Never Take Counsel from Those Who Do Not Believe

"As you think celestial, you will view trials and opposition in a new light. When someone you love attacks truth, think celestial, and don’t question your testimony. The Apostle Paul prophesied that “in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”

"There is no end to the adversary’s deceptions. Please be prepared. Never take counsel from those who do not believe. Seek guidance from voices you can trust—from prophets, seers, and revelators and from the whisperings of the Holy Ghost, who “will show unto you all things what ye should do.”  Please do the spiritual work to increase your capacity to receive personal revelation.

"As you think celestial, your faith will increase."

–President Russell M. Nelson, "Think Celestial!",  October 2023 General Conference

Apparently this is another quote from the Lord's current prophet, Russell M. Nelson, that people take issue with.  I really don't see the controversy in anything the Prophet said.  It is sound advice to not take counsel from those who do not believe.  Why would you take counsel from nonbelievers?  They will only lead you astray.  

Case in point – apparently there's a "Latter-day Saint influencer" named Julie Hanks, who is doing just that.  She's leading people astray by contradicting the prophet, President Nelson.

I had never heard of Julie Hanks before Lisa informed me of her.  But apparently a lot of members of the Church follow her on social media.

Here is what the Prophet said in General Conference that she took issue with:

"As you think celestial, you will find yourself avoiding anything that robs you of your agency.  Any addiction- be it gaming, gambling, debt, drugs, alcohol, anger, pornography, sex, or even food—offends God. Why? Because your obsession becomes your god." –President Russell M. Nelson, October 1, 2023

And here's what the false prophet, Julie Hanks, said two days later on social media:

"I believe that Heavenly Parents are too vast and too loving to be offended by our earthly struggles, including addictions and compulsions." -Dr. Julie Hanks, October 3, 2023

That is a direct and complete contradiction of prophetic counsel from our living prophet, President Russell M. Nelson.

This brings to mind the scripture in Second Nephi:

"… When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish."  –2 Nephi 9:28

Apparently this influencer, Julie Hanks, thinks she is smarter than God because she is learned and apparently has a PhD as a therapist.  But in reality, as the scripture says, her wisdom is foolishness.

Anyone who counsels against and contradicts the counsel and words of living prophets taught in General Conference are false prophets and should be avoided like the plague.

After seeing Julie Hanks contradict prophetic counsel, anyone following her should immediately unfollow and block her on social media.  But how many really did?

These are perilous times in which we live.  There is no time to allow evil influences in our lives.

Follow the prophet.  He will not lead us astray.  False prophets, like Julie Hanks, will lead you astray.

The counsel given by prophets, seers, and revelators in General Conference is doctrine.  It is what the Lord gives us to guide us over the next six months.  The scripture continues:

"But to be learned is good if they hearken unto the counsels of God."  –2 Nephi 9:29

There are many who will attack truth, including many members of the Church.  As President Nelson said, quoting the Apostle Paul, “in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.”  We see this happening every day.  That's why it's so important to follow the Lord's true prophet and not hearken to false prophets.  That's why it's so important to listen to and heed the Holy Ghost.  That's why it's so important to be able to receive personal revelation.

Nothing the Prophet says in General Conference should offend.  Quite the contrary.  If you are offended by or "triggered" by prophetic counsel, then you need to take a hard look at your life and see what you need to fix before it's too late.

Never take counsel from those who do not believe.

That's my two cents.

Law of Chastity

 "Thinking celestial will also help you obey the law of chastity. Few things will complicate your life more quickly than violating this divine law. For those who have made covenants with God, immorality is one of the quickest ways to lose your testimony.

"Many of the adversary’s most relentless temptations involve violations of moral purity. The power to create life is the one privilege of godhood that Heavenly Father allows His mortal children to exercise. Thus, God set clear guidelines for the use of this living, divine power. Physical intimacy is only for a man and a woman who are married to each other.

"Much of the world does not believe this, but public opinion is not the arbiter of truth. The Lord has declared that no unchaste person will attain the celestial kingdom. So when you make decisions regarding morality, please think celestial. And if you have been unchaste, I plead with you to repent. Come unto Christ and receive His promise of complete forgiveness as you fully repent of your sins." 

"As you think celestial, your faith will increase.… Choosing to live a virtuous life in a sexualized, politicized world builds faith."  

– President Russell M. Nelson, "Think Celestial!",  October 2023 General Conference

It's fitting that President Nelson chose to remind us of the importance of the law of chastity in his talk.  We live in such a sexualized, amoral world that virtue is actually frowned upon rather than celebrated.

President Nelson said that few things will complicate life more than breaking the law of chastity.   The gravity of breaking the law of chastity is so diminished by society that is actually celebrated.  But remember, it is the sin second only to murder.   This is why Satan promotes unchastity as one of his greatest tools of misery.

Conversely, keeping the law of chastity, by living a virtuous life, simplifies life.  As President Nelson said, living a virtuous life builds faith.

I love the quote from President Nelson that said public opinion is not the arbiter of truth.

Despite what the world teaches in promoting promiscuity and perversions as bringing happiness and freedom, the opposite is true.  Breaking the law of chastity brings misery and bondage.

Truth is universal.  Changing laws and/or public opinion doesn't change truth.  Nor does it change God's laws which are true and unchanging.

I love President Nelson's gentle and loving invitation to repent and come unto Christ.  Repentance is a loving gift from our Savior.  

President Nelson said that procreation is the one privilege of godhood that Heavenly Father allows his mortal children to exercise.  Let us remember and cherish this sacred gift.  Not only will it simplify life, but living virtuously builds faith, increases self-esteem, brings happiness, and draws us closer to our Heavenly Father.

That's my two cents.

Together Forever

"The Lord has clearly taught that only men and women who are sealed as husband and wife in the temple, and who keep their covenants, will be together throughout the eternities. He said, “All covenants, contracts, bonds, obligations, oaths, vows, performances, connections, associations, or expectations, that are not made and entered into and sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise … have an end when men are dead.”

"Thus, if we unwisely choose to live telestial laws now, we are choosing to be resurrected with a telestial body. We are choosing not to live with our families forever.

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, how and where and with whom do you want to live forever? You get to choose." – President Russell M. Nelson, "Think Celestial!",  October 2023 General  Conference

Another truth taught by the Lord's living prophet during this past General Conference was that of eternal families.  Most people believe that if they live good lives they will be together forever with their families in heaven.  This is not true.  To be together forever as families there must be covenants made in the holy temple and kept.  This is basic doctrine.

Parents must be sealed together in the Lord's house, the holy temple.  Then they must live worthily and keep their covenants.  Only then can they be together forever as families in the Celestial Kingdom.

Sorry to disappoint anyone with this basic truth.  But those are the facts.  We get to choose which laws we will follow.  Thereby choosing our eternal destiny.

Will we choose to live celestial laws so that we may live with Heavenly Father and our families for eternity?  Or will we choose to follow terrestrial or telestial laws and choose not to live with our families forever? 

That's the beauty of agency in our Heavenly Father's plan.  We get to choose our eternal destiny.  I hope we will all follow President Nelson's counsel to "think celestial".

That's my two cents.

Addictions Offend God

Addictions rob you of your agency.  Agency is central to God's plan of happiness.  Addictions become obsessions which replace God as their god.  This offends God.  It's quite simple.  President Nelson explained it well.

"As you think celestial, you will find yourself avoiding anything that robs you of your agency. Any addiction—be it gaming, gambling, debt, drugs, alcohol, anger, pornography, sex, or even food—offends God. Why? Because your obsession becomes your god. You look to it rather than to Him for solace. If you struggle with an addiction, seek the spiritual and professional help you need. Please do not let an obsession rob you of your freedom to follow God’s fabulous plan." – Russell M Nelson, "Think Celestial!",  October 2023 General Conference

Believe it or not this quote from God's living prophet has, surprisingly, turned out to be somewhat controversial.  Apparently the notion that God would be offended by His children's addictions offends people.  Apparently people think God is a pansy and blindly tolerates all sin.  This couldn't be further from the truth.  President Nelson explained it very succinctly in the above quote.

God is offended by people's addictions because the addictions replace Him as their God.  It's quite simple.  Has everyone forgotten the first of the Ten Commandments?

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."  – Exodus 20:3

It must be a fairly important concept for God since it is the first of the Ten Commandments that He gave the Israelites through His ancient prophet, Moses. 

Any obsession, whether it be an addiction or money, material possessions, other people such as celebrities and athletes, sports or anything that replaces God is considered an idol, or a god, and offends God.

But going back to President Nelson's original quote focusing on addiction.  Many people turn to a variety of addictions to find solace in our troubled world.  These addictions become obsessions which rob people of their agency and replace Him as their God.  Why wouldn't God be offended by this?

Far too many people are rationalizing their sins away by believing in a God who accepts their sins or by not believing in God at all.

Either way, many people are sorely mistaken.  Because God does exist and He will not tolerate sin.

Yes, God loves all of His children.  But He is offended by sin.  He is offended by addictions which replace Him as God.  There are consequences to breaking God's laws.  Because He loves us so much.

That's my two cents.

Mortality Is a Master Class

God's living prophet, President Russell M. Nelson, gave an excellent, timely talk at General Conference a couple of weeks ago.  I would advise you to watch and read the entire talk.  There's much wisdom and counsel to be gleaned from his talk.  But for now I'm going to post a few quotes over the next few days from this talk.

"Mortality is a master class in learning to choose the things of greatest eternal import. Far too many people live as though this life is all there is. However, your choices today will determine three things: where you will live throughout all eternity, the kind of body with which you will be resurrected, and those with whom you will live forever. So, think celestial."  – President Russell M. Nelson, "Think Celestial!",  October 2023 General Conference

Mortality is our opportunity to make important choices that will determine our eternity.  Mortality is such a short time to learn and grow that each choice we make can affect our eternal destiny.  It is sad that so many people live as though this life is all there is.  They couldn't be more wrong.  And they may realize that too late.

This is why the eat drink and be merry philosophy is so absurd.

President Nelson reminds us that our choices in mortality will determine three things.

1 – Where you will live throughout all eternity.

2 – The kind of body with which you will be resurrected.

3 – Those with whom you will live forever.

Will our choices now lead us down the path towards Celestial glory with God and our families?  Or will we live Terrestrial or Telestial laws which lead to an eternity without our families?  It is our choice.

President Nelson said, "Thus, if we unwisely choose to live telestial laws now, we are choosing to be resurrected with a telestial body. We are choosing not to live with our families forever.

"So, my dear brothers and sisters, how and where and with whom do you want to live forever? You get to choose."

This is why it's so important to "Think Celestial" now.  Making the right choices now will lead to, not only, a life of happiness here in mortality, but most importantly eternal happiness and joy in the Celestial Kingdom with God and our families.

So I urge you all to aim high and "Think Celestial!".  Let us learn from this master class of mortality with an eternal perspective.  May our faith increase as we are obedient to God's laws.  May we all follow the prophet and always "Think Celestial!"

That's my two cents. 

College Football Picks Week 7 Results

1. Rex -14 tiebreaker 73
2. Clint -15 tiebreaker 56
3. Lisa -19 tiebreaker 54
4. Tammy -24 tiebreaker 59

actual tiebreaker 55

College Football Picks Week 6 Results

1. Rex -14 tiebreaker 52
2. Tammy -15 tiebreaker 57
3. Lisa -16 tiebreaker 57
4. Clint -16 tiebreaker 62

Actual tiebreaker  43

Best Quote of the October 2023 General Conference

In the over nine hours of General Conference addresses this past weekend, this is the absolutely best quote.  It was given by the prophet, and I absolutely love it.  It was the fiercest thing said all weekend.  I was hoping Conference would be fiercer, like it was decades ago, but I'll take what I can get.

"The baseless notion that we should 'Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die - and it shall all be well with us' is one of the most absurd lies in the universe!"  – President Russell M. Nelson, October 2023 General Conference

It is absolutely, 100% true!  Lisa and I were just talking about this notion a few days ago.  So many people are buffaloed into believing the "eat, drink, and be merry" nonsense.

Now, God's living prophet has just reiterated how absurd that thinking is.  Wake up, people!  Start thinking celestial before it's too late.

That's my two cents. 

College Football Picks Week 5 Results

1. Clint -11 tiebreaker 48
2. Rex -12 tiebreaker 74 
3. Tammy -15 tiebreaker 55
4. Lisa -16 tiebreaker 52

actual tiebreaker 62

Happy General Conference everybody.  :-) I just love conference weekend.

College Football Picks Week 4 Results

1. Tammy -11 tiebreaker 61
2. Clint -12 tiebreaker 54
3. Rex -14 tiebreaker 60
4. Lisa -15 tiebreaker 67

actual tiebreaker 21

The 21st Night of September

The 21st night of September is a significant day in history.  My accident occurred on this night 21 years ago (September 21, 2002) and my life forever changed.

The 21st night of September 200 years ago (September 21, 1823) is when the Angel Moroni appeared to the Prophet Joseph Smith several times during the night. These meetings would prepare Joseph Smith to bring forth the Book of Mormon and begin the important process of ushering in the restoration of the gospel and of gathering Israel.

In fact, the 21st night of September is such a significant date in history that Earth, Wind & Fire sang a song about it.  :-)

"Do you remember, the 21st night of September?"

I certainly do.

That's my two cents.

September 21, 2023
Graham, Washington

September 21, 1823
Palmyra, New York

College Football Picks Week 3 Results

1. Rex -13 tiebreaker 71
2. Clint -13 tiebreaker 54
3. Tammy -17 tiebreaker 57
4. Lisa -19 tiebreaker 52

Actual tiebreaker 69 

Three Things to Remember

There are three things that we all need to remember or learn.

1 – You Are a Child of God.

2 – True Happiness and Joy Are Only Found in Following God's Commandments And Living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

3 – There Is Hope in Christ.

Now I want to elaborate a little bit on each one.

First, you are a child of God.  You are literally a spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents.  As such, you have a divine nature.  This should be your core identity.

"Our most fundamental doctrine includes the knowledge that we are children of a living God. That is why one of His most sacred names is Father—Heavenly Father."

"President Thomas S. Monson testified: “We are sons and daughters of a living God. … We cannot sincerely hold this conviction without experiencing a profound new sense of strength and power.”

"This doctrine is so basic, so oft stated, and so instinctively simple that it can seem to be ordinary, when in reality it is among the most extraordinary knowledge we can obtain. A correct understanding of our heavenly heritage is essential to exaltation. It is foundational to comprehending the glorious plan of salvation and to nurturing faith in the Firstborn of the Father, Jesus the Christ, and in His merciful Atonement. Further, it provides continual motivation for us to make and keep our indispensable eternal covenants."

"Here on earth, we identify ourselves in many different ways, including our place of birth, our nationality, and our language. Some even identify themselves by their occupation or their hobby. These earthly identities are not wrong unless they supersede or interfere with our eternal identity—that of being a son or a daughter of God." 

"We live in a world that can cause us to forget who we really are. The more distractions that surround us, the easier it is to treat casually, then ignore, and then forget our connection with God."

"In today’s world, no matter where we live and no matter what our circumstances are, it is essential that our preeminent identity is as a child of God."  – Elder Donald L. Hallstrom, "I Am a Child of God", April 2016 General Conference

Never forget that you are a child of God.  Always remember your divine nature as a son or daughter of God as your chief identity.

Second, true happiness and joy are only found in following God's commandments and a living the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Yes, it is true that you may have fun while breaking God's commandments.  But it is a temporary, fleeting happiness.  It doesn't last and it is not pure joy.  

Ironically people who follow the "eat drink and be merry" philosophy may think they are free because they are breaking God's commandments.  While reality is that they are really not free at all, but are slaves to their addictions and to the philosophies of Satan.

2 Nephi 28:7-9

7 Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.

8 And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

9 Yea, and there shall be many which shall teach after this manner, false and vain and foolish doctrines,…

False, vain, and foolish doctrines indeed.  Choices have consequences.  Sinning (breaking God's commandments) has consequences.  Misery being a universal consequence to sin.  Likewise, striving to keep God's commandments also has consequences.  Joy, happiness, and peace come to mind as consequences of striving to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

You may have fun while breaking God's commandments.  You may not face the consequences of sin immediately.  You may even think you're happy while sinning.  But if you think happiness is found in sin, you are foolish.  The truth is, pure joy and true happiness are only found while following God.

Third, there is hope in Christ.  We are all mortal.  We all sin.  Because of Christ and His atoning sacrifice, we are all able to be redeemed.  But many people feel that they are beyond redemption.  This is simply not true.

"One of Satan’s ultimate weapons (if not the ultimate) is to remove hope from your life. He tries to convince you that you can’t do it, that there is no hope. Thus, by removing hope, he removes Christ from your life, for Christ is hope. Satan can never quite accomplish that fully—at least not here—because it is a lie. There is hope built within all of us. There is always hope."

"How do I know there is hope for all? Because it was a universal atonement. As the scriptures tell us, “For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent” (D&C 19:16). That is, there was no holding back on the Savior’s part. He paid the full price for all—full measure, pressed down, overflowing."

"There is always hope. In Christ who lives and loves and works miracles now, there is always hope. Listen again and again and again. There is always hope—now, today—there is always hope. There is always hope. He lives. He loves. He saves. In him there is always hope.

What would life be like without hope? Terrible. We can’t conceive of it. Remove the Savior from your life and you remove hope."

"No matter what price we have to pay, or how long we must suffer, there is always hope. No matter how deep the wound, how dark the night, keep up hope. It is worth it. There is always hope!

No matter the fasting, the struggling, the praying, the weeping, the searching, the confessing. No matter the so-called embarrassment or loss of face or pride or whatever other terms or feelings Satan uses in his attempt to dissuade us from obtaining that saving hope and from securing that glorious hope in the Savior. It is worth it."

"Oh, my beloved young friends, remember there is always hope, for you and for others! How do I know that? Because the Savior came and paid the price for all.

"For behold, I, God, have suffered these things for all, that they might not suffer if they would repent." [D&C 19:16]  

"That's pretty inclusive." 

"Listen to President Stephen L. Richards, another great leader:

"Let no brother or sister in the whole family of God [now that is not only members of the Church but the whole family of God] feel that he or she has gone beyond the point where error and sin may be left behind and true repentance enlighten the soul with hope and faith. [Stephen L. Richards, April Conference, 8 April 1956]

"You see, there is always hope."

– John H. Groberg, of the Seventy, "There Is Always Hope", June 3, 1984

(By the way, this was an excellent talk given by Elder Groberg.  Click on link to read or listen to the whole talk.  Just an FYI, Elder Groberg happens to be my Grandpa Sabin's first cousin's husband.  So I guess we're kind of related. :-)  Elder Groberg's wife, Jean Sabin Groberg is my first cousin twice removed.)

Satan's greatest lie is to convince you that there is no hope.  Don't believe him.  There is always hope in Christ.  No one is beyond redemption.  

If you get nothing else from this blog post I hope you remember these three things:  You are a child of God.  True happiness is only found in following God.  There is hope in Christ.

That's my two cents.

College Football Picks Results Week 2

1. Lisa -12 tiebreaker 63
2. Rex -13 tiebreaker 44 
3. Clint -15 tiebreaker 48
4. Tammy -19 tiebreaker 53

Actual tiebreaker 33

College Football Picks Week 1 Results

1. Clint -8 tiebreaker 48
2. Lisa -9 tiebreaker 46
3. Rex -11 tiebreaker 39
4. Tammy -15 tiebreaker 43

Actual tiebreaker 38