“Achilles, Heel Thyself” - Mercy for Me, Justice for Thee

          This paper does not address Greek mythology and its greatest warrior. The title is a play on words to address our inherent blindness in observing our weakness and vulnerabilities. We tend to ignore their  existence or excuse them because we are human. On the other hand, the Accuser delights in revealing them to rob us of faith and cripple us by obsessing on them. He uses our weakness as leverage to convince us God cannot accept anyone as unworthy as ourselves.

          In contrast to the Accuser’s strategy, the Lord revealed to Moroni His objective for mankind’s advancement.

“When I had said this, the Lord told me: Fools mock, but they will mourn. And My grace is sufficient for the meek, so that they won’t find an excuse in your weaknesses. If people come to Me, I’ll show them their weaknesses. I give people weaknesses so they can be humble. And My grace is sufficient for all people who humble themselves before Me. If they humble themselves before Me and have faith in Me, then I’ll make weak things become strong for them. I’ll show the Gentiles their weaknesses. I’ll show them that faith, hope, and charity lead to Me, the Source of all righteousness” (CofC Ether 5:5, emphasis added).

If people turn to the Lord, He shows them their weakness. Exposing their weakness is not an act of condemnation, rather inspiration to have faith and humility. Humility is essential to the Lord’s required sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit.

“All you that have been spared because you were more righteous than they were, will you return to Me now and repent of your sins and be converted, so I can heal you? I promise you: If you come to Me, you will have eternal life. My arm of mercy is reaching for you. Anyone who comes to Me, I’ll receive them; those who come to Me will be blessed. I Am Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I created the heavens, the earth, and everything that’s in them. I was with the Father since the beginning. I Am in the Father and the Father in Me; and the Father has glorified His name in Me. I came to My own, and My own rejected Me; and the scriptures promising My coming are fulfilled. I’ve given power to all those who have received Me, to become sons and daughters of God. Likewise, I’ll give power to all those who believe in My name. Because redemption comes through Me, and the Law of Moses has been concluded by Me. I Am the light and the life of the world. I Am first and last, the beginning and the end. You must no longer shed blood as an offering to Me; indeed, your sacrifices and burnt offerings must end now, because I’ll no longer accept any of your sacrifices or burnt offerings. You must offer Me a broken heart and a contrite spirit as a sacrifice. Whoever comes to Me with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, I’ll baptize them with fire and the Holy Ghost, just like the Lamanites were baptized with fire and the Holy Ghost because of their faith in Me at the time of their conversion, and yet they didn’t understand what it was. I’ve come into the world to bring redemption to the world, to save the world from sin. Therefore whoever repents and comes to Me as a little child, I will receive them, because God’s kingdom is made up of people like this. I’ve given My life for such people, and I’ve taken it up again. Therefore repent and come to Me, everyone throughout the world, and be saved” (CofC 3 Nephi 4:7, emphasis added).

The Savior invites all to return to Him through repentance and conversion leading to healing [forgiveness, sanctification][1]. If we come to Him with a broken heart and contrite spirit as our sacrificial offering, Christ baptizes, or sanctifies us with fire and the Holy Ghost.

The attitude of people who receive the spiritual rebirth is submission to the Lord as a child does their parent. They are transformed into His image spiritually to accompany their physical creation in God’s image. The kingdom of God consists of people like this and are the people for whom the Lord has given His life and taken it again. They are the beneficiaries of the full effect of the Atonement. The Lord promises, “If you come to me, you will have eternal life,” [God’s life].[2]

“And I, John, bear record and lo, the Heavens were opened, and the holy ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove and set upon him. And there came a voice out of Heaven saying, This is my Beloved Son.

And I, John, bear record that he received a fullness of the glory of the Father. And he received all power, both in Heaven and on earth, and the glory of the Father was with him, for he dwelt in him.

And it shall come to pass that if you are faithful, you shall receive the fullness of the record of John. I give unto you these sayings that you may understand and know how to worship, and know what you worship, that you may come unto the Father in my name, and in due time receive of his fullness, for if you keep my commandments, you shall receive of his fullness and be glorified in me as I am glorified in the Father. Therefore, I say unto you, you shall receive grace for grace” (RE T&C 93:5-7, emphasis added).

Using the testimony of John the Beloved, the Lord explains His progression from “grace for grace” and then “grace to grace.” Following John’s testimony of the Savior’s ascent, the Lord explains its significance and how His ascension applies to us. The testimony of John the Beloved is given so we understand and know “how to worship” and “what you worship.” If we know what to worship, we understand where our mortal experience can lead. How to worship is strict obedience to the exemplary path and righteous example of Christ. He accomplished the salvation of His creation by replicating exactly what the Father did to save all His creations. Success breeds success.

“Now, therefore, know that Jesus is the Messiah, the Walker in the Path who has proven for evermore that Father Ahman sent Him into the world to prove His Father’s path” (RE T&C 171, Testimony of St. John 12:21, emphasis added).

 For us to obtain eternal life we must turn from our sins and face the Savior by following His path, as He followed the Father’s. They are identically the same. Our ability to successfully walk that path [over eon’s of time][3] is tied to preliminary steps of coming to Him in faith, repenting of our sins, providing the acceptable sacrifice of a broken heart and contrite spirit. When we offer this sacrifice in sincerity, He adopts us into His family and declares “this is My Beloved son or daughter.”[4]

          The great test for us all is the litmus test for a broken heart and contrite spirit. How can we know with certainty we offered the acceptable sacrifice before the Lord to obtain the baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost? The Lord provides the means to weigh whether or not our sacrifice is sufficient. The test is in the writings of Mormon quoted by his son, Moroni:

“My son, this thing shouldn’t be. Because repentance is for those who are under condemnation and the curse of a broken law. The beginning step following repentance is baptism. And baptism comes through faith in order to fulfill the commandments; and fulfilling the commandments brings remission of sins; and the remission of sins brings meekness and a humble heart. And because of meekness and a humble heart comes the presence and gift of the Holy Ghost, and this Comforter fills with hope and perfect love, and this love endures by being diligent in prayer until the end comes, when all the holy ones will live with God” (CofC Moroni 8:5, emphasis added).

“Fulfilling the commandments brings remission of sins, and the remission of sins brings meekness and a humble heart . . .” This reference contains a series of successive steps, each leading to a specified outcome. It starts with repentance and baptism, which is an act of faith in God. Baptism fulfills God’s commandment and fulfilling the commandment leads to remission of sins. Remission of our sins brings meekness and a humble heart. In turn our meekness and humility draw the Holy Ghost to us and we are filled with pure love of Christ or charity. Charity for our fellow man endures through diligent, humble prayer. We become “holy ones” and begin residing in both this world and the next with God.

          The litmus test is where “our sins” are remitted and our hearts are meek and humble.

“Let him that is ignorant learn wisdom [Heavenly Mother][5] by humbling himself and calling upon the Lord his God [“diligence unto prayer”][6], that his [or hers] eyes may be opened that he may see, and his ears opened that he may hear[7];

For my Spirit [Spirit that justifies] is sent forth into the world to enlighten the humble and contrite, and to the condemnation of the ungodly [when it withdraws]” (LDS D&C 136:32-33, emphasis added).

In following the process in RE Moroni 8:5 we bypass “meekness and a humble heart” the Holy Ghost is not drawn to us for the baptism of fire and Holy Ghost and our hearts are not changed through faith on His name. Our sins are not remitted and our hearts not transformed to become one with the Father and Son. We lack Wisdom, or the influence of Heavenly Mother and are minds are not enlightened or ears attuned to perceive and be guided by God’s voice. To have our ears opened to hear the words of Christ, the Holy Ghost is required. Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost. That is why Nephi admonishes us to “feast upon the words of Christ” because it makes us familiar with His voice and show us all things the Lord requires of us.

          Reflecting on the succession of events, the absence of meekness, a humble heart and the justifying power of the Holy Ghost. It circumvents the process by our absence of appreciation for the gravity of our sins. In Denver Snuffer’s account of witnessing the Atonement, he observed the Savior’s suffering in paired waves of pain and anguish.

“After long inquiring into the things which he had seen, the Lord, who is patient and merciful and willing to instruct those who call upon Him, again appeared to the man on the 20th of December, 2007. He made known unto him that the waves of torment suffered by the Lord came in pairs which mirrored each other. The first of each wave poured upon the Lord those feelings, regrets, recriminations, and pains felt by those who injured their fellow man. Then followed a second wave, which mirrored the first, but imposed the pains suffered by the victims of the acts committed by those in the first wave. Instead of the pains of those who inflict hurt or harm, it was now the anger, bitterness, and resentments felt by those who suffered these wrongs.

From each wave of suffering, whether as the one afflicting or as the victim of those wrongs, the Lord would overcome the evil feelings associated with these wrongs, and find His heart again filled with peace [charity]. This was why, in the vision of the suffering of the Lord, it was in the second waves that there appeared oftentimes to be injuries to His body.

The greater difficulty in these paired waves of torment was always overcoming the suffering of the victim. With these waves the Lord learned to overcome the victims’ resentments, to forgive, and to heal both body and spirit. This was more difficult than overcoming the struggles arising from the one who committed the evil. This is because the one doing evil knows he has done wrong and feels a natural regret when he sees himself aright. The victim, however, always feels it is their right to hold resentment, to judge their persecutor, and to withhold peace and love for their fellow men. The Lord was required to overcome both so that He could succor both.

In the pairing of the waves, the first torment was of the mind and spirit, and the second was torment of mind, spirit, and body” (RE T&C 161:17-20, emphasis added).

Mercy for Me, Justice for Thee

          Perpetrators of sin eventually acknowledge they have done evil and feel regret when they see themselves correctly. Victims of the perpetrators are consumed with the notion they did nothing to deserve their afflictions and take satisfaction contemplating their persecutors reception of their just rewards. The victim doesn’t feel charity because they’ve ignored their sins and focused on justice for their persecutor. The sinner is not worthy of nor does the Lord require us to extend charity.

          As victims we become consumed with the idea the perpetrators are worthy of just recompense for sin. We relish the thought revenge is best served cold and we wait anxiously to see God serve it. This type of sin goes unacknowledged and subsequently caused the greater suffering to Christ.

DAVID

          The scriptures place this behavior on display in the account of Nathan’s confrontation of king David:

“. . . And he [Nathan] came unto him [David] and said unto him, There were two men in one city-the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceedingly many flocks and herds, but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb which he had bought and nourished up. And it grew up together with him, and with his children. It did eat of his own food, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveler unto the rich man, and he [the rich man] refrained from taking of his own flock and of his own herd to dress for the wayfaring man that had come unto him, but took the poor man’s lamb, and dressed it for the man that had come to him.

And David’s anger was greatly kindled against the man, and he said to Nathan, As the Lord lives, the man that has done this thing shall surely die. And he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing and because he had no pity [charity].

And Nathan said to David, You are the man . . .” (RE 2 Samuel 4:11-13, emphasis added).

It is unfortunate those who suffer at the hands of sinners are as the rich man in this parable. The heavens weep for sinners because they suffer for their sins, as justice demands. The victims count themselves better because they have yet to acknowledge their sins forgiven by the Lord and demand God respond with vengeance and wrath on their counterparts. They forget we are all perpetrators, in need of God’s mercy. To the extent we extend charity to others, God imparts it to us. If we withhold it, He withholds it from us. How merciful and charitable we act towards other’s determines our own ratio of justice to mercy God grants us.

“Joseph Smith taught in DHC 4:445: “If you do not accuse each other, God will not accuse you. If you have no accuser you will enter heaven, and if you will follow the revelations and instructions which God gives you through me, I will take you into heaven as my backload. If you will not accuse me, I will not accuse you. If you will throw a cloak of charity over my sins, I will over yours-for charity covereth a multitude of sins.” Joseph is explaining something directly relating to obtaining salvation. Accusing someone is Satanic. One of the titles for Satan is “the accuser of the brethren.” Satan’s accusations are not said to be unwarranted or unsupported. He is not necessarily accusing his victims unjustly. It is probable some, if not all, of the accusations were, or are, just. If all were measured by an absolute standard of obedience, faithfulness, or virtue, all would necessarily fail. Satan does not need to use an unfair standard to accuse and condemn:  . . . all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 1:16).

“So if you want to condemn any of us, you need only look at our actual deeds and you will find sufficient reason to accuse us. Yet the negative and condemned role of accusing belongs to Satan. What Christ has asked us to do is forgive each other. Or, as Joseph put it, we are asked not to accuse each other (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Accuse, p. , emphasis added).

Unlike those who commit sin, victims have greater difficulty seeing themselves “aright.” So much so the Savior suffers the greater affliction and higher price for victims rather than those who afflict them.

          The difficulty for the victim as opposed to the perpetrator is the victim loses the merciful perspective of the Atonement; in their quest for justice. They lack compassion and capacity of Divine Parents who love all their children, good and evil. There have been many times when I’ve been tempted to unleash my anger and wrath on others for perceived injustice to myself, but more particularly toward my children. At times I’ve even lashed out thinking my indignation was righteous. Our Divine Parents have the benefit of timeless and eternal perspective. Our Divine Parents are familiar with those who afflict us from prior cycles before arriving here. Those who afflict us may have been sent to try and strengthen us through the fires of affliction. To teach us we share this experience together. Perpetrators may have been sent by God to exploit and expose our weakness. Their purpose may be by divine appointment. We learn from our interactions with one another. In particular we learn charity and godliness when we forgive. The children of God are rarely perfect. All are both victims and perpetrators whether intentional or not. God demands we offer charity to all because we all falter.

          Enoch’s visionary interaction with God provides insight into how the Lord views the wicked and righteous on this earth.

“And it came to pass that Enoch looked upon the residue of the people and he wept. And he beheld, and lo, the Heavens wept also, and shed forth their tears as the rain upon the mountains. And Enoch said unto the Heavens, How is it that you can weep, seeing you are holy and from all eternity to all eternity? And were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, and millions of earths like this, it would not be a beginning to the number of your creations. And your curtains are stretched out still, and you are there and your presence is there. And also you are just, you are merciful and kind for ever. You have taken Zion to your own bosom from all your creations. From all eternity to all eternity, naught but peace, justice, and truth is the habitation of your throne, and mercy shall go before your face and have no end. How is it that you can weep?

The Lord said unto Enoch, Behold these, your brethren, they are the workmanship of my own hands; and I gave unto them their intelligence, and in the Garden of Eden man had agency. And unto your brethren have I said, and also gave commandment, that they should love one another, and that they should serve me, their God. But behold, they are without affection and they hate their own blood. And the fire of my indignation is kindled against them, and in my hot displeasure will I send in the floods upon them, for my fierce anger is kindled against them. Behold, I am God, Man of Holiness is my name, Man of Counsel is my name, and Endless and Eternal is my name also. Wherefore, I can stretch forth my hands and hold all the creations which I have made, and my eye can pierce them also. And among all the workmanship of my hands, there has not been so great wickedness as among your brethren. But behold, their sins shall be upon the heads of their fathers [for not teaching in word and example]. Satan shall be their master, and misery shall be their doom, and the whole Heavens shall weep over them, even all the workmanship of my hands. Why should not the Heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer? But behold, these whom your eyes are upon shall perish in the floods, and behold, I will shut them up. A prison have I prepared for them. And he whom I have chosen [Christ] has pled before my face; wherefore, he suffers for their sins, inasmuch as they will repent, in the day that my Chosen shall return unto me; and until that day, they shall be in torment. Wherefore, for this shall the Heavens weep, yea, and all the workmanship of my hands” (RE Genesis 4:16-17, emphasis added).

We have no difficulty in weeping and mourning the suffering of those we love. God, however loves all His children and seeks redemption for all. In contrast, we are “without affection” and “hate are own blood,” referring to those we perceive to be unworthy and unlovable. Like the Accuser, we stand as ready witnesses to cry for God’s justice to visit them. We plead for mercy for ourselves and loved ones. We are inclined to embrace rather than reject this self-inflicted burden. The result is postponing the reception of godliness, meekness and humility evading us. As does the Holy Ghost. Our minds are less enlightened and the Lord’s voice remains a faint cry from Eden.[8]

          Nowhere is our lack of self-awareness more visible than when we turn our attention away from our sins to obsess on the sins and weakness of others. Doing so makes us children of the Accuser. Our conduct is inspired by the Accuser and reflects his image in our ill-conceived actions. Our only hope of engaging in the successive steps to receive the Holy Ghost is to offer grace and forgiveness to everyone including those who offend us. We should do so willingly because Christ does as much for us.

“And again, you shall say unto them, Why is it that you behold the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but consider not the beam that is in your own eye? Or how will you say to your brother, Let me pull out the speck, out of your eye, and cannot behold a beam in your own eye? And Jesus said unto his disciples, Do you behold the scribes, and the Pharisees, and the priests, and the Levites? They teach in their synagogues, but do not observe the law nor the commandments, and all have gone out of the way and are under sin. Go and say unto them, Why do you teach men the law and the commandments when you yourselves are the children of corruption? Say unto them, You hypocrites, first cast out the beam out of your own eye, and then shall you see clearly to cast out the speck, out of your brother’s eye” (RE Matthew 3:41, emphasis added).

“You have heard that it has been said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who falsely accuse you and persecute you, that you may be the children of your Father who is in Heaven; for he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love only them who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the publicans the same? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than others? Do not even the publicans the same? You are therefore commanded to be perfect, even as your Father who is in Heaven is perfect” (RE Matthew 3:26, emphasis added).

We are the children of God when our actions reflect His attitude. Perfection is not attained by loving only those who love us. It is incumbent upon us to love all mankind and seek their redemption. We categorize one another by judging them as worthy or unworthy. Our Heavenly Parents reject this categorization and see everyone as worthy of Their love and redemption. Their approach is embodied in Their two great commandments:

“But when the Pharisees heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, a lawyer testing him, asked, saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (RE Matthew 10:23, emphasis added).

Note the Lord didn’t say love those neighbors who love you. We are commanded to love God and all of our neighbors because that is what God’s children do. They seek the immortality and eternal life of all mankind, eventually giving their life for them because that is what Christ did for us.

Remission of sins brings meekness and lowliness of heart. Our hearts are only meek and holy when we understand and accept responsibility for our part in the Savior’s suffering.

“Now repentance couldn’t come to people unless punishment as eternal as the life of man’s soul, was imposed opposite to the plan of happiness, also as eternal as the life of man’s soul, in balance. Now how could a person repent unless they committed sin? How could they commit sin if there wasn’t any law? How could there be a law unless there was a punishment? Now a punishment was affixed and a just law was established, which brought remorse of conscience to mankind . . .” (CofC Alma 19:15, emphasis added).

Successive steps leading to the baptism by fire and the Holy Ghost are deferred by our ignorance of the gravity of our own sins. Our tendency is to avoid acknowledging our guilt and defer remorseful feelings. To ignore this important step is to postpone our reception of the Holy Ghost and our return to God’s presence. The Holy Ghost testifying of the Father and Son is our introduction and adoption into the family of God.

“Listen carefully to what I tell you: I will declare to you My doctrine. This is My doctrine, and it is the doctrine that the Father has given to Me: I testify of the Father, and the Father testifies of Me, and the Holy Ghost testifies of the Father and Me. I also testify the Father commands all people everywhere to repent and believe in Me. And anyone who believes in Me and is baptized will be saved, and they are who will inherit God’s kingdom. But anyone who doesn’t believe in Me and isn’t baptized will be damned. In truth I tell you this is My doctrine, and I testify of it from the Father. Anyone who believes in Me also believes in the Father, and the Father will testify to them of Me, since He will visit them with fire and with the Holy Ghost. In this way the Father will testify of Me, and the Holy Ghost will testify to them of the Father and Me, because the Father and I and the Holy Ghost are united as one. In addition, I say to you: You must repent and become as a little child and be baptized in My name, or under no circumstance can you receive these things. And again, I say to you: You must repent and be baptized in My name and become as a little child, or under no circumstances can you inherit God’s kingdom. In truth I tell you this is My doctrine. Whoever builds on this builds on My rock, and the gates of hell will not prevail against them. And those who declare more or less than this and establish it as My doctrine advocate evil and are not built upon My rock, but are built on a sandy foundation, and the gates of hell stand open to receive them when the floods come and the wind pounds them. Therefore go to this people and declare to the farthest reaches of the earth the words that I’ve spoken” (CofC 3 Nephi 5:9, emphasis added).

Becoming as a little child is a way of describing meekness and holiness of heart. Children experience different phases throughout their lives. At first, they look to their parents for everything. Their survival depends upon it. As they reach the age of accountability they lean upon their parents as examples of how to use agency God gives them. When they gain experience they begin relying more upon their own judgment and less upon their parents. They marry, begin a family of their own and look to their parents for direction, at least at first, on how to parent. The circle begins again.

          As they face challenges in parenting, they gain greater appreciation for what their parents knew and did. They gain wisdom and feel gratitude for sacrifices made. We do the same with our Heavenly Parents.

          When we understand what Moses came to appreciate, we become more willing to acknowledge our ignorance and reliance on our Heavenly Parents.

“And it came to pass that Moses looked and beheld the world upon which he was created. And as Moses beheld the world, and the ends thereof, and all the children of men who are and who were created, of the same he greatly marveled and wondered. And the presence of God withdrew from Moses, that his glory was not upon him, and Moses was left unto himself. And as he was left unto himself, he fell unto the earth. And it came to pass that it was for the space of many hours before he did again receive his natural strength like unto man. And he said unto himself, Now for this once I know that man is nothing, which thing I never had supposed . . .” (RE Genesis 1:2, emphasis added)

Agency leads us to believe we are independent from God, self-sustaining and self-existent. When God withdraws His Spirit from us we are left to ourselves. From this we learn we have no control over anything in this life. We draw nearer to Him with greater humility and gratitude for His condescension to redeem us. Humility draws the Holy Ghost to us, justifying us and making it possible to purge our sins in Christ’s blood. This makes all things in God’s plan manifest and accessible. It leads to the acquisition of godly attributes, salvation, and eternal life.

          The scriptures offer examples of attributes that are present after we receive the Holy Ghost. We may discern its presence when we experience a profound change in our hearts,[9] a lessening in our disposition to do evil, an outpouring of knowledge[10] from intuitive sources[11], and immersive feelings of love from God pouring through you[12], extended to those around you. Essentially the attributes listed in RE T&C 139:5-6:

Persuasion, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness, love unfeigned, kindness, pure knowledge, absence of hypocrisy and guile, increase of love following reproof, faithfulness stronger than the cords of death, charity towards all mankind, and virtue garnishes your thoughts unceasingly.

          When these attributes are present our confidence before God waxes strong, the doctrines of the Priesthood distill upon our souls as the dews from heaven, and the Holy Ghost is our constant companion.

          These attributes are given in degrees of ascension. It is not like a light switch flipping on and off. More like a dimmer switch increasing in light as it slides higher. The prior list is comprehensive and represents the optimal experience. However, the presence of or absence of these attributes is an indication how advanced we are in our relationship with the Holy Ghost, the Son, and the Father. If our relationship is fleeting and the presence of these attributes rare, we do well to assess if we are meek and humble before God. It is further cause to contemplate how our lives, especially as victims, contributed to the suffering of the Savior. Perpetrators come to the realization through natural circumstances. Suffering caused by victims is inclined to ignore or overlook the price Christ paid to heal them. Grace is required for both sinner and victim, and the price of grace involved in suffering for both. Victims failing to acknowledge the price He paid for their benefit deprives them of meekness and humility they need to receive the Holy Ghost. It is the gift the Savior offers that is too often under appreciated.

“In nothing doth man offend God or against none is his wrath kindled, save those who confess not his hand in all things, and obey not his commandments” (RE T&C 46:5, emphasis added).

If we are self-aware, our opportunities for offending God and kindling His anger are constant. Especially when we fail to acknowledge His suffering for all, victims and perpetrators.

Achilles had one vulnerability to protect and was unable to do so. God has given us many with promise if we come to Him, His grace is sufficient for us to turn our weakness into strengths. He enables us to walk the path the Son and Father have trodden. As impossible as this may seem, the Lord freely offers His grace with a promise, unlike Achilles, His grace is sufficient for our ascent. With it, He heals our “heels” providing sufficient charity to love one another in and out of the household of faith.[13]

[1] “The baptism of fire and the holy ghost is for sanctification. It is done upon the body and the Spirit within each person.1 The work of this “baptism of fire” is always sanctification. It brings the recipient into greater contact with God. The end of that increasing contact is to receive the Son, through whose blood all can be sanctified (see Genesis 4:9). Once sanctified, one is prepared for the presence of the Father (see Alma 21:3; 1 Nephi 3:5). It is the companionship of the Spirit that makes one justified by leading him or her to do what is right. It is the resulting application of Christ’s blood on one’s behalf that sanctifies (see Genesis 4:9). One cannot receive sanctification without first receiving baptism and then also the holy ghost.“ In effect, you receive holiness through the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit. This in turn makes your own spirit holy.” Man is unworthy to enter into God’s presence and, therefore, requires a power higher than his own from which to borrow purity. This purifying agent is the holy ghost (see 3 Nephi 9:3–4). Christ will administer the final rites and confer the final blessings only upon the pure (see 3 Nephi 9:4–5). The reference to “blood” as sanctifying is a reference to the Lord (see Genesis 4:9). He alone sanctifies. Christ sanctifies mankind; they don’t sanctify themselves. “To be purified, to be sanctified by the Lamb — removing from you, and taking upon Himself the responsibility to answer for whatever failings you have — this is not ritual purity. This is purity in fact. To be sanctified is to be qualified to stand in the presence of God without sin, clean of all blood and sin — righteous forever. He is Christ’s, and Christ is the Father’s, and all that each of them will be is the same; for we shall see Him as He is, because we will be like Him. To be like Him is to be sanctified.” (A Glossary of Gospel Terms, Sanctification, second edition, pp.299-300, emphasis added).

[2] “ . . . Behold, I am God, Man of Holiness is my name, Man of Counsel is my name, and Endless and Eternal is my name also . . . ” (RE Genesis 4:17, emphasis added).

[3] “We stumble, and we have fallen down. We have discarded the expansive theology of Joseph Smith. The earliest dispensations had truth from heaven as their guide. Joseph began re-assembling what was lost, but was slain before it was completed. We are the offspring  of heaven, and are capable of reuniting with heaven while mortal. We also have the opportunity, through eons of progression, to become as our Parents, the Gods. Now is time to awaken, arise, and shake off the dust” (The Restoration’s Shattered Promises and Great Hope, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp.18-19, emphasis added).

[4] Now these are the words king Benjamin hoped to hear from them. Therefore he told them: You’ve said the words I wanted to hear, and the covenant you’ve made is a righteous covenant. Now because of the covenant you’ve made, you’ll be called the sons and daughters of Jesus Christ. Today, He has spiritually begotten you. You’ve said your hearts have changed through faith in His name. As a result, you’re born of Him and have become His sons and daughters. You’re now free under His wings, and there’s no other Savior under whose wings you can be sheltered. There’s no other name given through which salvation comes. Therefore all of you who have made the covenant with God to be obedient for the remainder of your lives, take upon yourselves the name of Christ. Those who do this will be found at the right hand of God and will answer to the name of Christ” (CofC Mosiah 3:2, emphasis added).

[5] “Our scriptures speak carefully about the existence and importance of a Heavenly Mother: a Divine Female whose greatest attribute is to bestow wisdom upon the whole of this creation. It is possible to miss Her presence. That cultural and theological blindness is not because of Her absence from the scriptures. It is not hard to detect Her, if you know what to look for. WE just don’t yet understand how to look” (Our Divine Parents, Denver Snuffer Jr., pp. 1-2, emphasis added).

[6] “Now, my dear people, I believe you’re wondering a little in your hearts about what you should do after you’ve entered through the way. But why do you wonder over these things in your hearts? Don’t you remember I told you that after you had received the Holy Ghost, you could speak the words of angels? Now, how could you speak the message of the angels unless you did it by the Holy Ghost? Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; as a result, they speak Christ’s words. Therefore I told you: Feast on Christ’s words — because the words of Christ will tell you everything that you should do. After I’ve said these words, if you can’t understand them, it will be because you don’t ask or knock. Consequently, you aren’t brought into the light but are certain to perish in the dark. I tell you again, if you will enter through the way and receive the Holy Ghost, it will show you everything you should do. This is Christ’s doctrine. No more doctrine will be given until after He visits you here on earth [takes up His abode with you]. Once He shows Himself to you here on earth, you must obey what He tells you” (RE 2 Nephi 14:1, emphasis added).

[7] “No power or influence can or ought to be maintained by virtue of the priesthood; only by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned, by kindness and pure knowledge, which shall greatly enlarge the soul; without hypocrisy and without guile; reproving betimes with sharpness when moved upon by the holy ghost, and then showing forth afterward an increase of love toward him whom you have reproved (lest he esteem you to be his enemy), that he may know that your faithfulness is stronger than the cords of death; your bowels also being full of charity toward all men, and to the household of faith; and virtue garnish your thoughts unceasingly. Then shall your confidence wax strong in the presence of God, and the doctrines of the Priesthood shall distill upon your soul as the dews from heaven. The holy ghost shall be your constant companion, and your scepter [symbol of kingship] an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth, and your dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto you for ever and ever [because of your “pure love” or charity]” (RE T&C 139:6, emphasis added).

[8] “And Adam called upon the name of the Lord, and Eve also, his wife; and they heard the voice of the Lord from the way toward the Garden of Eden speaking unto them, and they saw him not, for they were shut out from his presence. And he gave unto them commandment that they should worship the Lord their God and should offer the firstlings of their flocks for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord” (RE Genesis 3:2, emphasis added).

[9] “After king Benjamin had said all these things to his people, he sent out a message, asking his people if they believed what he taught them. And they all cried out with one voice, saying: Yes, we believe everything you’ve taught us. And we know these things are true because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has caused a big change in our hearts. We’re not inclined to do evil anymore, but rather want to continually do good . . .” (CofC Mosiah 3:1, emphasis added).

[10] “We, through God’s infinite goodness and the manifestations of His Spirit, can clearly envision . .n what’s to come. And if necessary, we could even prophesy about all of it . . .” (CofC Mosiah 3:1, emphasis added).

[11] “ . . . Then shall your confidence wax strong in the presence of God, and the doctrines of the Priesthood shall distill upon your soul as the dews from heaven. The holy ghost shall be your constant companion . . .” (RE T&C 139:6, emphasis added).

[12] “But Ammon said to him: I’m not bragging about my own strength or wisdom; but my joy is full. My heart overflows with joy, and I’ll rejoice in God . . . Consider how many thousands of our brothers and sisters He has delivered from the pains of hell! They’re brought to sing redeeming love — and this is because of the power of His word given to us. Therefore don’t we have great reason to rejoice? Yes, we have reason to praise Him forever, because He is the Most High God and has released these fellow brothers and sisters of ours from the chains of hell. They were surrounded by everlasting darkness and destruction; but He has brought them into His everlasting light, indeed, into everlasting salvation. And they’re surrounded by the unmatched goodness and gift of His love . . .” (CofC Alma 14:17, emphasis added).

[13] “ . . . your bowels also being full of charity toward all men, and to the household of faith; and virtue garnish your thoughts unceasingly. Then shall your confidence wax strong in the presence of God, and the doctrines of the Priesthood shall distill upon your soul as the dews from heaven. The holy ghost shall be your constant companion, and your scepter an unchanging scepter of righteousness and truth, and your dominion shall be an everlasting dominion, and without compulsory means it shall flow unto you for ever and ever” (RE T&C 139:6, emphasis added).

Scott Roderick

5/2/2025

Achilles Heel Thyself.pdf

Download PDF • 461KB