Ok, I went to the Draper Temple open house and I have some deep thoughts and wonderings as a result. I saw the beautiful temple and I was trying to see it differently from the million $ plus houses that surrounded it. As the bus was pulling in I saw a "luxury house" for sale on the north side of the temple. I overheard the bus driver reading the sign - "8800 square feet luxury house for sale, that's HUGE" - he said to the boy that was a tour guide - I was sitting in the front seat. I said - "Yeah and only 2 people will live there probably". He agreed. That's all I said, but it impacted me so much. I saw all the finery of the temple and I struggled to see it differently from the scene of high end real estate... EXCLUSIVE real estate. The root word of exclusive is exclude. It implies that there are huge numbers of people left out and you are exclusive and above them.
Ok, so here is the wondering... Christ wasn't about luxury when he lived. That is an understatement. But I'm supposed to believe that now He is, right? Which is fine if that is true. But if it is true, then why am I excluded. Should I want to have an immaculate and expensive house like David and Amber do, for example. (I use that as an example only because they have the nicest house of anyone I am personally acquainted with) Should I be striving for a house like that? Should I consider my home unworthy of the Spirit because it doesn't look more like the Temple? Am I left out of the Celestial Kingdom because in this life I didn't learn how to live in a fine house and keep it clean and immaculate like the Temple? I'm sure the Cel. King. is immaculate like the Temple and I won't have learned how to live like that and so I won't be worthy or able to be there, right?
Which leads us to the next wondering. ALL the Gen. Authorites have luxury cars I am sure and luxury houses. You should see the parking garage of the Church Office Building for example. I go occasionally because Kevin works there and we cut through to go to the cafeteria in the C. office Bldg. I always get sick inside when I see the new, luxury cars and all of them over the top luxury. Can people be humble and filthy rich????? Why do I have this continual conflict when it comes to riches??? What does it all mean? What really matters? Did Christ command people in the scriptures somewhere to seek and obtain riches as church members in the last days in order to be righteous and worthy of Him and the high callings in the church?? Is it His will for His people to be rich and live in 8800 sq. feet houses furnished with all the finery? If it is, then I am left out and I don 't understand the gospel. Can you be RICH and RIGHTEOUS???
Why are all the Ge. Auth. so wealthy. Kevin tries to say that Elder Packer isn't wealthy for instance because he was in the church ed. system. I don't know what to make of it all. Dad..help me figure it all out!!! Shouldn't we be trying to be like Christ? What, while the rest of the church waxes great in riches and they are right too? Who is right here??? Dad, do you somehow think to "earn" a reward for your poverty/humility? HELP!
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Your answer is in Mark chapter 14
ReplyDelete3 ¶ And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
You can compare the ointment to riches bestowed upon people (especially people in the church who are living righteously, as in the book of mormon, prospering the righteous) and your question is "why don't they give all that money to the poor" right? Well, read that quote about receiving righteously. It was OK for Jesus to receive that ointment. He was teaching us that it is ok to receive righteously.
The spirit can dwell with people living in a mud hut if they are doing the things that will invite and keep the spirit there. It's not the place, but the people living there that matters. Righteous people are hard workers that keep the place clean, and keep their inner vessel clean as well.
I think the key is to focus on your own self, not comparison with others. If Heavenly Father wants to bless those people, they are entitled to it.
Thanks for your comment Julie. I agree whole heartedly. The scriptures say seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added to you. I associate with millionarues every sunday. They are my brothers. I had one over for breakfast last saturday. I didn't see a millionare, I saw a brother. He came and worked on my house one time. Do not judge people by worldly standanrds. Judge them by gospel standards. Thats what is important. In Gods eyes he doesn't look on worldly things he looks on the heart. Thats all you have to worry about is your heart not your house.
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