The Mark and the Mysteries
by Joseph Warren Grammer
by Joseph Warren Grammer
The questions have often been asked, “What is the mark, as mentioned in the fourth chapter of Jacob?” And, “What does going beyond the mark really mean?”
Many believe that going beyond the mark is looking into the mysteries, or the deeper and forbidden things, which is actually some of the meat of the gospel. They believe we should be sticking to gospel basics, which is the milk of the gospel.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrews: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14.)
Here Paul is telling the Hebrews that they are not spiritually mature enough to accept the meat of the gospel, which are the advanced things of salvation. He said they “ought” to be teaching those things. Instead, he tells them they are still taking the milk like a baby instead of being full grown in the spirit. From him we learn that those who still require the milk of the gospel, instead of the meat, are unskilful in righteousness.
He had a similar thing to say to the Corinthians. “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (1 Cor. 3:1-4.)
These are pretty strong words. Paul tells the Corinthians that they are carnal, or worldly, because they are still spiritual babies. Because of this, he could not speak to them of spiritual things, but only of carnal or worldly things. They suffered from spiritual immaturity, with envying, strife, and divisions among them. He said they were carnal because they claimed to follow men, such as Paul and Apollos, instead of God through the Holy Spirit. From Paul’s writings we learn that following a man, instead of the Spirit of God, exposes the fact that we are still carnal and spiritual babies.
Isaiah lets us know who is able to be taught spiritual things. He wrote, “whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.” (Isa. 28:9.) So, unless we can be weaned from the milk bottle and taken from the pablum bowl, we are doomed to remain carnal and worldly. Such will always strive to go beyond the mark and never know the mysteries.
What Is the Mark?
The primary scripture referring to going beyond the mark is found in Jacob 4:14. That whole chapter four has a lot of wonderful teachings in it, but we will stay with the subject of the mark. In doing so, let’s start with the previous verse. From Jacob 4:13-14 we are told what the mark is:
13. Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the SPIRIT speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, IT speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.
14. But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and 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; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble. (Jacob 4:13-14.)
When God repeats Himself we should listen, for in His repeating we get the meaning of what He is trying to tell us. In verse 13 we are told that the SPIRIT speaketh “plainly.” The word plainly refers back to the word “Spirit.” In verse 14 we learn that the Jews “despised the words of plainness,” or in other words, they despised the words of the “plainness” of the HOLY SPIRIT. They liked to complicate things through analytical debates, and adhering to every law with rigidity was comfortable to them. Because the Jews despised God’s plainness, or SPIRIT, the Lord took His “plainness,” from them, or He took His SPIRIT from them. Jesus taught, “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear; for with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you; and unto you that continue to receive, shall more be given; for he that receiveth, to him shall be given; but he that continueth not to receive, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.” (JST Mark 4:20.) The plain speaking of God’s Spirit IS the mark.
Three times in Jacob 4:13-14 the Lord used the word “plainly,” or “plainness.” He is telling us here that when His Spirit speaks to us, he does it plainly, simply, and uncomplicatedly without confusion. From what we have studied, we learn that, (1) The “mark” is THE PLAINNESS AND SIMPLICITY OF THE WHISPERINGS OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT; and (2) “looking beyond the mark” is LOOKING BEYOND what God has presented in a PLAIN manner by His HOLY SPIRIT, to receive counsel from some other source through man.
Keeping it Simple
Many cannot stand simplicity. They feel there has to be more to it than what has been taught in a straightforward manner. They seem to like things a little more complicated than crystal-clear. As one person put it, some are caught up in the “thick of thin things.” Because they cannot, or WILL NOT, understand the simplicity of the Spirit, they seek the council of man to help them understand the things of God. When man relies upon man for the things of God, instead of the Spirit, they are led into many philosophies and veer off the straight and narrow path. The Lord commanded that, “MAN SHOULD NOT COUNSEL HIS FELLOW MAN, neither trust in the arm of flesh” (D&C 1:19), meaning that we are to take counsel of God through the plainness of the Spirit.
It is true that some of God’s prophecies, especially pertaining to the Lord’s second coming, are difficult to understand, but that is due to the fact that most of them are couched in metaphorical terms and sealed so that only those who are endowed with the spirit of prophecy can understand them. Such prophecies, however, are to be unsealed just before and at the time of their fulfilling. (In fact, they have already been unsealed.) And it is true that the Lord taught in parables. That was so those of His true followers, those endowed by the Spirit, could understand the mysteries, but the others would not understand. (Matt. 13:10-11; Luke 8:10.) Those not so gifted of the Spirit must try to analyze and intellectualize those parables to figure them out, but they usually fall short of finding their true meaning. However, the scriptures have the plain answers to our questions regarding the quest for sanctification, and what the scriptures do not provide, the Holy Ghost teaches.
There is a lot of truth that can be found in most all books, no matter from what religion or source they may come, and there are a lot of good books from which to learn. But why do so many find it necessary to complicate simple truths by veering off, for example, to some mystical writing of a guru, to some scientific analytical cacophony, or to a long and drawn out intellectualizing of something found in holy writ which God has given in plainness, which veering can lead to diverse and strange concepts that are foreign to the true gospel of Christ?
The answer to that question could be that some people like to be intellectually stimulated and entertained instead of coming to the point. They seem to have trouble grasping simple truth and following through with what the Lord has given in plainness through His Spirit. When the Spirit speaks, they often have to go to some other source, to man, the arm of flesh, for verification instead of trusting in God’s plainness. It could be a way of staying off the time when they have to truly make a decision one way or the other if they are going to live God’s celestial laws or not; rationalizing how to get out of it, around it, or how to ignore it. By going through all kinds of mental jargon, some waste precious time and spiritual growth by trying to swallow the big proverbial camel while choking on a simple gnat. (Matt. 23:24.) It’s like circling the field seeming never able to find the safe landing strip, or searching for that unfathomable concept or principle that will eventually click on the cerebral lightbulb.
It is Satan’s desire to keep people confused and off the straight and narrow path from which they grasp the iron rod—personal revelation through the plain speaking of the Holy Ghost. When we go beyond the mark by letting go of the iron rod, we are drawn off onto forbidden paths.
The proud and mentally sophisticated are, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7), even when it is there in plainness and simplicity to the humble followers of Christ. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why the poor in spirit, the meek, and the pure in heart will inherit the earth, receive the kingdom of heaven, and see God. Those who are truly hungry and thirsty for righteousness will recognize spiritual food and drink when it is simply presented, without having to stick their head into every grocery store along the way—garbage cans in some cases—to find what truly sustains life.
Being Doers of the Word
In all of this, it is not how complicated we become in our analysis and thinking about a given subject, but what we do with what is simply set before us in plainness.
All of us need to be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Hearing the word does not reveal the desires of our hearts, it is the DOING of the word. James said, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22.) Just going to a church meeting and hearing a message does not demonstrate any righteousness; the wicked can do that. It is the DOING of the message with an eye single to God’s glory, and the blessing of His children, that exhibits our true nature.
When God says that we should have no other God’s before Him and that we should have an eye single to His glory (Ex. 20:3-8; Matt. 22:37; D&C 59:5, 4:5), that means that He is to be our first thought in rising in the morning, our last thought upon retiring, and our primary thought throughout the day—not our business of making money, our interest in sports and recreation, or anything else. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31.) And to his son, Helaman, Alma wrote, “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” (Alma 37:37.)
When God says do not steal (Ex. 20:15), He means that we should NOT take advantage of someone in business because that’s the way the business world does it; we should not covet what he has (Ex. 20:17); but we are to treat him as we would treat ourselves. (Matt. 20:39; Matt. 7:12.) When we make a covenant in the temple to consecrate all we have, or ever hope to have, to the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and the establishment of Zion, that means now; we should not try to rationalize it by saying that the covenant was for some future date. When commanded to warn our neighbor (D&C 88:77-82), that means do it. When commanded to study Isaiah diligently (3 Ne. 23:1-3), that means study the Prophet Isaiah however we can, using all the resources, even the unsealed works. When we are commanded to flee Babylon, let’s get an understanding of what Babylon is and get a move on. When commanded to freely teach our children about sanctification (Moses 6:58-62), then that is our duty. When we are commanded to be anxiously engaged in a good cause and do many things of our own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness (D&C 58:27), what else should we be doing but that? And we could go on, and on, and on. What could be plainer?
Communing with God
We can effectively commune with God, but only when we do not go beyond the mark. When we remain a stiffnecked people, as did the Jews, then we are still babies and will not be able to receive what the Lord desires to bestow upon us.
On this subject the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “... the things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity—thou must commune with God.” (TPJS, p. 137.)
The Prophet did not say that we are to commune with man to lead a soul unto salvation, but that we must “stretch as high as the utmost heavens.” This can only be done by communing with God, not man—no matter who that man is. We are to take counsel of the Spirit. When we counsel with man we are putting our trust in the “arm of flesh,” which we are commanded not to do. From Jeremiah we read, “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.”(Jer. 17:5.) And from Nephi we learn: “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.” (2 Ne. 4:34.)
We cannot commune with God when we look beyond the mark by only following men who only have worldly, temporal, or telestial stewardship over others. We must be in touch with God through His Spirit. We must be spiritually mature and capable of receiving spiritual meat. We must be weaned from the carnal minded. Only then can we be capable of receiving and understanding the mysteries of God.
We Are to Know the Mysteries
Now what is a mystery? Simply put, a mystery is something of which the cause or meaning is unknown. What might be a mystery to one, may not be a mystery to another. How a few tons of metal can fly through the air may be a mystery to a young boy in kindergarten, but to an aeronautical engineer it is no mystery; and how to raise the dead is a mystery to most people, but to Jesus it is no mystery. There are many things that are considered mysteries in religious circles, but an understanding of those same things may be essential to our effectively communing with God.
When we really consider the subject, we learn that our salvation is contingent upon us knowing the mysteries. Jesus said, “... Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” (Matt. 13:112.) Some can know the mysteries and some will not. Why will some not come to know them? Because they are a stiffnecked people and go beyond the mark, unable to understand the simplicity of God’s teachings through the whisperings of the Spirit.
How do we come to know the mysteries? As stated above, we must NOT be stiffnecked and go beyond the mark. We must be capable of receiving some meat and be in tune with and follow the Spirit. From Jacob 4:13 we learn that the Spirit “speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be”; those THINGS are the mysteries.
Next, we are to simply ask.
16. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, ... having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did CRY unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father;.... (1 Ne. 2:16.)
19. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come;.... (1 Ne. 10:19.)
Nephi tells us that he cried unto the Lord. He simply ASKED. Remember what Jesus taught: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” (Matt. 7:7.) When we are capable of receiving further light and knowledge, and we ask of God, He can reveal the mysteries of the past, the present, and the future.
Nephi also lets us know that the mysteries are given by the power of the Holy Ghost. We can study all the scriptures and books in the world, but if we are a stiffnecked people and unable to understand the plain and simple whisperings of the Spirit we will never be able to comprehend the mysteries that may be contained therein.
Receiving such mysteries makes us rich unto eternal life. The Lord taught: “Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.” (D&C 11:7.) And again He said, “If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” (D&C 42:61.) We must ask to receive, for the mysteries can bring eternal life.
Another requirement for receiving the mysteries of eternal life is to keep the commandments of God. “But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.” (D&C 63:23.) Keeping the commandments, honoring and serving the Lord in righteousness unto the end can help qualify one to receive the mysteries.
5. For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
6. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
7. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.” (D&C 76:5-7.)
However, it is through the higher priesthood that the keys of the mysteries are revealed: “And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.” (D&C 84:19.)
But after receiving a knowledge of the mysteries, we are not to teach them to the babes, as Paul taught. From the Joseph Smith’s translation of Matthew we learn: “And the mysteries of the kingdom ye shall keep within yourselves; for it is not meet to give that which is holy unto the dogs; neither cast ye your pearls unto swine, lest they trample them under their feet.” (JST Matt. 7:10.)
The up-side of being spiritually mature, and not going beyond the mark, is that we can come to know all the mysteries, which is part of eternal life. “And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.” (Alma 12:10.) The down-side for those who are being hard-hearted, or a stiffnecked and stubborn people, is that they will receive a lesser portion of God’s word, which is carnal in nature and cannot lead to eternal life. The Lord declared, “And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel; But THEY RECEIVE IT NOT; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.” (D&C 45:28-29.)
We have come to understand that the fullness of the gospel is the light that has come unto the Gentiles, that of the fullness of God’s glory. The Gentiles, of course, are those through whom the Book of Mormon came into the world as stated on the title page of the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 15:13, and D&C 35:17. The Gentiles are modern Ephraim, or members of the LDS Church.
But, and here is the big BUT, the Gentiles will reject the fulness of the gospel. We are told that the Gentiles will sin against the gospel and that the fulness will be taken from them and given unto the House of Israel (3 Ne. 16:10; 3 Ne. 21:1-2, 5-6; D&C 14:10.) We also know that the LDS Church is still under condemnation. (D&C 84:49-58; Morm. 8:34-41; President Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Address, 4 Oct. 1986, The Book of Mormon–Keystone of Our Religion.)
How, may we ask, have the Gentiles—who are the members of the LDS Church—sinned against the gospel? It is because they trust in the arm of flesh more than in the plainness of God’s Spirit, and they seek the things of the world. Generally speaking, they HAVE become as the ancient Jews: envious, full of strife and divisions, carnal and worldly, walking as men seeking to please other men rather than God, stiffnecked, and despising the plainness of God’s Holy Spirit and the simplicity of the gospel. They look beyond the mark and seek the counsel of man, neither seeking after nor understanding the mysteries of eternal life. From the Book of Mormon:
9. And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.
10. And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.
11. And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell. (Alma 12:9-11.)
We read in verse nine that it is given to many “to know the mysteries of God.” These mysteries are not obtained by reading books, regardless of who wrote those books. If mysteries can be obtained from books, then most every one would have access to all the mysteries. But that is not so, for the mysteries are to be imparted only to those whose hearts have not been hardened. Through the Prophet Joseph Smith the Lord said, “Behold, thou shalt observe all these things, and great shall be thy reward; for unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom, but unto the world it is not given to know them.” (D&C 42:65.) The fulness of the mysteries are only given to the sanctified by way of the Holy Ghost. They are NOT available to everyone in the whole world, unless those in the world become sanctified.
Verses ten and eleven let us know that he who has hardened his heart and is stiffnecked [going beyond the mark] will receive progressively lesser portions of the word, or mysteries, until he knows nothing concerning God’s mysteries. However, he who does not have a heart that has been hardened, but is humble, submissive and obedient, and can understand the plainness of the word of God—the iron rod, which is personal revelation through the Holy Spirit—will be given a greater portion of the word, “until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he knows them in full.” Knowing the mysteries of God in full is to receive the fulness of God, which is the fulness of the gospel of Christ.
Many believe that going beyond the mark is looking into the mysteries, or the deeper and forbidden things, which is actually some of the meat of the gospel. They believe we should be sticking to gospel basics, which is the milk of the gospel.
The Apostle Paul wrote to the Hebrews: “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” (Hebrews 5:12-14.)
Here Paul is telling the Hebrews that they are not spiritually mature enough to accept the meat of the gospel, which are the advanced things of salvation. He said they “ought” to be teaching those things. Instead, he tells them they are still taking the milk like a baby instead of being full grown in the spirit. From him we learn that those who still require the milk of the gospel, instead of the meat, are unskilful in righteousness.
He had a similar thing to say to the Corinthians. “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” (1 Cor. 3:1-4.)
These are pretty strong words. Paul tells the Corinthians that they are carnal, or worldly, because they are still spiritual babies. Because of this, he could not speak to them of spiritual things, but only of carnal or worldly things. They suffered from spiritual immaturity, with envying, strife, and divisions among them. He said they were carnal because they claimed to follow men, such as Paul and Apollos, instead of God through the Holy Spirit. From Paul’s writings we learn that following a man, instead of the Spirit of God, exposes the fact that we are still carnal and spiritual babies.
Isaiah lets us know who is able to be taught spiritual things. He wrote, “whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.” (Isa. 28:9.) So, unless we can be weaned from the milk bottle and taken from the pablum bowl, we are doomed to remain carnal and worldly. Such will always strive to go beyond the mark and never know the mysteries.
What Is the Mark?
The primary scripture referring to going beyond the mark is found in Jacob 4:14. That whole chapter four has a lot of wonderful teachings in it, but we will stay with the subject of the mark. In doing so, let’s start with the previous verse. From Jacob 4:13-14 we are told what the mark is:
13. Behold, my brethren, he that prophesieth, let him prophesy to the understanding of men; for the SPIRIT speaketh the truth and lieth not. Wherefore, IT speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be; wherefore, these things are manifested unto us plainly, for the salvation of our souls. But behold, we are not witnesses alone in these things; for God also spake them unto prophets of old.
14. But behold, the Jews were a stiffnecked people; and they despised the words of plainness, and 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; for God hath taken away his plainness from them, and delivered unto them many things which they cannot understand, because they desired it. And because they desired it God hath done it, that they may stumble. (Jacob 4:13-14.)
When God repeats Himself we should listen, for in His repeating we get the meaning of what He is trying to tell us. In verse 13 we are told that the SPIRIT speaketh “plainly.” The word plainly refers back to the word “Spirit.” In verse 14 we learn that the Jews “despised the words of plainness,” or in other words, they despised the words of the “plainness” of the HOLY SPIRIT. They liked to complicate things through analytical debates, and adhering to every law with rigidity was comfortable to them. Because the Jews despised God’s plainness, or SPIRIT, the Lord took His “plainness,” from them, or He took His SPIRIT from them. Jesus taught, “And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear; for with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you; and unto you that continue to receive, shall more be given; for he that receiveth, to him shall be given; but he that continueth not to receive, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.” (JST Mark 4:20.) The plain speaking of God’s Spirit IS the mark.
Three times in Jacob 4:13-14 the Lord used the word “plainly,” or “plainness.” He is telling us here that when His Spirit speaks to us, he does it plainly, simply, and uncomplicatedly without confusion. From what we have studied, we learn that, (1) The “mark” is THE PLAINNESS AND SIMPLICITY OF THE WHISPERINGS OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT; and (2) “looking beyond the mark” is LOOKING BEYOND what God has presented in a PLAIN manner by His HOLY SPIRIT, to receive counsel from some other source through man.
Keeping it Simple
Many cannot stand simplicity. They feel there has to be more to it than what has been taught in a straightforward manner. They seem to like things a little more complicated than crystal-clear. As one person put it, some are caught up in the “thick of thin things.” Because they cannot, or WILL NOT, understand the simplicity of the Spirit, they seek the council of man to help them understand the things of God. When man relies upon man for the things of God, instead of the Spirit, they are led into many philosophies and veer off the straight and narrow path. The Lord commanded that, “MAN SHOULD NOT COUNSEL HIS FELLOW MAN, neither trust in the arm of flesh” (D&C 1:19), meaning that we are to take counsel of God through the plainness of the Spirit.
It is true that some of God’s prophecies, especially pertaining to the Lord’s second coming, are difficult to understand, but that is due to the fact that most of them are couched in metaphorical terms and sealed so that only those who are endowed with the spirit of prophecy can understand them. Such prophecies, however, are to be unsealed just before and at the time of their fulfilling. (In fact, they have already been unsealed.) And it is true that the Lord taught in parables. That was so those of His true followers, those endowed by the Spirit, could understand the mysteries, but the others would not understand. (Matt. 13:10-11; Luke 8:10.) Those not so gifted of the Spirit must try to analyze and intellectualize those parables to figure them out, but they usually fall short of finding their true meaning. However, the scriptures have the plain answers to our questions regarding the quest for sanctification, and what the scriptures do not provide, the Holy Ghost teaches.
There is a lot of truth that can be found in most all books, no matter from what religion or source they may come, and there are a lot of good books from which to learn. But why do so many find it necessary to complicate simple truths by veering off, for example, to some mystical writing of a guru, to some scientific analytical cacophony, or to a long and drawn out intellectualizing of something found in holy writ which God has given in plainness, which veering can lead to diverse and strange concepts that are foreign to the true gospel of Christ?
The answer to that question could be that some people like to be intellectually stimulated and entertained instead of coming to the point. They seem to have trouble grasping simple truth and following through with what the Lord has given in plainness through His Spirit. When the Spirit speaks, they often have to go to some other source, to man, the arm of flesh, for verification instead of trusting in God’s plainness. It could be a way of staying off the time when they have to truly make a decision one way or the other if they are going to live God’s celestial laws or not; rationalizing how to get out of it, around it, or how to ignore it. By going through all kinds of mental jargon, some waste precious time and spiritual growth by trying to swallow the big proverbial camel while choking on a simple gnat. (Matt. 23:24.) It’s like circling the field seeming never able to find the safe landing strip, or searching for that unfathomable concept or principle that will eventually click on the cerebral lightbulb.
It is Satan’s desire to keep people confused and off the straight and narrow path from which they grasp the iron rod—personal revelation through the plain speaking of the Holy Ghost. When we go beyond the mark by letting go of the iron rod, we are drawn off onto forbidden paths.
The proud and mentally sophisticated are, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 3:7), even when it is there in plainness and simplicity to the humble followers of Christ. Perhaps that is one of the reasons why the poor in spirit, the meek, and the pure in heart will inherit the earth, receive the kingdom of heaven, and see God. Those who are truly hungry and thirsty for righteousness will recognize spiritual food and drink when it is simply presented, without having to stick their head into every grocery store along the way—garbage cans in some cases—to find what truly sustains life.
Being Doers of the Word
In all of this, it is not how complicated we become in our analysis and thinking about a given subject, but what we do with what is simply set before us in plainness.
All of us need to be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Hearing the word does not reveal the desires of our hearts, it is the DOING of the word. James said, “But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.” (James 1:22.) Just going to a church meeting and hearing a message does not demonstrate any righteousness; the wicked can do that. It is the DOING of the message with an eye single to God’s glory, and the blessing of His children, that exhibits our true nature.
When God says that we should have no other God’s before Him and that we should have an eye single to His glory (Ex. 20:3-8; Matt. 22:37; D&C 59:5, 4:5), that means that He is to be our first thought in rising in the morning, our last thought upon retiring, and our primary thought throughout the day—not our business of making money, our interest in sports and recreation, or anything else. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Cor. 10:31.) And to his son, Helaman, Alma wrote, “Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.” (Alma 37:37.)
When God says do not steal (Ex. 20:15), He means that we should NOT take advantage of someone in business because that’s the way the business world does it; we should not covet what he has (Ex. 20:17); but we are to treat him as we would treat ourselves. (Matt. 20:39; Matt. 7:12.) When we make a covenant in the temple to consecrate all we have, or ever hope to have, to the building up of the Kingdom of God on the earth and the establishment of Zion, that means now; we should not try to rationalize it by saying that the covenant was for some future date. When commanded to warn our neighbor (D&C 88:77-82), that means do it. When commanded to study Isaiah diligently (3 Ne. 23:1-3), that means study the Prophet Isaiah however we can, using all the resources, even the unsealed works. When we are commanded to flee Babylon, let’s get an understanding of what Babylon is and get a move on. When commanded to freely teach our children about sanctification (Moses 6:58-62), then that is our duty. When we are commanded to be anxiously engaged in a good cause and do many things of our own free will, and bring to pass much righteousness (D&C 58:27), what else should we be doing but that? And we could go on, and on, and on. What could be plainer?
Communing with God
We can effectively commune with God, but only when we do not go beyond the mark. When we remain a stiffnecked people, as did the Jews, then we are still babies and will not be able to receive what the Lord desires to bestow upon us.
On this subject the Prophet Joseph Smith taught, “... the things of God are of deep import; and time, and experience, and careful and ponderous and solemn thoughts can only find them out. Thy mind, O man! if thou wilt lead a soul unto salvation, must stretch as high as the utmost heavens, and search into and contemplate the darkest abyss, and the broad expanse of eternity—thou must commune with God.” (TPJS, p. 137.)
The Prophet did not say that we are to commune with man to lead a soul unto salvation, but that we must “stretch as high as the utmost heavens.” This can only be done by communing with God, not man—no matter who that man is. We are to take counsel of the Spirit. When we counsel with man we are putting our trust in the “arm of flesh,” which we are commanded not to do. From Jeremiah we read, “Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.”(Jer. 17:5.) And from Nephi we learn: “O Lord, I have trusted in thee, and I will trust in thee forever. I will not put my trust in the arm of flesh; for I know that cursed is he that putteth his trust in the arm of flesh. Yea, cursed is he that putteth his trust in man or maketh flesh his arm.” (2 Ne. 4:34.)
We cannot commune with God when we look beyond the mark by only following men who only have worldly, temporal, or telestial stewardship over others. We must be in touch with God through His Spirit. We must be spiritually mature and capable of receiving spiritual meat. We must be weaned from the carnal minded. Only then can we be capable of receiving and understanding the mysteries of God.
We Are to Know the Mysteries
Now what is a mystery? Simply put, a mystery is something of which the cause or meaning is unknown. What might be a mystery to one, may not be a mystery to another. How a few tons of metal can fly through the air may be a mystery to a young boy in kindergarten, but to an aeronautical engineer it is no mystery; and how to raise the dead is a mystery to most people, but to Jesus it is no mystery. There are many things that are considered mysteries in religious circles, but an understanding of those same things may be essential to our effectively communing with God.
When we really consider the subject, we learn that our salvation is contingent upon us knowing the mysteries. Jesus said, “... Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” (Matt. 13:112.) Some can know the mysteries and some will not. Why will some not come to know them? Because they are a stiffnecked people and go beyond the mark, unable to understand the simplicity of God’s teachings through the whisperings of the Spirit.
How do we come to know the mysteries? As stated above, we must NOT be stiffnecked and go beyond the mark. We must be capable of receiving some meat and be in tune with and follow the Spirit. From Jacob 4:13 we learn that the Spirit “speaketh of things as they really are, and of things as they really will be”; those THINGS are the mysteries.
Next, we are to simply ask.
16. And it came to pass that I, Nephi, ... having great desires to know of the mysteries of God, wherefore, I did CRY unto the Lord; and behold he did visit me, and did soften my heart that I did believe all the words which had been spoken by my father;.... (1 Ne. 2:16.)
19. For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come;.... (1 Ne. 10:19.)
Nephi tells us that he cried unto the Lord. He simply ASKED. Remember what Jesus taught: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” (Matt. 7:7.) When we are capable of receiving further light and knowledge, and we ask of God, He can reveal the mysteries of the past, the present, and the future.
Nephi also lets us know that the mysteries are given by the power of the Holy Ghost. We can study all the scriptures and books in the world, but if we are a stiffnecked people and unable to understand the plain and simple whisperings of the Spirit we will never be able to comprehend the mysteries that may be contained therein.
Receiving such mysteries makes us rich unto eternal life. The Lord taught: “Seek not for riches but for wisdom; and, behold, the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto you, and then shall you be made rich. Behold, he that hath eternal life is rich.” (D&C 11:7.) And again He said, “If thou shalt ask, thou shalt receive revelation upon revelation, knowledge upon knowledge, that thou mayest know the mysteries and peaceable things—that which bringeth joy, that which bringeth life eternal.” (D&C 42:61.) We must ask to receive, for the mysteries can bring eternal life.
Another requirement for receiving the mysteries of eternal life is to keep the commandments of God. “But unto him that keepeth my commandments I will give the mysteries of my kingdom, and the same shall be in him a well of living water, springing up unto everlasting life.” (D&C 63:23.) Keeping the commandments, honoring and serving the Lord in righteousness unto the end can help qualify one to receive the mysteries.
5. For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am merciful and gracious unto those who fear me, and delight to honor those who serve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.
6. Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their glory.
7. And to them will I reveal all mysteries, yea, all the hidden mysteries of my kingdom from days of old, and for ages to come, will I make known unto them the good pleasure of my will concerning all things pertaining to my kingdom.” (D&C 76:5-7.)
However, it is through the higher priesthood that the keys of the mysteries are revealed: “And this greater priesthood administereth the gospel and holdeth the key of the mysteries of the kingdom, even the key of the knowledge of God.” (D&C 84:19.)
But after receiving a knowledge of the mysteries, we are not to teach them to the babes, as Paul taught. From the Joseph Smith’s translation of Matthew we learn: “And the mysteries of the kingdom ye shall keep within yourselves; for it is not meet to give that which is holy unto the dogs; neither cast ye your pearls unto swine, lest they trample them under their feet.” (JST Matt. 7:10.)
The up-side of being spiritually mature, and not going beyond the mark, is that we can come to know all the mysteries, which is part of eternal life. “And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.” (Alma 12:10.) The down-side for those who are being hard-hearted, or a stiffnecked and stubborn people, is that they will receive a lesser portion of God’s word, which is carnal in nature and cannot lead to eternal life. The Lord declared, “And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fulness of my gospel; But THEY RECEIVE IT NOT; for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of men.” (D&C 45:28-29.)
We have come to understand that the fullness of the gospel is the light that has come unto the Gentiles, that of the fullness of God’s glory. The Gentiles, of course, are those through whom the Book of Mormon came into the world as stated on the title page of the Book of Mormon, 1 Nephi 15:13, and D&C 35:17. The Gentiles are modern Ephraim, or members of the LDS Church.
But, and here is the big BUT, the Gentiles will reject the fulness of the gospel. We are told that the Gentiles will sin against the gospel and that the fulness will be taken from them and given unto the House of Israel (3 Ne. 16:10; 3 Ne. 21:1-2, 5-6; D&C 14:10.) We also know that the LDS Church is still under condemnation. (D&C 84:49-58; Morm. 8:34-41; President Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Address, 4 Oct. 1986, The Book of Mormon–Keystone of Our Religion.)
How, may we ask, have the Gentiles—who are the members of the LDS Church—sinned against the gospel? It is because they trust in the arm of flesh more than in the plainness of God’s Spirit, and they seek the things of the world. Generally speaking, they HAVE become as the ancient Jews: envious, full of strife and divisions, carnal and worldly, walking as men seeking to please other men rather than God, stiffnecked, and despising the plainness of God’s Holy Spirit and the simplicity of the gospel. They look beyond the mark and seek the counsel of man, neither seeking after nor understanding the mysteries of eternal life. From the Book of Mormon:
9. And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.
10. And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.
11. And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell. (Alma 12:9-11.)
We read in verse nine that it is given to many “to know the mysteries of God.” These mysteries are not obtained by reading books, regardless of who wrote those books. If mysteries can be obtained from books, then most every one would have access to all the mysteries. But that is not so, for the mysteries are to be imparted only to those whose hearts have not been hardened. Through the Prophet Joseph Smith the Lord said, “Behold, thou shalt observe all these things, and great shall be thy reward; for unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom, but unto the world it is not given to know them.” (D&C 42:65.) The fulness of the mysteries are only given to the sanctified by way of the Holy Ghost. They are NOT available to everyone in the whole world, unless those in the world become sanctified.
Verses ten and eleven let us know that he who has hardened his heart and is stiffnecked [going beyond the mark] will receive progressively lesser portions of the word, or mysteries, until he knows nothing concerning God’s mysteries. However, he who does not have a heart that has been hardened, but is humble, submissive and obedient, and can understand the plainness of the word of God—the iron rod, which is personal revelation through the Holy Spirit—will be given a greater portion of the word, “until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God until he knows them in full.” Knowing the mysteries of God in full is to receive the fulness of God, which is the fulness of the gospel of Christ.
