Talk given in Little Rock Stake Conference

Feb 12^th, 2023

 

Faith, Trust Or Pixie Dust.

 

Let me apologize in advance to those who believe in pixies and fairies. This talk is less then flattering for Tinkerbell.

 

In Chapter 12 of 1st Nephi is recorded what I think is perhaps one of the most important revelations ever recorded in scripture. It is Lehi's dream of the tree of life. This sweeping panoramic vision teaches more about life and its challenges than any other that I know of.

 

In the dream an angel describes those who when overcome by the mist of darkness have loosened their grip of the iron rod and wandered off into forbidden paths. He said that they were lost because of vain imaginations and pride.

 

I thought I would talk a little about vain imaginations. The term sounds like something that might be appealing but perhaps not real. Sort of like Pixie dust.

 

So, what is pixie dust? Well, I’ll tell you.

 

Pixie Dust is a powerful force not to be taken lightly. All sort of very interesting, exciting things can result from an encounter with Pixie Dust. But the problem with Pixie Dust is that one is not in control of the consequences that result from such an encounter. If a person is not on guard, they might just suddenly find themselves floating away off to Neverland and end up in the company of those who are lost. Anciently Pixies were blamed for all sorts of mishaps and mischief. They had a reputation for enticing and luring one into what seemed like a fun and exciting adventure that most always turned out to be a prank. My very brief study of Pixies led me to equate them with so many evil spirits characterizing themselves as fun-loving best friends who just seem to get you into trouble all the time.

 

In Lehi's and Nephi's dream a mist of darkness rises up and covers the path and the iron rod. The mist is identified by the angel as the temptations of the devil, what we will call, Pixie dust.

 

The effect of this mist of darkness is that the people on the path turn loose of the rod and wander off into other paths.

 

Why turn loose of the rod?

 

This intrigued me because I wondered why someone would turn loose of the handrail when it was there to get them safely through the mist of darkness? I mean seriously, would you let go in that situation?

 

You might say, "But look I can fly!" Well that might be true, but the question is, "to where?"

 

The paths leading away from the straight and narrow path may look fun, exciting, and awesome, but like I said earlier, you can't choose the consequences that must surely lie just ahead.

 

Now if you think of the mist of darkness as the temptations of the devil then it might lose some of its appeal. The mist represents the alluring voice of the adversary inviting the traveler to take a different path. Looking at the mist of darkness from this perspective, makes turning loose of the rod a choice, not a consequence of the pixie dust.

 

Everyone must have this opportunity to choose. No one will escape the mist.

 

Here's what Elder Holland said,

"In Lehi’s dream an already difficult journey gets more difficult when a mist of darkness arises, obscuring any view of the safe but narrow path his family and others are to follow. It is imperative to note that this mist of darkness descends on all the travelers—the faithful and the determined ones (the elect, we might even say) as well as the weaker and ungrounded ones. The principal point of the story is that the successful travelers resist all distractions, including the lure of forbidden paths and jeering taunts from the vain and proud who have taken those paths. The record says that the protected “did press their way forward, continually [and, I might add, tenaciously] holding fast” to a rod of iron that runs unfailingly along the course of the true path. However dark the night or the day, the rod marks the way of that solitary, redeeming trail."

 

Elder Holland points out here that everyone on this path encounters the mist. It’s not a question of whether you will pass through the pixie dust but whether you will be able to resist it. Elder Holland further described the mist as a distraction from the path, a path that he called the redeeming trail.

 

The mist is cleverly disguised to lure us away from the safety of the rod. But wait a minute, I thought being dusted with Pixie Dust was supposed to be fun, right? Well, I hate to break it to you, it just looks fun because Pixie dust isn’t real.  Pixie Dust is a fraud.

 

That’s why the angel called it “vain imagination.” it’s a cleverly disguised deception. Its promises that are never fulfilled, a journey to nowhere, an empty hope.

 

You see passing through the mist is not an environmental issue over which we have no power, it is a temptation, a choice. The mist cannot be blamed for what we choose.

 

President Nelson said it this way,

"But here is the grand truth: while the world insists that power, possessions, popularity, and pleasures of the flesh (Pixie Dust) bring happiness, they do not! They cannot! What they do produce is nothing but a hollow substitute for "the blessed and happy state of those who keep the commandments of God." The truth is that it is much more exhausting to seek happiness where you can never find it!"

 

The trick for us is to be able to discern the mist of darkness before we are carried away in its spell. Like I said earlier, the traveler on the covenant path would not likely turn loose of the iron rod when visibility is reduced if he or she is aware of the danger i.e., able to discern the mist for what it is. The opposite would be more likely. That's why it's important to understand the mist of darkness as temptation, vain imaginations, Pixie dust.

 

We don't let go because of something done to us, we let go because we choose to.

 

If we fail to identify the danger then how can we protect ourselves from it?

 

President Nelson:

 “The time is coming when those who do not obey the Lord will be separated from those who do (see Doctrine and Covenants 86:1–7). Our safest insurance is to continue to be worthy of admission to His holy house….Why do we need such resilient faith? Because difficult days are ahead. Rarely in the future will it be easy or popular to be a faithful Latter-day Saint. Each of us will be tested. The Apostle Paul warned that in the latter days, those who diligently follow the Lord “shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12)… Do whatever it takes to strengthen your faith in Jesus Christ by increasing your understanding of the doctrine taught in His restored Church and by relentlessly seeking truth. Anchored in pure doctrine, you will be able to step forward with faith and dogged persistence and cheerfully do all that lies in your power to fulfill the purposes of the Lord. You will have days when you will be discouraged. So pray for courage not to give up! Sadly, some who you thought were your friends will betray you. And some things will simply seem unfair.”

 

The obvious question is, knowing the truth, why would anyone choose to let go of the rod?

 

Well, simply because the paths leading away looks exciting, fun, diverting, entertaining, etc. You know Satan wouldn't entice us to drink a glass of horse sh-t, manure without making it look and smell like a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, right? Or a diet coke as the case may be.

 

And, all too often, once we turn down that forbidden path we tend to defend our choice with every sort of justification that can be imagined.

 

Satan is very clever and if we are not on guard, it will be very difficult to discern the danger.

 

President Heber C. Kimball said this:

Heber C Kimball: “I want to say to you, my brethren, the time is coming when we will be mixed up in these now peaceful valleys to that extent that it will be difficult to tell the face of a Saint from the face of an enemy to the people of God. Then, brethren, look out for the great sieve, for there will be a great sifting time, and many will fall; for I say unto you there is a test, a Test, a TEST coming, and who will be able to stand? This church has before it many close places through which it must pass before the work of God is crowned with victory. To meet the difficulties that are coming it will be necessary for you to have knowledge of the truth of this work for yourselves. The difficulties will be of such character that the man or woman who does not possess this personal knowledge or witness will fall. If you have not got the testimony, live right and call upon the Lord and cease not ‘till you obtain it. If you do not, you will not stand. ” (Orson F. Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1945, p. 446.)

 

So how do we keep from making this mistake? How do we keep from letting go of the rod? How do we choose the right things? I like to use what I call "The Substitution Method."

 

There are three steps to apply this method.

 

What do you want?

First one must start by identifying what one truly wants in eternity. Does that sound a little distant? Believe me it's sooner than you think. But that long range goal is important because it dictates all other choices. And obviously if a person wants the Telestial Kingdom then there is no point in this exercise. So first identify what you want.

 

What to do?

Next, identify the things that must be done to attain that desire. Most of these things we know. Some things will need to be revealed, but you can't take the next step without this step being fully explored.

 

Substitute

Last is substitution. Since there are only so many seconds in a lifetime, and all are filled by default then we must choose what those seconds are filled with. You can't simply add things to your life because every second is already filled from birth. In every situation, without exception, you will have to substitute. Everything that you choose takes the place of something else. If there is something that you should be doing to realize your desired goal than you will have to cut something out to fit that thing in.

 

Mortality was designed this way with a purpose, and the purpose is simply that we must choose. This life is an exercise in choice making.

 

 So, while traveling the covenant path we will encounter the mist of darkness, there's no question about that. There's no way around it. In fact, the iron rod and the covenant path will lead us directly into the mist.

 

The danger is that when we turn loose of the rod and head down one of the forbidden paths that always lead down, down to the filthy river of sin it gets harder and harder to find the way back to the path. Furthermore, we find that in our pride we must justify the decision that we've made further obscuring the way back.

 

Some will always point out that we are supposed to be in the world just not of it. Let’s say that a different way. Since you will find yourself in the world here’s how you should respond to it. “Flee from Babylon, touch not the unclean thing, get out of her, partake not of her fornication, fortify against her, the natural man is an enemy to God.

 

Joseph Fielding Smith:

“The commandment of the Lord that the saints should make themselves ‘friends with the mammon of unrighteousness,’ seems to be a hard saying when not properly understood. It is not intended that in making friends of the ‘mammon of unrighteousness’ that the brethren were to partake with them in their sins; to receive them to their bosoms, intermarry with them and otherwise come down to their level. They were to so live that peace with their enemies might be assured. They were to treat them kindly, be friendly with them as far as correct and virtuous principles would permit, but never to swear with them or drink and carouse with them. If they could allay prejudice and show a willingness to trade with and show a kindly spirit, it might help to turn them away from their bitterness. Judgment was to be left with the Lord.” (Church History and Modern Revelation, 2 vols. [1953], 1:323;

 

For me, perhaps the most powerful tether to the iron rod in my life are the covenants that I made in the temple. Each time I attend the temple I ask myself, how am I NOT consecrating all, how am I NOT sacrificing all, how am I NOT keeping the commandments.

 

Of course, none of this is relevant if you do not care to receive exaltation and eternal life in the kingdom of God. No one will enter into exaltation without passing through the refiners fire. No one will arrive there accidently.

 

At the core of all of this is faith and trust. If you don’t believe in God and you don’t trust his promises, then none of this matters.

 

If you do believe that Jesus Christ has made and will keep his covenants with you then everything is at stake.

 

Can I check it out and repent later?

 

A lot has been said lately about the mercy of God and the possibility of repentance and forgiveness in the spirit world. While this is true, I fear that a failure to repent in this life when one possesses the knowledge sufficient to do so will result in something more akin to the parable of the virgins.

 

If you will recall, five of them were shut out. They knew what they were supposed to do and chose something else instead. So when they came to the wedding and begged that they be let in having made every effort to make up for their error the Lord shut them out anyway. Now that doesn’t seem very tolerant or inclusive does it?

 

Mortality is a critical juncture on our journey through eternity as pointed out by Alma.

 

Alma

2 My brethren, I think that it is impossible that ye should be ignorant of the things which have been spoken concerning the coming of Christ, who is taught by us to be the Son of God; yea, I know that these things were taught unto you bountifully before your dissension from among us.

17 Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you;

18 Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save.

19 Yea, humble yourselves, and continue in prayer unto him.

30 And now, my brethren, I would that, after ye have received so many witnesses, seeing that the holy scriptures testify of these things, ye come forth and bring fruit unto repentance.

31 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.

32 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

 

The gate that opens to the covenant path Is baptism. Jesus is the keeper of that gate, and he knows every soul that passes through it. The path is the covenant path spoken of so often by our living prophet. The rod of iron is revelation, a gift called the Holy Ghost. Every soul that enters through the gate and grasps the iron rod and walks the convent path of salvation does so with knowledge.

 

Therefore every soul that turns loose of the iron rod and wanders off into forbidden paths also does so with knowledge. What Alma is teaching us is that choosing to leave the path with knowledge will bring a condemnation upon us for which there is no recourse in this life or in the next.

 

The trouble we face is that Satan masks evil with good and good with evil. Such is the case for example with todays doctrines of tolerance and inclusion or social justice in general.

 

The doctrine of tolerance and inclusion sweeping the world today while good in many important ways has been hijacked by Lucifer and altered from its true meaning and purpose.

 

Take for example the doctrine taught by Korihor.

Many in the church today are preaching the Korihor doctrine that the church asks too much of its members. People should be free to do what they want without fear of judgement or punishment. And as the angel told Nephi in the last day men would say eat, drink and merry. God will punish us a little and in the end we will be saved in His kingdom. 

 

These are false ideas promoted by an overwhelming scourge of political correctness and social justice doctrines of tolerance and inclusion. Err we are aware we will be drawn away from the rod and the covenant path by Pixie Dust with all its cleaver slogans, creative acronyms, and lovely alluring colors.

 

Most of what the world offers us is simply Pixie Dust. But it’s not even the Pixie Dust that's so bad, it's the fact that we choose it over the Tree of Life.

 

Now, as we draw ever closer to the coming of our Lord our choices are becoming more and more important. The time will soon come when the journey back up the hill from the filthy river to the covenant path will be all but impossible. Like an Arkansas river after a few inches of rain it will be too dangerous to cross, and we will find ourselves trapped on the wrong side.

 

You are the target.

 

Make no mistake, that old devil wants you. He wants you any way he can get you. He has his hands into everything. There is no part of your life that he doesn't touch. He wants to destroy you. He is ruthless, insensitive, mean, and deceitful. He is the enemy, he is a murderer and a liar, a thief and distorter and no matter what he says he is, he is evil. Show him no mercy. I'm sure he loves the worlds doctrines of inclusion and tolerance because it softens him in the eyes of the people.

 

He would be the one to point his finger at you accusingly and call you a devilphobe.

 

Brothers and sisters, we must step out of the darkness if we are to discern the light. Look to the light, the light of the Tree which is Jesus Christ. Hold on to the rod of revelation, and keep your feet on the covenant path, and put on the mask of truth when you enter the Pixie Dust. Choose wisely how you spend this precious mortal time.

 

Jesus lives. He is our Savior and Redeemer. Of this I bare my witness in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.