Teddy Bear Jesus

I heard the term Teddy bear Jesus the other day, for the first time, describing the way the world portrays Jesus.  I think it's an accurate description of the way the world wants us to see Him.  But it's certainly not an accurate description of how Jesus actually is.

The world wants us to think that Jesus is soft – a pansy, a pushover, all mercy and love and no law nor justice.  Jesus is not a teddy bear.  Jesus is not a pansy.  Yes, Jesus is loving and merciful, but Jesus also lays down the law and is just.

The example that immediately comes to mind is the woman taken in adultery.

John 8:3-11

3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

4 They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.

5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?

6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

7 So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.

8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

9 And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

The woman caught in the act of adultery was brought before Jesus.  He was reminded that the law of Moses called for her to be stoned to death.  But, Jesus came to fulfill the law of Moses and replaced it with a higher, holier law.  So when asked, Jesus told the adulterous woman's accusers that he who is without sin should cast the first stone.  Since we are all sinners, everybody left.  

Then, interestingly, Jesus told the woman that he did not condemn her.  Why?  Because the law already condemned her.  Committing adultery breaks God's law.  Laws demand justice.  Justice and mercy will be sorted out at final judgment when we face our Savior there.  But what did Jesus tell the woman immediately after He told her He did not condemn her?  He told her to go, and sin no more.  He did not immediately tell her she was forgiven, nor did He offer mercy – because at that point she was not yet repentant.  Mercy and forgiveness are certainly available to the adulterous woman should she choose to repent.  

My point is that just because Jesus did not immediately condemn the adulterous woman does not mean that she gets a get out of jail free card.  Justice demands that she be held accountable for her sins.  Mercy and forgiveness are available if she chooses to repent.  Jesus told her to go and sin no more.  He did not say that what she did was okay.  He was not a teddy bear.  He told her to sin no more.

But that's what the teddy bear Jesus mentality is – commit whatever sins you want (eat drink and be merry) and a loving, merciful Jesus will save you in the kingdom of Heaven.  That is Satan's philosophy and it is false.

I hate to break it to everyone who buys into the teddy bear Jesus philosophy – but there are laws, God's laws or commandments, that must be followed. When those laws are broken justice must be served.  Whether by suffering your own consequences or by forgiveness and mercy through repentance available through Christ's atonement.

I'm just so sick of people pushing the teddy bear Jesus agenda on everybody.  Even many members of the Church believe it.  I see it at church every Sunday i.e. parable hater.  People are so easily buffaloed by the philosophies of men. Satan is so pleased at how quick people are to believe his lies.

Jesus is not a teddy bear.  He is loving and merciful – but He is also just and fair.  His laws demand justice.  Thankfully, through His atonement, mercy is available to us through repentance.  The Scriptures explain this clearly and simply.

The prophet Alma explains it best in the Book of Mormon:

Alma 42:13-15

13 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.

14 And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.

15 And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.

Alma 42:17-18, 21-25 

17 Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?

18 Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man.

21 And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature?

22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.

23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.

24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.

25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God. 

Mercy cannot rob justice.  That is why Jesus atoned for us.  His atonement satisfies justice while granting mercy through repentance.

The concept of a teddy bear Jesus actually spits in the face of His infinite atonement.  But that's exactly what Satan wants to do with his lies and evil philosophies.

That's my two cents. 

Doors of Death

I just came across a quote from a talk by President Russell M Nelson from the April 1992 General Conference.  I was a 21-year-old missionary serving in Florida at the time.  The quote intrigued me so I wanted to read the whole talk.  Here is President Nelson's quote that I read this morning.

"As a special witness of Jesus Christ, I testify that He lives! I also testify that the veil of death is very thin. I know by experiences too sacred to relate that those who have gone before are not strangers to leaders of this Church. To us and to you, our loved ones may be just as close as the next room—separated only by the doors of death."  – Russell M Nelson, Doors of Death, April 1992 General Conference

After reading this quote, I looked up the talk and read it.  The whole talk was really good.  Basic doctrine, but a good reminder.  In reading the talk I came across this paragraph from the talk which I love.

"Life does not begin with birth, nor does it end with death. Prior to our birth, we dwelled as spirit children with our Father in Heaven. There we eagerly anticipated the possibility of coming to earth and obtaining a physical body. Knowingly we wanted the risks of mortality, which would allow the exercise of agency and accountability. “This life [was to become] a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God.” (Alma 12:24.) But we regarded the returning home as the best part of that long-awaited trip, just as we do now. Before embarking on any journey, we like to have some assurance of a round-trip ticket. Returning from earth to life in our heavenly home requires passage through—and not around—the doors of death. We were born to die, and we die to live. (See 2 Cor. 6:9.) As seedlings of God, we barely blossom on earth; we fully flower in heaven."  – Russell M Nelson, Doors of Death, April 1992 General Conference

The whole talk is an excellent reminder of the doctrine surrounding death.  I would highly suggest you click on the link above to read the talk in its entirety.

Because I was, thankfully, raised in the gospel knowing the plan of salvation and the doctrines surrounding death, I have always considered death a graduation from mortality.  A relief from the pains and trials we experience here.  I like President Nelson's analogy of a round-trip journey to mortality and back.  Birth is embarking on the journey and death is returning home from our mortal journey.  I am certainly looking forward to returning to my heavenly home.

The longer I live the more people I know that have crossed over to the other side of the veil.  I am now the oldest living member in my direct ancestral line.  Everyone on the family tree wall is gone, including my parents.

A lot of people who I did not know personally, but certainly knew of, from my youth are also gone now.  Most recently, Toby Keith, who was only nine years older than me.  (In fact, I'm still listening to my Toby Keith playlist even as I write this.)  :-)  And most of those I know who aren't dead yet, are certainly well past their prime now.  It really is astonishing how fast time flies and how fleeting this mortal journey is.  That is why it is so important to do our best to follow God, keep His commandments, and stay on the strait and narrow covenant path.  Because sooner than later, we will all be crossing through the doors of death to return to our heavenly home and meet our maker.

Another great quote from President Nelson's talk:

"If physical death should strike before moral wrongs have been made right, opportunity for repentance will have been forfeited. Thus, “the [real] sting of death is sin.” (1 Cor. 15:56.)

"Even the Savior cannot save us in our sins. He will redeem us from our sins, but only upon condition of our repentance. We are responsible for our own spiritual survival or death."

But, if we are trying to follow Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ and strive to stay on or come back to the covenant path through repentance, we have no need to fear death.  Death will indeed be a glorious reunion with loved ones and a respite from the pains and trials of mortality.  I longingly anticipate that glorious day. 

President Nelson said this at the end of his talk: 

"With the help of the Lord, your deeds and desires will qualify you to receive everlasting joy, glory, immortality, and eternal lives."

Present Nelson's words are my prayer for all of us.

That's my two cents. 

I Miss My Friend

Eight years ago today I lost my friend, Samson.  He died on February 22, 2016.  I miss him.  Samson was my favorite dog ever.  I look forward to the day when I, too, get to cross over to the Spirit World to see him again.  What a glorious reunion that will be.

RIP my big, white, fluffy friend.  I love and miss you, Samson.  Can't wait to see you again, my friend.

That's my two cents.

Addressing a Cowardly Commenter

Today I received a comment on my post I did a few days ago called, "Mask of Tolerance".  I was going to post it and reply but the reply would be too long so I'm going to do a separate post to address the comment.

Here is the comment I received: 

[My Two Cents] New comment on Mask of Tolerance.

Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "Mask of Tolerance":

Interesting. The sins of the LBGT lifestyle are sins yes, yet everyone sins. So will you shun everyone then and judge them all? Seems like your post is all about shunning and not loving. Is not the second great commandment to love thy neighbor? I think you may have forgotten that. Christ wants us to love all and tolerate everyone without losing our beliefs.

Posted by Anonymous to My Two Cents at Feb 8, 2024, 10:47 AM

First of all, the commenter was too cowardly to post their name, but their location came up as Pocatello, Idaho.  Which could be just a general vicinity.  The location is not always accurate.  But most likely somewhere in Idaho.  So, anonymous person in Idaho, I will address your comment. (By the way, I have a good idea of who you are.)

I'm posting your comment to highlight your ignorance.  You obviously did not understand the point of my post.  So let me explain it to you, in perhaps simpler terms.  My point was to elaborate on President Monson's words of wisdom, "The face of sin today often wears the mask of tolerance.  Do not be deceived…" (April 2008).  I used the example of sin masquerading as tolerance as members of the Church tolerating and embracing LGBT sin as loving their neighbor.  (Which is exactly what anonymous in Idaho is doing – and is exactly what President Monson warned about.)  That is not what Christ taught.  He never embraced sin.  Loving our neighbor does not mean we must embrace sin.  Yes, we all sin – that doesn't make it right. But according to your comment, anonymous in Idaho, we should all tolerate sin because everybody does it.  That is messed up – and not true.

We can love people and get along with those who don't share our beliefs while still maintaining our commitment to truth while not tolerating and embracing sin.

President Dallin H. Oaks clarified this in a talk given at BYU on September 11th, 2011 titled "Truth and Tolerance".  You would be wise to go read it.  I will give a few excerpts here:

"Our tolerance and respect for others and their beliefs does not cause us to abandon our commitment to the truths we understand and the covenants we have made.  …We do not abandon the truth and our covenants. We are cast as combatants in the war between truth and error.  There is no middle ground. We must stand up for truth, even while we practice tolerance and respect for beliefs and ideas different from our own and for the people who hold them.

"While we must practice tolerance and respect for others and their beliefs, including their constitutional freedom to explain and advocate their positions, we are not required to respect and tolerate wrong behavior. Our duty to truth requires us to seek relief from some behavior that is wrong."

President Oaks makes it clear that we should not tolerate nor respect wrong behavior – of which breaking the law of chastity is.  It doesn't mean that we shun the sinner nor judge them unrighteously.  That is absurd.

Never once in my post did I state that people should be shunned. Nor did I even suggest shunning anybody.  Again, that is absurd.  I have no idea where you got that from, anonymous in Idaho, except that maybe you are so indoctrinated with Satan's lies and believe that loving our neighbor means tolerating and embracing their sins.

Present Oaks clarified the seriousness of breaking the law of chastity when he spoke of cohabitation.  Which also applies to homosexuals as well as heterosexuals.  Here's what President Oaks said: 

"Cohabitation we know to be a serious sin in which Latter-day Saints must not engage, whatever the circumstances. When practiced by those around us, it can be private behavior or something we are asked to condone, sponsor, or facilitate. In the balance between truth and tolerance, tolerance can be dominant where the behavior does not involve us personally. If the cohabitation does involve us personally, we should be governed by our duty to truth. For example, it is one thing to ignore serious sins when they are private; it is quite another thing to be asked to sponsor or impliedly endorse them, such as by housing them in our own homes."

We live in a world where breaking the Lord's law of chastity is not only tolerated but is condoned and embraced.  Does that mean that we should also tolerate, condone, and embrace sin in the name of loving our neighbor, while betraying truth?  The answer is emphatically NO.

We must always honor people's agency and their choices to break God's commandments if they so desire.  But, we must not "condone, sponsor, or facilitate" sin. 

As I said in my original post, we can love people without embracing their sins.

In response to your question, "Is not the second great commandment to love thy neighbor?"  Yes it is.  Is not the first great commandment to love God?  I think you may have forgotten that, anonymous in Idaho.

When we first love God, loving our neighbor comes naturally.

Christ does not want us to tolerate everyone to the point of embracing their sins.  He told the woman taken in adultery that He did not condemn her, but He also told her to go and sin no more.

Christ refrained from a final mortal judgment on the woman taken in adultery, but He also did not tolerate, condone, nor embrace her sin.  We should do likewise.  We should love others and refrain from unrighteous judgment, yet we must always stand for truth and defend truth wherever we are.  That is being Christlike.

Hopefully anonymous in Idaho can understand the truths taught in this blog post addressing her comment.  I will give you some free advice, anonymous in Idaho, perhaps you should spend more time studying and defending truth and spend less time indoctrinating your mind with the philosophies of men and Satan's lies.

That's my two cents.

RIP Toby Keith

When I think of Toby Keith I think of my life at Utah State University after my mission and my days living in California.  I was big into country music at that time in my life.  Toby Keith was a big part of my musical influences in the nineties and early 2000s.  I have all of Toby's albums from that time period.  I played them often.

Sadly, Toby Keith died yesterday at the age of 62 after battling stomach cancer for a couple of years.

Toby was diagnosed with stomach cancer in the fall of 2021.  He battled the cancer with chemotherapy and surgery but ultimately the cancer won. 

Toby was looking pretty sick lately and I'm surprised that he was able to perform a few sold-out concerts in Las Vegas in December as a last hurrah. Toby was a fighter.

Toby was a true patriot and performed many times overseas for the troops.

I don't know if Juliet will remember this but one of my favorite memories of listening to Toby Keith is when Juliet and I were driving through Long Beach, California and singing along with Toby to "My List" at the top of our lungs – just having a great time.  I also love "Should've Been a Cowboy", "Does That Blue Moon Ever Shine On You", "He Ain't Worth Missing", "Who's That Man?", "Strangers Again".  And many more.

I wasn't there but Michael and Jason changed the lyrics to "Should've Been a Cowboy" – instead making it a missionary song titled "Should've Been an Elder".  They performed it at Utah Valley State College and brought the house down according to Lisa.  She said she has it on film.  That would be fun to see again.

Toby has a great voice and is a talented songwriter.  He will be missed.

My Toby Keith catalog has been playing on iTunes all morning, and will continue to play throughout the day.

In one of his last interviews Toby mentioned that his faith is getting him through his cancer battle and it's what got him through life in general I suppose.  

"You gotta have your faith…" "Thank God that I got it too. You take it for granted on days when things are good and you lean on it when days are bad. It's taught me to lean on it a little more every day."

He also said he experienced a "peace that surpasses all understanding."

"I finally got to a point in the Spring...I was diagnosed in October of '21. And I was going through all the chemo and been through chemo, radiation, and surgery. And I just got to the point where I was comfortable with whatever happened. I had my brain wrapped around it and I was in a good spot, either way. People without faith don't have that…"  

"I lean on my faith and I just pray and lean into it…" "You gotta' do what you gotta' do, and I don't know how people do it without faith ... that's what I did, it was my rock." – Toby Keith

I admire him for acknowledging his faith.  Of all of Toby's excellent qualities, his faith is his most impressive.

RIP Toby Keith.

July 8, 1961 - February 5, 2024

That's my two cents.

Happy Groundhog Day

Happy Groundhog Day everybody!  Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow this morning, thus predicting an early spring.  :-)  Hopefully winter is on its way out and spring is just around the corner.  Thanks for the prediction Phil.  

Mask of Tolerance

Back in 2008 the prophet at the time, President Thomas S. Monson, warned that the philosophies of men surround us and that the face of sin often wears the mask of tolerance.  He encouraged us to stay strong and don't be deceived.  Here is his quote: 

"My young friends, be strong. The philosophies of men surround us. The face of sin today often wears the mask of tolerance. Do not be deceived; behind that facade is heartache, unhappiness, and pain. You know what is right and what is wrong, and no disguise, however appealing, can change that. The character of transgression remains the same. If your so-called friends urge you to do anything you know to be wrong, you be the one to make a stand for right, even if you stand alone. Have the moral courage to be a light for others to follow. There is no friendship more valuable than your own clear conscience, your own moral cleanliness—and what a glorious feeling it is to know that you stand in your appointed place clean and with the confidence that you are worthy to do so."  – President Thomas S. Monson, Examples of Righteousness, April 2008 General Conference

The mask of tolerance and philosophies of men are becoming pandemic in the Church.  Tolerating sin is not Christlike.  Yet that's all I hear from Church members nowadays – that we just need to love everybody (because it's the Christlike thing to do).  And as a consequence of our love for our fellow neighbor that we should tolerate (and in the name of tolerance even embrace) their sins.  That is not what Christ taught.  That is the philosophy of men.  Yes, Christ loves everybody.  But He also did not tolerate sin.  He told the woman taken in adultery to go and sin no more.  He turned the money changers' tables over in the temple.  We need to be less worried about offending people and more worried about defending truth.  Which is actually the Christlike thing to do.

We can love sinners without tolerating and embracing their sins.  This is what people don't understand.  I know many people who flaunt their sins – homosexuals, adulterers, fornicators of all kinds, etc. – yet I still love them.  I don't love what they're doing, it makes me very sad.  But I know they are all children of God and still love and pray for them. 

Satan has been pushing the LGBT agenda for decades.  It is now to the point where many, if not most, members embrace the LGBT agenda in the name of "love".  This is what President Monson warned us about.  The LGBT lifestyle is sinful.  Yet so many Church members not only tolerate but embrace it.  I hate to burst their bubble but living the LGBT lifestyle will always be sinful.  Same-sex "marriage" will never be sanctioned nor accepted in the Church.  There will never ever be same-sex marriages in the Temple nor in Latter-day Saint churches.  This is basic, simple doctrine.  Yet many deceived members hope for the doctrine to change one day.  Never gonna happen.  All members should know this.

The mask of tolerance is extremely dangerous.  We must not tolerate sin in the guise of loving others.  We must defend truth.  If others are offended by truth, then so be it.  As members of the Lord's true Church, it is our responsibility to teach and defend truth regardless of whether we stand alone or are persecuted for our efforts.  It is our responsibility as Disciples of Christ to defend truth, regardless of consequence.

President Monson went on to teach:

"Ours is the task to be fitting examples. We are strengthened by the truth that the greatest force in the world today is the power of God as it works through man." – President Thomas S. Monson, Examples of Righteousness, April 2008 General Conference

As Disciples of Christ, it is our job to defend truth and be examples of righteousness.  It helps to know that we are on the winning side, and that we have the power of God behind us.

 "If we are on the Lord’s errand, brethren, we are entitled to the Lord’s help. Never forget that truth. That divine help, of course, is predicated upon our worthiness. Each must ask: Are my hands clean? Is my heart pure? Am I a worthy servant of the Lord?" – President Thomas S. Monson, Examples of Righteousness, April 2008 General Conference

A great reminder from President Monson that when we are on the Lord's errand, He will help us – if we are worthy.  This is why it's so important to try our best to live worthy lives, so that we can have the Lord's help as we serve Him.

In this talk, President Monson quoted President N. Eldon Tanner who said:

“Nothing will bring greater joy and success than to live according to the teachings of the gospel. Be an example; be an influence for good."

This quote sums it up.  No greater joy can be found than to live the gospel of Jesus Christ.  

Let us all be worthy servants of the Lord.  Let us all strive to live according to the teachings of the gospel.  Let us all be an influence for good.  Let us all be Christlike examples willing to stand for truth.  Let us not be deceived by the philosophies of men.  Let us see through the façade of sin masquerading as tolerance.  Let us defend truth at all times and in all places.  

That's my two cents.