Tree of Life Mothering

I listened to the podcast episode above just this past week. It corresponds with this past week’s Come, Follow Me Study of Alma 30-31 in the Book of Mormon. It features Rod Meldrum, founder of the FIRM Foundation, with Dean Sessions, the author of the Universal Model (UM). I’ve been reading from Vol 1 and Vol 2 of the UM for a few years now. I love these books! I am coming into more and more light by reading them. I first discovered the Universal Model when I met Dean and Rod at a cottage meeting here in rural AZ three years ago. You can read about that here. It was certainly a magical evening. One of those times when you feel like heavenly music is playing as you meet people and encounter new truths. I felt God’s hand in getting me there, overcoming many obstacles.

Dean and Rod point out (around the 39:17 mark) that Korihor taught ideas that are being taught today (I like that the video shows the page of the annotated Book of Mormon that they are referring to, and it shows these word labels after each phrase):

-sophism

-naturalism

-egoism

-relativism

-hedonism

-nihilism

These are all false. They are prevalent today, seeming to be “modern” but they have been around for hundreds of years. These ideas lead people away from Christ. Mormon put this story in the Book of Mormon so we can learn how not to get suckered into these false ideas. The Book of Mormon shows how Alma combated Korihor’s false teachings. Alma bore his testimony of Jesus Christ and refused to get entrapped in these evil ideas.

This is a wonderful fireside that was held online just last Sunday, the day after the United States’ Independence Day. I hope you all watch it!

Here’s something I discovered this past week that I am so excited to share with you all. It’s from Alma 26. (Last week’s reading for Come, Follow Me was Alma 23-29). Even though I’ve read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover at least two dozen times I am still discovering new truths and gems of wisdom. So here we go…

This is from Alma 26:22:

“Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance.”

This is a tremendous promise! Anyone who follows this procedure of the following outlined in the above verse:

1. Repent
2. Exercise faith
3. Bring forth good works
4. Pray continually without ceasing

Will have 1) things revealed to that person that “have never been revealed” before, thus 2) bringing “thousands of souls to repentance.”

Wow….could it be that maybe many of the inventions and truths discovered so far in the history of the earth have been from people who have followed this formula?

I think so. Numberless people have come to know Christ throughout our world’s history. Many people have been called by God so to speak, not to reveal gospel truths or act in God’s name, but to solve mysteries and reveal truths in their area of study that were never before revealed. People like Isaac Newton and Columbus. These men didn’t live when the priesthood power was on the earth, allowing them to get baptized. Could it be, however, that they did these things in the list above, and that’s why they were blessed with the knowledge they received? Most of us who went to public school don’t realize that these men were deeply religious, even devout Christians.

Newton said the following (see https://www.icr.org/article/newton/):

“No sciences are better attested than the religion of the Bible.”

He also said, “This most beautiful system of the sun, planets, and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being….This Being governs all things, not as the soul of the world, but as Lord over all; and on account of his dominion he is wont to be called Lord God ‘pantokrator,’ or Universal Ruler…” (see Newton, I. General Scholium. Translated by Motte, A. 1825. Newton’s Principia: The Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy. New York: Daniel Adee, 501. The Greek word pantokrator is most often translated as “Almighty” in the King James Version.)

Columbus said the following (see https://duoparadigms.com/2013/10/14/rare-collection-quotes-christopher-columbus-christian-statesman/):

“It was the Lord who put into my mind (I could feel His hand upon me) the fact that it would be possible to sail from here to the Indies. All who heard of my project rejected it with laughter, ridiculing me. There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit, because he comforted me with rays of marvelous illumination from the Holy Scriptures, a strong and clear testimony from the 44 books of the Old Testament, from the four Gospels, and from the 23 Epistles of the blessed Apostles, encouraging me continually to press forward, and without ceasing for a moment they now encourage me to make haste.”

“No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Saviour, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service.”

“I am a most noteworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvellous Presence.”

This gives me so much hope! We have so many good people on the earth today who are doing this formula. They are bringing forth answers to the mysteries of today! On top of this, we will continue to see more answers to mysteries that we don’t even know are mysteries yet. Yes, as rich as this life is, more exciting times are to come! Keep reading the Book of Mormon and don’t give up hope for these hard times.

My friend Rebecca told me about this video. Some of her kiddos are in it. It’s by Glenn Beck. Here’s a message from him. I love that he works so hard to help us remember our nation’s Christian heritage.

Here’s a special message from Glenn:

“It’s been a tough year, America. Our news media is inundating us with images of destruction, violence, and division in attempts not only to desecrate our nation, but to make us turn our backs on it. That’s why now, more than ever, we need to take an up-close look at America’s history to remember what it is we’re fighting for and how to fight for it with practical action. Join Glenn Beck, broadcasting from Standing Rock Ranch, as he takes us to Plymouth, Gettysburg, and Federal Hall on an important journey through America’s remarkable history to inspire a brighter future. Glenn asks the hard questions of every American. Is this system worth saving? Is there a better way? Where do we go from here, and how do we answer those questions? Featuring performances from the Millennial Choirs and Orchestras, David Osmond, a very special children’s choir, and guests Bob Woodson, Tim Ballard, David Barton, Burgess Owens, Kathy Barnette, Anna Paulina Luna, and Tim Barton.”

Thanks to another Rebecca friend who created some timestamps for this video:

Starts after 5:50min.;

could skip to start @20min.;

Tim Ballard/David Osmond @ 31min.;

Tim Barton (Founding fathers turn to God) @46min.;

David Barton (George Washington/St.Paul’s Chapel-NY) @ 56min.;

Amazing Grace/slave trade @1:09min;

Burgess Owens (former NFL player & just elected to Utah Congress! -@ Gettysburg re: his slave ancestors) @1:23min.;

Kathy Barnett from Alabama (Love her!) @ 1:28min.;

Anna Luna (Fight human trafficking) @1:35min);

Bob Woodson (1776unites.com) @ 1:40min.;

David Osmond & kiddos (We Are One) 1:52min.;

then just hear it out to the end -last song was How great Though art – (in minor til the last verse)

My sister-in-law sent me this video. It’s hilarious and sad at the same time.

I started hosting a Constitution Alive class with content from patriotacademy.com through zoom. Now more than ever we need to know what our God-given rights are that are protected by the Constitution. The video above and below are the first two videos from the 6-week class.

The second video, below, is all about the Declaration of Independence and its connection to the Constitution. If you haven’t watched it already, I encourage you to watch it this weekend to help celebrate America’s Independence Day. Just for fun, I have a quiz to help you focus and feel rewarded by the knowledge you gain after watching the second video. Watch it as a family and give treats for correct answers.

Independence Day Quiz (answers are all in the video just above and spelled out at the bottom of this post)

Questions about our Seeds of Liberty

1. Who was the first delegate at the Continental Congress to propose separation from Great Britain?
2. Who were the 5 Founding Fathers on the committee assigned to write the Declaration of  Independence?
3. Who said the people were “not only ripe but rotting for independence”?
4. Which states initially voted no to the original vote for independence?
5. Who spent all night riding on horseback to break a tie vote for one of the colony’s no votes for independence, and what colony was he from?
6. Why did George Mason not sign the Constitution?
7. What did George Washington say were the two indispensable supports for government to function effectively?
8. What is the most important puzzle piece that Rick Green says in the video above that allow a person to understand rights?
9. What does the 3/5 compromise in the Constitution really mean?
10. Which Founding Father told the members of the Constitution Convention that they needed to pray as a group to ask for God’s help?
11. What is the percentage that Dr. Donald Lutz gave for the Bible shaping the Founding Fathers’ ideas to write the Constitution? (for more info see https://wallbuilders.com/chw/lessons/lesson-4-american-founding-federal-era-original/)
12. What are the six immutable principles that Rick Green and David Barton present at the end of the video above that the Declaration of Independence is based on?

Answers to the Questions Above

1. Richard Henry Lee
2. Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston
3. John Witherspoon
4. South Carolina, Delaware, Pennsylvania
5. Cesar Rodney, Delaware
6. No Bill of Rights
7. Religion and morality
8. That our rights don’t come from government, they come from God. “Liberty under God, not liberty without God.”
9. The message to the southern states was “If you keep slavery, you actually only get 3/5 representation of your entire population.”
10. Franklin
11. 34%
12. 1) There is a Creator 2) Inalienable rights come from God 3) Government exists to protect inalienable rights 4) There is a fixed moral law 5) Government functions at the consent of the government 6) The people have a right to change the gvt. if it becomes destructive of the ends of protecting life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness