There is an unfamiliar name for Christ of great importance. It is LOGOS. It is the Greek term for Christ. The translation is: “The Word, Message, Teaching, The News. Christ himself is the Reason and the Grand Creator.” Most Christians are not familiar with this name for Christ. In the Book of the Gospel of John, in the first verse, Christ is described as the “Word,” or LOGOS; then, John goes on to explain.
Understanding the Name LOGOS
Our son, Nathan, gave me the link for Jordan Pederson’s visit to the Bible Museum in Washington D.C. in a podcast format. In this podcast, the word LOGOS is explained very well. I was so impressed with this 44-minute podcast that I pulled it up on the big screen for my Sweetheart, who is also my wife of 64 years, to watch with me as well. Jordan paints this profound picture of how this most important book has enlightened the world on God’s literacy and ethics far more than any other book and explains LOGOS.
The Greek word, LOGOS, has a much deeper meaning than its English translation, the WORD. Along with Jordan Pederson’s podcast, we will see why and how the LOGOS has blest the world so enormously. As a major example for us Americans, the LOGOS gave us our inspired Declaration of Independence, US Constitution, and Bill of Rights. No other book influenced these documents more than God and the Bible. It is the LOGOS that provides the all-encompassing infinite atonement–perfecting Heavenly Father’s Plan of Joy for each of us and the promise of eternal life.
Newton’s Discussion of LOGOS
I share Sir Isaac Newton’s discussion of LOGOS in Chapter 3 of my new book, Time & Eternity; the End-Times & Beyond Revealed. Newton shows why the Gospel of John 1:1-17 is so profound in explaining LOGOS. Satan knows God’s Bible ethics and enlightened literacy is premaramente [Spanish, the first], and helps us to know the LOGOS with the promise of eternal life and a fullness of joy. (Read the Gospel of John, Chapter 17)
That is why Satan is trying so hard to stop the promulgation of God’s Bible ethics and the LOGOS. We see the satanically driven theory of evolution (Darwin’s), theory of social evolution is expressed in Powell’s belief that the American Indians are savages which justified destroying them and taking away their lands, in this the “Promised Land,” of America. And we see the theory of political evolution (communism and its cousin, socialism) saying that there is no God, no prayer, and no Ten Commandments. The satanically driven LGBTQ+ and Woke movements prevail today.
Importance of Parables in the LOGOS–Deeper Meanings
I had a really interesting conversation with Nate this morning (10 March 2023). He shared a couple of recent insights that he had regarding the scriptures. He believes the parables are much more than being able to help people at all levels of spirituality, but also helping those who have been trapped in delusion in a major way.
A classic example is shared in 2 Samuel Chapter 12: the Prophet Nathan tells King David the parable of the little ewe lamb, which the poor man loved, “and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter.” The rich man chose not to take from his own flock to feed a guest, but instead took the poor man’s ewe lamb from “his bosom.” David was angry and said, “the man that hath done this thing shall surely die.” Nathan responded, “Thou art the man.” This response cut David to the very core of his heart because he had taken Bathsheba from Uriah.
I believe the scriptures, which are an important part of the LOGOS and are of infinite depth. Peter tells us that the scriptures are given when “they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:19-21) Since we are all different, we will naturally read each scripture differently, and that is why we need the Holy Ghost to know how to apply the scriptures to our needs and for our enlightenment. Because of God’s infinite love for each of us in our mortal journey, as we truly seek Him, we have the great promise that the Holy Ghost will help us know the “truth of all things.” (Moroni 10:5) It is up to us to humbly ask, and God will guide us to those truths best fulfilling our needs and requests for enlightenment, and how to best apply them and share them in our lives and in the lives of others we may be privileged to serve.
Be Ye Therefore Perfect
Nate also shared his insight on the Sermon on the Mount and Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect…” His epiphany was that the Savior is saying to us, “these teachings I have given you are the recipe for perfection. This is the model to emulate.” Following His teachings will put you on the path to perfection. The commandment to be perfect is impossible for us mortals and is often discouraging to people. But Christ can and will perfect us, as we come unto Him and internalize His teachings (Moroni 10:31-32).
The Sermon on the Mount
The 3rd season of “The Chosen” does a great job of showing the importance of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, and 7). It is these chapters that the Savior gave to the Nephites here in “This Promised Land” of America that moved them into becoming an ideal Zion society for over 200 years. We have the promise that He will do the same in our day, as the LOGOS brings forth the ideal Zion society in our day and time.
That sermon is a major part of LOGOS–providing POWERFUL WORDS: LOGOS. He is the way and the truth and the life (John 14:6)—the Grand Creator. It is fascinating that the early Church after the “Passion” called the church “The Way,” and the LOGOS was and is the way. See Drama of Lost Disciples | It’s About Time (itsabouttimebook.com).I find it particularly interesting that as Jesus sums up the Sermon on the Mount, He says, “Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” (Matt. 7:24) I love the French translation of the phrase from this verse, les met en pratique: put these sayings into practice. If you are a true believer, you will be a doer of His word—living and sharing the LOGOS. Helaman’s counsel to his sons is most apropos.
“And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a
sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.” (Helaman 5:12)
Knowing that Jesus is the LOGOS (the WORD), in Jesus’ great High Priest’s prayer, he proclaims to the Father, “Thy word is truth.” The Father made Jesus LOGOS, as the “Son of Righteousness”–deriving His LOGOS from the Father (2 Nephi 26:9; 3 Nephi 25:2; Ether 9:22). These three scripture references interestingly tie to our day, to the Nephites and to the Jaredites—three major civilizations in the history of the world.
The Druid’s motto, who were descendants of the Hebrews, was, “Truth against the world.” Pilot asked Jesus, “What is truth?” To Pilot’s earlier inquiry, Jesus had told Pilot that His kingdom is not of this world. “Thou sayest I am a king To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Everyone that is of the truth heareth my voice.” What is the truth? We have an excellent explanation by the Savior of “truth” in John Chapter 8:12, 31, 32, 36:
“I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life…
“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free…
“If the Son, therefore, shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.”
Ultimate freedom and liberty only come from the LOGOS.
Be Humble Recipients of Truth
In 1930, D&C 33: 5 shares that the church was established and called forth out of the wilderness. Later, In September 1831, in the Doctrine and Covenants in Section 1, which is the preface section, the Lord proclaims, “my church” is “the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth… speaking unto the church collectively and not individually (D&C 1:30).” Notice, the Lord qualifies with the adverb, “collectively.”
Less than a year later after this preface of the Doctrine and Covenants was received, the Lord said that “the whole church [is] under condemnation for treating the message of the Book of Mormon too “lightly.” President Benson said that condemnation remains. Until that condemnation is lifted, members of the Church should not say, “the Church is true.” The Book of Mormon is designed to bring us to Christ (the LOGOS). It can only do that if we have internalized its marvelous message of hope and salvation by truly coming to the LOGOS. Clearly, the members have not done what is needed to remove this condemnation. It is critical that the members move out from under that condemnation by fully coming unto Christ (the LOGOS), as the Book of Mormon message so clearly teaches us to do.
Even though President Benson has given us this poignant and extremely important reminder that because we have treated the message of the Book of Mormon “lightly,” the condemnation remains, however, we know the Lord will set things right in due process, as He brings for Zion and we can be part of it. (Isa. 51:3; 3 Nephi 16:18; D&C 85:7; 103:1-19)
Who Are We To Follow?
As individuals, we are to follow the LOGOS. It is not the Church that saves us. The Church is the Lord’s vehicle to bring us to Christ, who is the “WAY”–the LOGOS. Notice, again that the Lord qualifies with the adverb, “collectively.” As individuals, we are to follow the LOGOS. We often hear members of the Church stand up and testify that they know the Church is true. Given that the Church is under condemnation, they should not say that, and also considering the logical implications of this declaration that all other churches are to a degree false because they have doctrines and teachings contrary. Truth cannot contradict truth.
As the humble recipients of the truth, we need to realize, “For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true (Alma 29:8).” We need to pray for everyone regardless of their religion to grow in light and truth as they come unto Him—“the WAY” and the true LOGOS. God has given them what they need to find the WAY (the LOGOS).
I look at the Church, which has the best choir in the world, which has the biggest and most successful women’s organization in the world, which has a very effective missionary program, and the most effective welfare system, as it readily reaches out across the globe when disasters occur. By their fruits, ye shall know them. We see much good from the nearly 17 million members and the inspired doctrines and teachings that have come forth with the restoration of the fullness of the gospel. Let us embrace the good in it and in all churches and turn from the bad.
As the late, Hugh Nibley has succinctly said, “The Church is not Zion!” One cannot have one toe in Babylon and have Zion, and what do we observe today with Babylon’s massive encroachment on the world, on Christianity, and especially on the Church membership? Satan knows where the truth is and is doing everything he can to subvert it. We know that Babylon the Great will fall (Revelations Chapter 18). Let us not be any part of it.
The Success of the Sermon on the Mount Elsewhere
Outside of the Church, the Sermon on the Mount is having great success as well. Some examples: not only with the Session 3 of “The Chosen,” but some time back, our dear friend, Delta Bement, loaned us a book. It is a must-read: “Blood Brothers” by Elias Chacour. He is Palestinian-Arab and was raised in the little village of Biram in the upper Galilee in Israel. He was blessed with very wise parents, and in his tender years had grown up in peace with his Jewish neighbors. He was raised with a very strong Christian heritage dating back to the first century.
His wonderful Christian upbringing was in stark contrast to the horrible treatment they received under the hands of the Israeli government Zionists as they were driven out of their village. Shortly after this, at the age of 12, he was given the opportunity to study with a Bishop in Haifa, and as his father sent him off, he told him, “If you become a true man of God you will know how to reconcile enemies, how to turn hatred into peace. Only a true servant of God can do that.” And Elias Chacour did that with amazing and miraculous success. Through Him, the Sermon on the Mount touched and changed his whole community where he labored as a Priest.
I hope and pray that we will become humble, Christ-centered people so that the Lord can bring about Zion—a pure in-heart people, who are ONE with Him. We know the Lord will bring a Zion people out of the Church membership, but it will be a subset, who are truly pure in heart. The key is to be Christ-centered and fully embrace the LOGOS, as the “Way, the truth, and the life.” (John 1:1-7, 14:6)
I pray that the LOGOS may become intimate in all our lives, see His smiling face as we hearken to His voice, call upon His holy name, Adonai, keep all His commandments, and fully come unto Him. (D&C 29:1-2; 93:1) His offering is peace, love, and joy in this life, and eternal life and a fullness of joy in the life to come.
David W. Allan