especially getting rid of every shred of selfishness.
    19. Learn to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, might, mind and strength. Give to him our agency, truly wishing to die rather than not do His will in all things.
    20. Watch our thoughts, desires, glances, and feelings that we never look upon any person to want sexual relations with that person except him or her whom the Lord gives us in His sealing ordinance, then welcoming all the posterity He chooses to send through us.
    21. Measure every expenditure of money, power, and physical strength to be sure each is building the kingdom of God on the earth and establishing Zion, not just aggrandizing ourselves.

    The key: Desires, appetites and passions kept within the bounds the Lord has set.

  • Definitions of Philosophy, Science, Technology, Scholarship, History, and Religion

    NOTE: I asked Dr. Riddle to define Philosophy, Science, Technology, Scholarship, History, and Religion. This is what he gave me back the next day. – Ken Krogue

    Philosophy: The love of wisdom. Asking the right questions.

    Epistemology: How can we know? What can we know.

    Science: What is real in the world we can sense. What are the facts, laws. What are the theories that explain the facts and laws? What are the postulates which control the theories?

    Legitimate science: What the majority of the scientists say. No necessary connection with truth.

    Illegitimate science: What the majority of the scientists reject. No necessary connection with truth.

    Scholarship: Controlling the documents to build a case for something out of what other persons have written.

    History: What really happened in the past? (A branch of scholarship, a form of fiction.)

    Prophecy: What will really happen in the future? ( More dangerous to do than history.)

    Metaphysics: What is real beyond that which we can sense?

    Ethics: What is right to do, and what is wrong to do, if anything?

    Esthetics: What is beautiful? Is the beauty in the beholder or in the object?

    Technology: The patterns of accomplishing specific goals. Art is one form of technology.

    (Because our society is basically Greek in mentality, science is given much greater stature than is technology, and scientists are given greater acclaim than are engineers or artists.)

    The Basic Cultural Mentalities:

    Greek: Knowing (understanding) is the most important human activity. (Science)

    Roman: Accomplishing physical tasks is the most important human activity. (Technology)

    Trojan: Physical beauty is the most important human attainment. (Appearance)

    Hebrew: Doing what is right (blessing others) is the most important human activity. (Righteousness, which is a dirty word to many of Greek and Roman mentality and to most of Trojan mentality.)

    Religion: The pattern of thinking, believing and acting that make up a person’s character.

    Every normal human being has one, and there are as many of them as there are people.

    Church: A social organization which attempts to promulgate some religious pattern.

  • Sealer’s Message, Jan. 2016

    13 January 2016

    21 And he that will hear my voice shall be my sheep; and him shall ye receive into the church, and him will I also receive. 22 For behold, this is my church; whosoever is baptized shall be baptized unto repentance. And whomsoever ye receive shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive. 23 For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that hath created them; and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth unto the end a place at my right hand. (Mosiah 26:21–23)

    What we learn from this and other scriptures:

    Jesus Christ was proxy for all of us in paying the debt of justice each of us owes for having transgressed His laws and thus causing our neighbors to suffer. The debt can be paid only by an equal amount of suffering. Christ can forgive us because He has done our suffering vicariously.

    6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. 7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth. 8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. (Moses 5:6–8)

    What we learn from this and other scriptures:

    Father wants us to act as proxies for His Son, Jesus Christ, blessing all and everything around us in everything we do. Our task is to create a Heaven on Earth (Zion) using the power and authority of Jesus Christ, doing all things in His name. Doing this we become as Saviors on Mount Zion. We work vicariously for Christ, using His name because we have His mantle.

    25 Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy.

    26 And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. And because that they are redeemed from the fall they have become free forever, knowing good from evil; to act for themselves and not to be acted upon, save it be by the punishment of the law at the great and last day, according to the commandments which God hath given.

    27 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.

    28 And now, my sons, I would that ye should look to the great Mediator, and hearken unto his great commandments, and be faithful unto his words, and choose eternal life, according to the will of his Holy Spirit.

    29 And not choose eternal death, according to the will of the flesh and the evil which is therein, which giveth the spirit of the devil power to captivate, to bring you down to hell, that he may reign over you in his own kingdom. (2 Nephi 2:25–29)

    What we learn from this and other scriptures:

    We each choose to be proxies for Christ or Satan in every thought, feeling and act. If we are not anxiously engaged in the cause of Christ we are aiding and abetting the cause of Satan. The cause of Christ is promoted by all as they live by the light of Christ or by the Holy Ghost. When we are not following the light of Christ or the Holy Ghost, we create hell on earth, the dominion of Satan.

  • The Ten Commandments: The Foundation of all Righteousness, 2015

    7 December 2015
    Key Scriptures: 2 Nephi 2:8–29, D&C 84:19–25

    The CommandmentCelestial Counterpart
    Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.(Do not be guided by pleasure, money, sex, any other person, etc.)Trust Jehovah (Jesus Christ) only.
    Make no image to worship it.(Do not need anything physical to bow down to.)Worship Christ in spirit and truth; love Him with all heart, might, mind, strength
    Don’t take God’s name in vain.(Do not use God’s name casually nor receive His name casually.)Take upon you God’s name and bear and use it with honor.
    Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.(Do not seek your own pleasure on this day, but use it to remember God.)Attend Church, take the sacrament, and reach out to bless others.
    Honor thy Father and thy Mother .(Don’t speak ill of or bring shame to your parents.)Seek to bless all your ancestors with Gospel ordinances.
    Thou shalt not kill.(Don’t needlessly kill any plant or animal, and don’t kill humans.)Give life; have a large family and bring them up in Christ.
    Thou shalt not commit adultery.(Control your sex drive.)Marry in God’s temple and love your spouse with all of your heart.
    Thou shalt not steal.(Don’t want something for nothing.)Share what you have with others who have less.
    Thou shalt not bear false witness.(Never lie or give false testimony.)Celebrate truth, especially the great truth that Jesus is the Christ.
    Thou shalt not covet.(Don’t want anything you don’t need or cannot get honorably.)Want every good thing for those around you.

    To be righteous is to be the servant of all those around you, as was Christ, blessing them with all the good things they can stand to have, and doing this in His way and in His name.

    Those who break any of the Ten Commandments and do not repent inherit Telestial Glory.

    Those who keep all of the Ten Commandments are the honorable persons of the earth and will inherit Terrestrial Glory.

    Those who keep the Celestial counterpart of the Ten Commandments inherit Celestial Glory.

    Those who fulfill the New and Everlasting Covenant enter into exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom (they bear and bless their children forever).

    Those who break the Ten Commandments reject the influence of Christ and have a hard time having or gaining a testimony of Christ and the Latter-day work.

    But by prayer and sincere repentance, anyone can gain a testimony of Christ and His work.

  • Sealer’s Message, Oct. 2014

    1 October 2014

    The great High Priestly prayer of Christ in Gethsemane:

    20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

    21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou has sent me.

    22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

    23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou has sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:20–23)

    Messages in this scripture:

    • The Father and the Son are one. Thus, there is One God.
    • We are all invited to become one with them, even as they are one.
    • Christ gives glory to His servants, even the same glory (light and truth) which the Father gave to Him.
    • Our personal goal should be to become perfect (complete) in one so that the world will see the truth.
    • The proof that we are one with each other and with Christ will be that we have pure love one to another.
    • Our Savior is already in us. We need to achieve oneness with Him.

    I see some keys to becoming one in Him, even as He is One with Father. These keys are part of the glory He gives us.

    Key No. 1: Always remember Him. He says: “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.” (D&C 6:36)

    Key No. 2: Love God. He says: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all they might, mind and strength; and in the name of Jesus Christ thou shalt serve him.” (D&C 59:5)

    The temple ordinances are the training for learning to love God with all of our heart, might, mind and strength. In the endowment we promise to love God so much that we will obey Him in every thing and make any sacrifice necessary to perform this obedience. This is to love God with all of our mind. We also promise to keep the law of the Gospel, which is to put our total love and trust in Jesus Christ. This is how we love God with all of our heart. We promise to be chaste and to multiply and replenish the earth. This is how we love God with all of our strength. We promise to give and use all that we have to the building up of the kingdom of God on the earth and to the establishment of Zion. This is how we love God with all of our might.

    Key No. 3: Love our neighbor. He says: he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. (Matthew 23:11) We love our neighbors in the measure that we serve them.

    Key No. 4: Seek the face of the Lord always. He says: “Therefore, care not for the body, neither the life of the body; but care for the soul, and for the life of the soul. And seek the face of the Lord always, that in patience ye may possess your souls, and ye shall have eternal life.” (D&C 101:37–38)

    He tells us where to seek His face:

    • 31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
    • 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
    • 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
    • 34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
    • 35 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
    • 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
    • 37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
    • 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
    • 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
    • 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say it unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Matthew 25:31–40)

    We shall thus actually see our Savior after we have learned to see Him in all of His earthly children.

    Key No. 5: Mighty prayer. And there is a final key to make the other four keys actually turn the lock. This final key is mighty prayer. And what is the main thing we should pray for? Mormon tells us: “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen.” (Moroni 7:48)

    To pray with all the energy of our heart is mighty prayer, through which we will learn to love purely as Christ does and thus become One with Him and with Father. This pure love is not just a feeling. It is strenuous love, service and sacrifice in the cause of Christ to minister to His children around us.

    I we do all this with an eye single to the glory of God and with a firm mind in every form of godliness, we will prove what Peter says, that we have all things that pertain to life and godliness, and that through our diligence and the overflowing grace of Christ, the day star will arise in our hearts and our calling and election will be made sure. May it so be. Then we will be One with Father and our Savior, even as they are One with each other.

  • Principles Regarding Testimony — CCR 10 August 2014

    Testimony: The witness that any human being gives.

    1. The words “I know” and “I believe” are essentially synonymous.
    2. Much human testimony and most testimonials have no face value.
    3. The spirit that accompanies a human testimony is the essence of any human testimony.
    4. The message the spirit gives when a human being bears a testimony is what is important.
    5. Two persons could give the exact same words and bear very different testimonies.
    6. Every word and every deed of a human being are expressions of testimony.
    7. Every scientific treatise is a testimony.
    8. Every historical narrative is a testimony.
    9. Every work of art is a testimony.
    10. No human testimony can save any other human being.
    11. The only means of a human being being saved is through revelation from God.
    12. Willing and immediate obedience to  revelation from God is Faith in Jesus Christ.
    13. Only through Faith in Jesus Christ is anyone saved from his or her sins. (There are two senses of being saved from our sins: 1) to be helped to stop sinning, and 2) to be forgiven of past sins. Both senses of being saved from sin are important, but the first is far more important.)
    14. The ultimate testimony bearing is deeds, not words. The best bearing of testimony is acts of faith in Christ.
    15. Gaining a real testimony is essentially receiving revelation from God. There is no other rock. Witnessing miracles, Book of Mormon internal and external evidences, having questions answered, etc., are all helps for receiving a testimony, but all are insufficient.
    16. It is impossible to bear a real testimony without having received a real testimony from God.
    17. Having a real testimony itself does not save anyone. Only faith in Christ saves anyone.
    18. The most important testimony you will ever hear: “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
    19. It is impossible to be saved without bearing our testimony if we are instructed by God to do so.