Jesus Christ was the ultimate example of a good steward. He was given great power - but never abused it. Anyone else with the great power of Christ could have easily abused that power and become self-righteous! Jesus withstood the taunts of Satan as he was tempted on the pinacle of the temple and he passed three great tests. Annalee suggests that as we progress to our spiritual heights, each progressing one must also pass three great tests. We are steward's of the gifts, wealth and power that God gives to us. Jesus was and is our example to follow!
The highway one must travel to ascend unto the heights is one of tests, and trials and overcoming. As one journeys upward he will at last be given the three great tests -- even as Jesus was -- the test of power -- the test of self-righteousness -- and the test of wealth. They may not come in just that order, but they will come. Somewhere along the upward climb they will be met by every man who travels far enough. Some may be born with wealth instead of receiving that test as the last and final one. But the test will be there, somewhere along the journey into light. One may completely pass it by as Jesus did, or he may become completely immersed in it as the rich young man.
The test of power will come when one is granted the feel and the knowledge of the power vested in him, and like Moses, smites the rock to bring forth water, then takes the glory unto himself. He may be given power to lay hands on the sick and feel that glorious surge of the healing power of the Almighty flowing through him, out from his finger-tips and then gathering the memory of that moment to himself, feel in his pride that the credit was his own. He may be given the power of some great talent and be destroyed by his own vanity in the gift. He may be given the power of speech, and use it, not under the direction of God, but to unfold his own beliefs and learning, or to take over the minds of men. A thousand ways can be used to test one's ability and worthiness to handle power. But you may be sure that if you travel far enough the test will come. If you cannot pass it your progress will be stopped, for you will have found your level, at least for the time being. No man will be able to go farther than the strength and vision that his own soul permits him to go. He sets his own gauge as he prepares himself.
The public ministry of Jesus bespeaks the greatness of His conquest of this human trait to misuse power. In every act of His life he so humbly gave God the entire glory for the works He accomplished. Even for His own relief and satisfaction he refused to use the power He knew was vested in him. And since He did not misuse the power by changing the stones to bread, angels came and ministered unto his needs -- and greater power was given -- power to turn water into wine, to multiply a thousand fold the fish and bread, to restore withered bones and flesh, the eyes of the blind, the life of the dead.
The test of self-righteousness will also come to every individual who seeks to fulfill the laws of righteousness. There will come a moment in his life when he will desire to show forth the power of this great goodness, a moment in which he will desire all to behold his high place more than he will desire to fill that place for the glory of God. Only great love and perfect humility can carry one above the point of feeling that he, in some way, is a little superior to his fellow travelers. Having reached a point above them in his upward climb he will want the world to give him credit for his achievement and goodness, and will be filled with a false belief that he has a special claim, or monopoly on the divine favors and attention of God. He may glory in the exalted heights of his lofty position, his high seat of office, his position in the congregation, his place upon the temple pinnacle and the power to make it the envy of those beneath him in the upward climb. And thus he will misuse his calling and position to awe the minds of men, that they might look to him instead of to God. Any who thus use the power of position to hold the minds of men, to keep them from going direct to God in their upward climb into the light, have failed; and they will stand while the humble seekers for light and the true knowledge of God will silently pass them by against their own knowledge, for they have lost the vision of God in the vision of their own greatness.
The other test, the test of fame, learning, wealth or worldly possession will be within the power of every man who ascends unto the heights -- and he will have to choose as the rich young man who came to Jesus by night, whether it is a kingdom of this world he desires, or the greater kingdom of heaven that is not of this world -- the kingdom of heaven, in which all wealth and all power will be added. And that kingdom of heaven does not mean necessarily a kingdom after death -- it is the kingdom right within man -- and man must find it. Few ever pass this test, but assume that the Lord has especially rewarded them for their righteousness, they glory in their worldly possessions, heaping unto themselves the gifts of earth, her honors and her talents, not realizing that the only true gold is that which is bought of Him -- gold that has been tried in the fire, or tested in the furnace of life -- which pure gold is man himself as he emerges purified and unscathed from the testings along the way -- and has passed by the angels and will enter into his rest -- or the peace that is beyond the powers of earthly friction and confusion.
"Man" in the original language means "steward." Every person who possesses anything on this earth is not the owner -- he is only the steward. He is the steward of his talents. He is the steward of the dollars he falsely claims to be his own. And he will be judged on how well he manages his stewardship. In the next stage of existence we will progress into the realm of ownership if we have been able to pass by the angels or tests of this life. But in this life no man really owns anything. "For the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." No man can claim a single particle of it as his own. If he does, then death will come and pry his fingers lose and he will go empty and alone into the great beyond. Any man who basks in his bank account, his great storehouses of wealth while his brother is without is a poor steward and will be called to give an accounting of his stewardship. He has accepted willingly and perhaps gladly the kingdom of the earth to rule -- and has failed to attain unto the kingdom that is not of this world. He has chosen instead, to rule over acres of land, houses and dwellings, dollars and cents -- and having been unfaithful in ruling over a few things he can never be permitted to be a Ruler over many.
The greatest warning ever given against these pitfalls or tests is as follows:
"Behold, there are many called, but few are chosen. And why are they not chosen?
"Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men, that they do not learn this one lesson --
"That the rights of the priesthood are inseparably connected with the powers of heaven, and that the powers of heaven cannot be controlled nor handled only upon the principles of righteousness.
"That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, or our vain ambition or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of that man.
"Behold, ere he is aware, he is left unto himself, to kick against the pricks, to persecute the saints, and to fight against God.
"We have learned by sad experience that it is the nature and disposition of almost all men, as soon as they get a little authority, as they suppose, they will immediately begin to exercise unrighteous dominion.
"Hence many are called, but few are chosen." (D. & C. 121:34-40).
These three special tests that are given to each in his upward climb may be scattered anywhere along his mortal life. He may either be born with wealth, or he may be given it later because of his righteous endeavors -- and he may be immersed with it -- or pass on to higher and loftier attainments according to his desires and his vision.
The test of wealth may only be an opportunity to gain it at the sacrifice of one's better instincts. It may even be offered at the sacrifice of one's integrity. It may be offered as the price of one's soul. This test of wealth does not necessarily mean that everyone who climbs the great highway of light into the higher realms will have wealth bestowed upon him, for like Jesus, he may completely pass it by. But the opportunity to receive wealth will be given -- and the wealth itself may be placed in his hands so that he can be detained by the feel of it in his fingers.
These tests may literally be called THE angels by which man must pass if he is to reach the greatest glory. It is not the symbols or the tokens that are so important in a man's progress -- it is how well he lives the higher laws of righteousness to which they belong. Will he abide by the law and the covenant of being willing to give all that he possesses, his time, talents, worldly possessions, even his very life, if necessary, for his "search for the kingdom of heaven" and its righteousness -- or the right-use-ness of its laws of perfection in his own life? And will he seek to make that kingdom manifest on the earth through his own devotion to it? Is he willing to overcome all personal lusts, unvirtuous desires of the flesh that his body might be purified and prepared to "Know God?" For the "righteousness" of the kingdom of heaven is the "right use" of its laws of perfection right within his own life. To fulfill these higher laws one must cease speaking evil of the Lord's anointed -- and every child born into the world anointed with the precious anointing of LIFE must be included. Not only must one's lips refrain from evil, but his mind and his heart must become the ruling power of love behind the lips.
These tests are truly the angels in disguise to try the souls of men. They will be stationed somewhere along each man's path. He will meet them somewhere along that upward highway of eternal light to test the very fibres of his soul, his love for purity, his desire for righteousness, for these are the eternal realities behind the symbols -- by these will he be judged.
If one is found worthy and can pass these tests of "right-use-ness" of the true laws of light and heaven, or by the angels set to test him, or into his true sonship, nothing will be impossible to him, for he shall truly be permitted to receive the Second Comforter and behold the face of God -- and to enter the kingdom of heaven -- to know all Truth -- to receive all light, yea, to be filled with it -- not just in eternity -- BUT IN THIS LIFE. This is the promise of the Second Comforter as given in the fourteenth chapter of John. It is the promise of Jesus Christ. It is the promise of the Gospel in its fullness. It is the very life and power of the sacred temple service. It is for all who will avail themselves of these blessings in this life. And for those who have already passed beyond the stage of mortality these gifts can be handed across to them. But for all alike, NOW is the time to fulfill them. Now is the time to perfect love. Now is the time to reach into the light. Now is the time to prepare to meet God -- "For He will unveil His face unto you, and it will be in His own time and in His own way, and according to His own will."
"Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." (James 1:12).
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, darkness covereth the earth, and gross darkness the minds of the people, and ALL flesh has become corrupt before my face.
"Behold, vengeance cometh speedily upon the inhabitants of the earth, a day of wrath, a day of burning, a day of desolation, of weeping, of mourning, and of lamentation; and as a whirlwind it shall come upon all the face of the earth, saith the Lord.
"And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord.
"First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord."1 (D. & C. 112:23-26).
This power to behold God is the purpose of the Melchizedek Priesthood. "The power and authority of the higher, or Melchizedek Priesthood, is to hold the keys of all the spiritual blessings of the church --
"To have the privilege of receiving the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, to have the heavens opened unto them, to commune with the general assembly of the First born, and to enjoy the communion and presence of God the Father, and Jesus the Mediator of the New Covenant." (Ibid., Sec. 107: 18-19). If one desires that power and that priesthood for himself and for his posterity, then he must fulfill the laws of it, and not just partake of the symbolism that enfolds it. He must be able to pass his tests -- or pass by the angels placed to test him. It is not a testing of his knowledge of the symbols. It is a testing of his soul on whether he has abided by the covenants of righteousness -- and this testing will not come in some far distant time after death. The testing and the angels may be anywhere along the road of life. Any time. One may be met down the block from his own home, another in one's own chapel, in his own dwelling, in his neighborhood -- on his brother's farm. They stand at the cross-roads of life and we know them not because of pride, worldly desires, or greed.
Not everyone arrives at these three great tests herein mentioned. Many have been sidetracked or detained, or shall we say entertained, by angels long before these tests are reached. These three are the greatest -- and few have ever passed them, for few can stand the test of actually knowing God.
When the veil of mortal concept is "rent" or parted, after one has "fulfilled all righteousness" and abided by the covenants instead of being concerned with the symbols that clothe them, when he has "cleansed the inside of the cup (himself) as well as the outside," then he is prepared to receive "The fullness of the Father." Then he will realize that he himself is indeed the temple of the living God. Then will he know and understand just how literal and real are the angels that he had to wrestle with. Then he will no longer be wrapped in the veil of deep sleep, but will know that the greatest joy, the complete perfection can only be achieved while in the flesh. (D. & C. 93:32-25).
Joseph Smith said, "Would to God, brethren, I could tell you who I am! Would to God I could tell you what I know! But you would call it blasphemy and want to take my life!" (Life of Heber C. Kimball, p. 333). This is more true today than it was 120 years ago when he was talking to a group of the most spiritual men on the earth. Christ was trying to tell the same things when He was giving his last-minute instructions to his apostles: "I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now." (John 16:12). No man can reveal these greater things to another. Christ would have, had it been possible, if his chosen ones had prepared themselves to receive such great light, but no man can reveal it to another -- each man must live the laws, apply the lessons and be given the tests on his own. He must pass them by himself. And man himself is the testing ground and within his own being must every test be made -- the gold refined and purified. Therefore no man can reveal to another the great things that are beyond that veil -- every man must pass into it by himself. Others can assist him to the door, but he must enter alone, when he has been completely purified and prepared for so great a glory.
No law, or power, or knowledge will glorify any individual or group unless they live by the laws, fulfilling all righteousness, "For I say unto you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and pharisees, ye shall never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matt. 5:20).
"Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." (James 1:22).
Since it is not the symbols that are so important, but the deep principles of Truth behind the symbols, we should begin to realize that it is time for us to leave the toys of childhood and step into reality, and live by the deeper, truer meaning. It is possible to leave all symbols and fulfill all the laws and all the prophets in just two forward steps of dynamic progress.
The great, unspeakable power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is contained in those untried, unlived portions of His teachings. And the fullness of His Gospel means every word He ever spoke, not just the sayings we select for our own convenience, to fit our small capacities or understandings. The Gospel of Jesus Christ means every promise He ever gave and the power that fulfills those promises. It means the Sermon on the Mount, taken LITERALLY. It means all the love and forgiveness that is possible to exercise. It means to pray for one's enemies -- to not only give when asked, but to give double. It means literally and forever, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors." It means those two great and Dynamic Commandments: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength," LITERALLY. Try it.
It means, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself" and since both of these Commandments are shown forth in their fullness of glory elsewhere in this record we shall only again remind you. The glory of the Gospel of Jesus is in those untried, unlived portions that will reveal the full power of His promises when taken into one's life. It is these untried portions that cleanse the inside of the cup -- and the inside must be cleansed and man must be purified in order to do the works that He did.
(New Testament Apocrypha, Testament of Naphtali 1:24-27):
"Sun and moon and stars change not their order; so do ye also change not the law of God in the disorderliness of your doings.
"The Gentiles went astray, and forsook the Lord, and changed their order, and obeyed stocks and stones, spirits of deceit.
"But ye shall not be so, my children, recognizing in the firmament, in the earth, and in the sea, and in all created things, THE LORD WHO MADE ALL THINGS, that ye become not as Sodom, which changed the order of nature.
"-- When the Lord has thoroughly tested a man and finds that he is determined to serve Him at all hazards then the man will find his calling and election made sure, then it will be his privilege to receive the other Comforter which the Lord promised to the Saints according to the record of John."
Tests were never meant to be a burden nor a detriment to man any more than the tests given in school were meant to retard the progress of a student. The tests must be given for they are the gauges by which progress is made. Every test passed is a step higher, a more advanced stage of development. Those who do not pass the tests must remain behind.
For those who are satisfied with the low grade of common, mediocre mortality not too much is required. But for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness and divine knowledge the inner quest for Truth must continue, and for those the lessons become increasingly advanced and the test greater. Those whose souls will never be satisfied with anything less than ALL TRUTH must be able to pass all tests -- they must be tested and tried in all things. But if their understanding is deep, their hearts pure, their minds steady and serene they may not always be aware of the testing.
Tests are an opportunity to those advanced in righteousness, not a stumbling block. To such, every Word of God becomes music, not a harsh command to resent and rebel against. Every heartbreak, every seeming set-back, every trying circumstance, every temptation conquered, every weakness left behind can be and is, an opportunity and a glory when rightly understood. Every law complied with is a blessing of added strength. Every Word of God that has been made flesh, or become an integral part of the very fibres of one's being, is power.
This world contains every grade of souls from the lowest to the highest, and often those who consider themselves at the top are at the bottom of their class, and their class may be only beginning. In the grading of souls the material standards do not exist. Wealth, education, earthly honors or fame have no value whatsoever, but a man is judged by those inner qualities -- those merits of faith in God, his power of love and devotion, his degree of compassion, mercy, humbleness and his power to forgive, his willingness to learn and his desire to obey those higher laws of Righteousness.
In the souls of those who truly desire to fulfill ALL the laws of righteousness that they might "live by every Word of God" and fulfill the command, "be ye perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect" there are no tests too great to retard them. With their eyes "Single to the glory of God" they will reach beyond all temporal laws, overcome the very powers of hell, and passing by the angels rend the veil to behold the face of God, to know ALL TRUTH that they might be forever free, fulfilling every law, receiving every promise. Glory to God for such as these for no power on earth can stop them, no devils, no mortals nor angels bar their way.
Blasphemy, you say? God never intended man to be perfect in this sphere of progress? So said those also who crucified Christ. He was rejected for having attempted to teach the great "Mysteries of Godliness", those laws of inner perfection.
"Yea, who can stand the test of knowing God?"
The promise is and has always been that when man overcomes the evils of his life and purifies himself through abiding by the secret, inner covenants of his soul he shall behold God. The veil of darkness that must be rent is the hardness of his own heart, the blindness of his own mind which has caused him to remain in a state of unbelief, sealing the heavens. (Ether 4:12-16).
"This is life eternal, to know Thee the only True and Living God, and Jesus Christ whom thou has sent." "And upon my house shall it begin, first among those among you who have professed to know my name and have not known me, but have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord."2 (D. & C. 112:25-26)
The promise has been given in the scripture that those who fulfill the laws of righteousness should comprehend the great mysteries of godliness. To understand the mysteries of godliness would contain the power of comprehension to the degree that every law and every power of godliness would be understood and could be used.
In the Sermon on the Mount this is verified. "Seek ye first the kingdom of God and HIS righteousness" etc. Every one can comprehend that God is perfect and divine and all powerful. But to seek for His righteousness means definitely to seek to in-corporate the righteousness of God into one's own life -- to love as God loves, to think as God thinks, to serve in such infinite compassion of tenderness that one literally becomes One with God in ideals, in desires, in love and goodness. Then it is that all things will be added and all powers.
Yea, "Be ye perfect, even as the Father in heaven is perfect."
1. RLDS D&C 105:10b: First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord. return to paragraph →
2. RLDS D&C 105:10a-10b: And upon my house shall it begin, and from my house shall it go forth, saith the Lord. First among those among you, saith the Lord, who have professed to know my name and have not known me, and have blasphemed against me in the midst of my house, saith the Lord. return to paragraph →