Sunday, June 29, 2025

D&C 67:10-14 -- On Jealousy, Fear, and Humility in the Presence of God

"And again, verily I say unto you that it is your privilege, and a promise I give unto you that have been ordained unto this ministry, that inasmuch as you strip yourselves from jealousies and fears, and humble yourselves before me, for ye are not sufficiently humble, the veil shall be rent and you shall see me and know that I am—not with the carnal neither natural mind, but with the spiritual.
For no man has seen God at any time in the flesh, except quickened by the Spirit of God.
Neither can any natural man abide the presence of God, neither after the carnal mind.
Ye are not able to abide the presence of God now, neither the ministering of angels; wherefore, continue in patience until ye are perfected.
Let not your minds turn back; and when ye are worthy, in mine own due time, ye shall see and know that which was conferred upon you by the hands of my servant Joseph Smith, Jun. Amen."
Doctrine and Covenants 67:10-14


This context here is God, explaining to some men why they weren't able to see him in person as the prophet had. The Lord basically says that they need to keep at it, getting the Spirit into their lives, letting go of their fear, and jealousy (specifically of the prophet in this case, but for us, also in general). God is, in essence, saying "well, I would come right now, but it would destroy you."

It's an interesting answer because that's part of the challenge of life. We started as spirits in the presence of God. We came here to get bodies, but we have to train them to be as pure/good as our spirits are... or were before we came here and were "corrupted" by our choices. Normal desires can all be fulfilled in a righteous way, but we have to learn that, and follow Christ's example of walkeing the earth with a body of his own.

Today, let's work on stripping ourselves of jealousies and fears, and on being worthy to literally stand in the presence of God, understanding that God is the difference between joy and misery, and we need his presence in our lives on some level to feel happiness. He is the light and the life, and reaching towards those things is always going to be worthwhile. :) Let's consider that, and work on being "sufficiently humble" amd remembering how much we need his words and his servants in our lives.

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