After 40 years (period of cleansing and preparation) it is finally time to enter the promised land. You've made some mistakes, worshiped a few golden calves, (anything you can physically touch, see, smell, hear or taste) as carnal men and women tend to do, but you are ready for the next step. It won't be easy. In fact you are going to let go of many of the things you assumed were true. One of the most shocking changes in your perception is the role of prophets. As you journeyed with Moses (the living prophet) you came to love, revere and respect him. Though there were times when you felt resentful of what he told you to do and you murmured just a tad, you grew to love the man. You knew that he spoke for God on your behalf and you were commanded to hearken unto his words. Perhaps you went a step further and put him on a pedestal and even worshiped him to a certain degree. Though he pointed the way to Christ, you wanted him to speak with God on your behalf. He took on that role because God commanded him to. You weren't ready to talk with God face to face as another man speaketh. Personal revelation was too scary for you. You were not quite ready to become a King or Queen, or Priest or Priestess. You preferred for Moses to take the lead in your lives and so he did. Moses struggled with you in the wilderness just like you did and you recognized what a great blessing he was in your life. You became accustomed to him being your leader. You became used to listening to his voice and doing what he asked you to do. You began to forget what you were wandering in the wilderness for. You began to think that the promised land was some far away dream that would never come in your lifetime. So you were content to continue wandering and being led. Until one day, it was time. Your period of cleansing and preparation had ended. But you find out something that is disturbing. Moses (the living prophet or the scriptures) isn't allowed to go with you! Moses can't bring you into the promised land. You don't understand. It seems cruel and strange that God would not allow your great leader to continue to lead. Why?
Moses made an easy (natural) mistake. Instead of giving God the credit for the miracle of the water flowing from the rock for the thirsty children of Israel, he gave himself the credit. But wait, Millennial Mormon guy, why would a loving God do such a thing!? It was just a mistake and couldn't Moses repent? Of course he could and I'm sure he did. But the Lord disallowed him to enter the promised land to teach us all an important lesson that we must never forget. Prophets (living or dead ones) cannot save us. That has never been their purpose or role. They cannot perfect us. They cannot lead us into the celestial kingdom. They cannot lead us into a land flowing with milk and honey. They can only take us so far. They are flesh and blood. They have an important role and purpose. They are special witnesses of Jesus Christ. They are types and showdows of Him just as everything is. Only He can bring us home. Only He can perfect us. Only He can save us. Only He can show us who we really are. Only He can be our Exemplar, Savior, Redeemer, and Mediator. The living and dead apostles and prophets are types and shadows and the natural man tends to put his faith in, and worship the types and shadows and forgets the meaning behind them.
Who leads the children of Israel across the river Jordan (threshold of the Terrestrial)? Joshua (Jesus) takes the lead now. Moses dies (or is translated) as all temporal things do. He was flesh and blood. When the living prophet "dies" and Joshua becomes our new leader then we are ready for the next step in our spiritual journey. The room becomes brighter and we see things clearer. We see the promised land.
But wait Millennial Mormon! Hold on just a minute. Are you telling us that we shouldn't listen to the living prophet anymore and just do whatever we want?! Of course not. Jesus did not come to destroy the law and the prophets but to fulfill them. Jesus Christ is the point. He is what the law and the prophets have always pointed to. When we are ready to accept that, then we are ready to move forward. Nothing has been lost. Your telestial wanderings have served a purpose and you would not be where you are today without them. You aren't losing anything. You aren't going to destroy the living prophet or his words because you are entering the promised land. They have been fulfilled through Jesus Christ.
"I'm still not convinced Millennial Mormon. Show us a sign! Show us proof!"
Careful now. An adulterous generation (fragmented carnal man) seeks signs.
Very well.
Let's try John the Baptist, one of the greatest living prophets ever, and see what he says:
John did baptize in the wilderness (Telestial Kingdom), and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins (Aaronic Priesthood). And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem (those who were in outer darkness), and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel’s hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey (all symbols of the earthy, physical, lone and dreary telestial world); And preached, saying, there cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. (Mark 1:4-7)
When we are ready to leave outer darkness and gain greater light and truth we look for messengers and God sends them to us. We seek and then we find. In God's mercy, because we learn line upon line, precept upon precept, he sends messengers who cry in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord. That is the purpose of apostles, prophets and the scriptures. God is the same yesterday today and forever. Who have been the messengers in your life? We love those messengers. But they are not the Christ. We must let them go before Christ comes. Don't take my word for it. Listen to John the Baptist again:
Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying (becoming perfected or whole or holy). And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he (Jesus) that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him (every knee shall bow and every tongue confess). John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. (John 3:25-31)
Are you ready to let the living prophets decrease and Christ increase? Moses and John are flesh and blood. Moses died or was translated. John the Baptist died. The early apostles died. Joseph Smith died. Brigham Young died. President Hinckley died. Are you ready to let them go? I had a hard time letting President Hinckley go. Even though I knew that Thomas S. Monson was indeed a true prophet. Finally, in the book of Revelation two prophets are killed and lie dead in the streets of Jerusalem before Christ returns (Revelation 11).
"I'm still not convinced Millennial Mormon! I am going to follow the living prophet until I die."
Nothing wrong with that. Nothing wrong at all with that. Christ will be ready to lead the way into the promised land (Terrestrial Kingdom) when you are ready.
"So are you saying that I worship the living prophets and I can't seem to let them go?"
Well, perhaps. Only you can be the judge of that. I do know that Paul was very concerned that the Corinthian saints were tending to worship the personalities of the apostles and prophets instead of seeking perfection through Jesus Christ. (see 1 Corinthians chapter 3. A great chapter that clearly illustrates these principles. Can ye bear it?)
If you are reading this then perhaps you are ready to leave behind your "Nicodemus Mormom" ways and begin a millennial reign inside yourself. On the other hand, you may not be ready. And that is okay. There is no rush. Take your time. If you are afraid then stop reading this blog. If you are fearful then it isn't the right time. This blog is just my opinion and can be rejected at any time. You are not bound to listen or to follow. If the Spirit prompts you to read more then so be it. You are always welcome on this blog. Anytime.
Finally listen to this beautiful passage of scripture and feel what the Lord might be saying to you: And Moses went up from the plains of Moab (Telestial Kingdom) unto the mountain (Temple) of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, that is over against Jericho. And the Lord shewed him all the land of Gilead, unto Dan, and all Naphtali, and the land of Ephraim, and Manasseh, and all the land of Judah, unto the utmost sea, and the south, and the plain of the valley of Jericho, the city of palm trees, unto Zoar. And the Lord said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed (children of the prophets): I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither. So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab (Telestial Kingdom), according to the word of the Lord. And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Beth-peor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchure unto this day. And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated (how I saw President Hinckley when he died). And the children of Israel wept for Moses (I wept for Pres. Hinckley and still miss him) in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended. And Joshua (Jesus Christ) the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him (pointed to him and been a special witness): and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as the Lord commanded Moses (to become perfected in Christ). And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face, in all the signs and the wonders, which the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, and in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel. (Deuteronomy 34:1-12)
The Lord wants all his people to become prophets (D&C 1:20; Numbers 11:29). He wants to speak with you face to face. He wants you to live your life by personal revelation. He is ready for you to take this step when you allow the prophets to decrease and Christ to increase. The law and the prophets will always be a part of you. You will forever and always be grateful for these messengers that pointed you toward Jesus Christ.
End of Part 2.
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