From Mike Stroud

Welcome Mike! May I ask you a question not related to your podcasts? Which I am loving by the way.

Q. Have you read Visions of Glory and do you believe in the latter day exodus?

I would just really like your personal beliefs on what's coming.

Thanks in advance.
Lorrie Lou

I believe that it is possible to be a member of the LDS Church in good standing (even senior leadership) and yet be unaware of the steps that lead to the Church of the Firstborn. People are hesitant about concepts they don't understand. I wouldn't let his statement stop me from following what the Holy Ghost has testified to me is the path I need to be on.

Along that line, Bob, my dad was a huge fan of Hugh Nibley, but we just didn't talk about the deep gospel things. My mom would always say "we aren't supposed to delve into the mysteries", and that would be that.

My dad was told that he wasn't suppose to get into the mysteries and he passed that same advice onto his children -- I didn't get the message. :)

I'm thinking that there must have been leaders coming out somewhere in the 50s or 60s advising the people this sort of thing. I think that this is one tradition of the fathers that needs to be overcome.

I love all of the scriptures that I find that talk about the "mysteries of God" and how we should seek for them. This revelation is just waiting for us to seek for it! Since I've been seeking to become a member of the Church of the Firstborn, life has so much more peace and joy for me! It's exciting to work towards something that only God can judge if I'm worthy or not and there aren't any mortal bands denying me access. It is only between God and me how fast and far I can go. This is comforting to me.

I believe (actually, I've been told) it's possible to personally "know the mind of God". That would be a part of the mysteries?

My understanding is the Mysteries of God is anything that is taught to us directly by the Spirit. They are things that aren't taught your church manuals and classes. So, "knowing the mind of God" would definitely fall into this category. It is basically personal revelation.

I believe that for a long time studying the "mysteries of God" was avoided because the saints just weren't ready for them, and probably would have either disbelieved them or blown them out of perspective (or worse...) For example, several years ago I had a dear friend who started digging into those things, along with trying to interpret Isaiah, and really went off the deep end. (calculating Christ's exact return date, an assassination of Pres. Benson, and other crazy stuff.) I believe, thankfully, that he's come back since then.

However, I have noticed that in the last few years, as people are becoming "awake" and more in tune with deeper spiritual things (dreams, visions, signs of the times, etc.) they/we are also in a spiritual place where the "mysteries" are not only interesting, but we're actually drawn to them. I have learned so much from John Pontius' book "The Triumph of Zion." He teaches about this topic and explains that these are really the "greater portion of the word," and how we are actually invited, and even commanded, by the Lord to know these things - especially if we want to be in His presence in Zion.

@MikeStroud I have been listening to your podcasts and would like to ask you a question via email. Is that possible?

As I read these Last comments about delving into the mysteries of God, I am reminded of Elder Cook's talk from this past general conference where he said:

"The prophet Jacob referred to ancient Jews as “a stiffnecked people [who] despised … plainness, … killed the prophets, and sought for things that they could not understand. Wherefore, because of their blindness, which blindness came by looking beyond the mark, they must needs fall.”24
While there are many examples of looking beyond the mark,25 a significant one in our day is extremism. Gospel extremism is when one elevates any gospel principle above other equally important principles and takes a position that is beyond or contrary to the teachings of Church leaders. One example is when one advocates for additions, changes, or primary emphasis to one part of the Word of Wisdom. Another is expensive preparation for end-of-days scenarios. In both examples, others are encouraged to accept private interpretations. “If we turn a health law or any other principle into a form of religious fanaticism, we are looking beyond the mark.”26
Speaking of important doctrine, the Lord has declared, “Whosoever declareth more or less than this, the same is not of me.”27 When we elevate any principle in a way that lessens our commitment to other equally important principles or take a position contrary to or which exceeds teachings of Church leaders, we are looking beyond the mark.
In addition, some members elevate causes, many of which are good, to a status superior to basic gospel doctrine. They substitute their devotion to the cause as their first commitment and relegate their commitment to the Savior and His teachings to a secondary position. If we elevate anything above our devotion to the Savior, if our conduct recognizes Him as just another teacher and not the divine Son of God, then we are looking beyond the mark. Jesus Christ is the mark!"

I think the reason people have been counseled to avoid delving into the mysteries of God is because of what Elder Cook just spoke about. If we are not careful, we can get so wrapped up in these topics(which are actually very fascinating to those of us who yearn for a deeper understanding of Godly things), that we forget about the basics of the gospel and can even begin to feel that the Brethren are out of touch or not feeding us enough meat. These kind of practices can be a slippery slope to apostasy if one is not careful. That is why I think it had been frowned upon.

@Sara, you can comment on the bottom of his podcasts and he is great to get back to you on there quite quickly :)
He also answers back quickly on Facebook :)

@Sara, His email address is also on the podcast page if you want to write to him directly. I did, and he wrote back within hours.

Interesting, because in my patriarchal blessing given back in 1990 I was blessed with "a mind that will purvey the mysteries of God and Godliness within your understanding." I feel it's a sacred part of me to want to know some of these things. I feel it's important to not go overboard, but even being in this group opens my mind up to more mysteries than had I not been a part of it.

sara: you can reach me at macocks@yahoo.com

In a discussion with my son this past summer I explained that I was studying to understand the book of Isaiah using some books written by Avraham Giliade. Then after hearing Elder Cook's talk in conference, my son told me he thinks I am looking beyond the mark in trying to see the pattern of today like that of ancient Israel. I respect his opinion but do not agree with that statement. I simply let the conversation move on to other things as I do not want to get into contention or a conflict discussion with him. He is serving as a bishop and I believe he feels that looking beyond the mark is a root of many problems he is dealing with among the people of his ward.

I have a question - in the teachings of the temple we are taught that this world in which we now live is like a telestial kingdom. But as we make covenants we "enter into the terrestrial kingdom". How does that apply to us today? I have always believed (taught somewhere long ago) that when the earth is in the millennium it will be terrestrial and then finally become celestial.