The Play Book

Ok, I know, I've been posting a lot lately about what I've been reading in my scriptures.  I'm hoping to give a snap shot of the process that is learning to my posterity.  I think it will be fun to compare my ramblings to the current events of our day with some hindsight vision.

This learning of which I speak is found in 2 Nephi 28

30 For behold, thus saith the Lord God: I will give unto the children of men line upon line, ^aprecept upon precept, here a little and there a little; and blessed are those who hearken unto my precepts, and lend an ear unto my counsel, for they shall learn^bwisdom; for unto him that ^creceiveth I will give ^dmore; and from them that shall say, We have enough, from them shall be taken away even that which they have.

 31 Cursed is he that putteth his ^atrust in man, or maketh flesh his arm, or shall hearken unto the ^bprecepts of men, save their precepts shall be given by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Back to my reading this morning.  There have been several times that I have found the adversary's playbook outlined in scripture.  A pattern to look for.  It is pretty cool when you come across such scriptures especially when compared to what is happening around you.  

Religion is on trial right now.  The individual rights of man are being taken away and replaced with the collective.  You aren't supposed to feed the homeless because you might give them too much salt.  You aren't supposed to help your neighbor because the gov is there for that.  You shouldn't have to be responsible to make wise financial decisions because you aren't smart enough for that.  If you didn't go to college you are not allowed a public voice because you aren't intellectual enough and therefore can't possibly know what you are talking about.  You can't say that people should be held accountable for their actions because we believe in God's laws.  Anyone who disagrees with this administration is threatened and silenced and they of course know nothing about anything...at all...ever.  If you have anything to say against the collective way then you are a racist and considered dangerous and need to be silenced....because we can't have that kind of thinking spread.  

I just got done reading about the crucifixion of Christ.  All the law makers and priests breaking their own laws and conspiring in the night to silence 1 man and his teachings.  Because it was dangerous to them to have the people start thinking that there was someone other than them to rely upon for salvation.  So, they unjustly crucified him. 

After Christ dies and was resurrected and the apostles figure out what they are supposed to be doing next:  Peter and John heal a man.  What happens in Acts 4?  The priests get mad.  They want to know by what power and name they performed this miracle that was witnessed by many people.  Peter gives an excellent response and then the playbook is revealed:

13 ¶Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were ^aunlearned and ^bignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

 14 And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

 15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

 16 Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable ^amiracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.

 17 But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.

 18 And they called them, and ^acommanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.

Isn't that the same old tired play the adversary has always played.  You have to shut the people up.  Keep them in the dark and prey upon what they deem as weakness, being "unlearned and ignorant."

In the study manual it talks about Paul's mission to Athens.  He was there for a very short period of time because they worshiped the wisdom of man.  They had many great philosophers and glorious buildings but they mocked Paul for his simple gospel message and lack of great worldly knowledge.

We, in our day, find ourselves in the same position.  We worship all the wrong things.  We let fear govern our lives.  The great news about Acts 4 is the response that was given to these priest in;

24"they lifted up their voice to God with one accord..."
31"and when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness."
32" the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul..."
33 ..."and great grace was upon them all."

So, my message today is "Never shut up...." (and I would add, never stop praying) which was taken from a response to Mike R getting criticism from being on GB.  He gave a fabulous response about needing to be able to talk to each other and not shutting out the voices we disagree with.  He did it in a way that was direct and appropriate and, I feel, still very kind, but still saying what needed to be said.

The "priests and law givers" are scared again, just like they were in the times of Christ.  They are trying their hardest to silence the voice that witnesses of Christ.  We know the tactics that will be used against us.  We have the play book.  We need to not fall prey to them and most importantly we need to not use them ourselves.  When we are united with one voice and "neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common" mighty miracles will happen. We can united on the things which united us even if they come from unlikely allies.  We can come together and unite on the doctrines of Christ because the war we are in is not a political one.  It is a spiritual one where evil is trying it's best to overcome good and that has political/temporal consequences.

"The scriptures hold the keys to spiritual protection" ~Boyd K Packer.  The only way to access this spiritual protection is to actually read, ponder and pray about those scriptures.  You're testimony has to be built upon the rock if you are going to prevail against the evil storms.  You can't know how to not be deceived if you don't know how others were.  You can't know how God wants you to act in the face of being deceived if you haven't read his words.

I wish I had some magical string of words to convey the depth of my testimony of God the Eternal Father and in his son, Jesus Christ and in the scriptures and living prophets and apostles.  All I can say is, I know!