Mormon Dilemma 195

15 March

Why Build Temples?

Discourses of Wilford Woodruff, pg 147; “WHY BUILD TEMPLES. We are building temples to the name of the Lord. What are we building them for? That we may enter in and redeem the living and the dead.—JD 22:209, January 9, 1881.”

Hebrews 9:14; “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”

Matthew 22:29-32; “Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”

Wow! Two small passages of scripture carry such weight!  God is so good to us! When I left the Church I’d see passages like these and I was convinced He wrote them with Mormonism in mind.  It still amazes me they fit so nicely to denounce Mormonism. 

The statement made by Mr. Woodruff is astonishing is it not? They build and go into the temple to redeem?  Why not just come right out and call yourself God here and now? Who is the Redeemer? Is it you or Christ Jesus?

While it’s easy enough to pick up on the heretical teachings in Mormonism or any other “ism” for that matter I am reminded by Him on a daily basis of the ugly behavioral problem I embraced for 30 years. Oh how those were some lonely years…my heart is still sad for those who are forcing themselves to live such a dismal existence. 

And what of today? Do we do this to ourselves even today in the choices we make in our lives? What is the temple we’ve built around our lives? Is it work, home, leisure time? I know baseball season is just around the corner and I’m already watching the pre-season games on MLB Network because I’m too impatient for that first pitch in April. Is there anything in my life where I think it can be saved when I show up?  If so that needs to be eradicated from my thinking. God can’t work through me when I have the attitude that He really needs my help. Whether it’s baseball, the neighbor’s problems or a shortcoming at your local church, He doesn’t need you or me to fix it. 

If God needs you then why are you worshiping such a god as this? What are you going to do if you’re really in a pickle and need God, but you have to wait because he needs the help of someone else in your situation? How comforting is that and what kind of god is that? 

Remember, God is the God of the living, not the dead! As His creation we are dead in our sins, but alive because He has forgiven us our trespasses – Col. 2:13. And if you go just one more verse onto 2:14 a glorious verse can be sealed into our hearts. It says; “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross”.

Blotting out the ordinances…those ordinances are the very things that Mormons believe will save them.  How we must pray they see and accept those things are against them, not in favor of!  Today, not tomorrow and not next week, nail that sin or ordinance to His cross.

 

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