Tag Archives: fullness of joy

How To Be One With God

How to be one with God is a question that challenges all of us.  One of the grand ironies of the Lord’s omniscience is that He asks us to be ONE like He and the Father are ONE. Yet, we have 8.1 billion independent intelligences on this globe, so how can we be One With God?

A Perfectly Designed Mission for Each of Us

Inherent within our intelligence is agency (free choice). Furthermore, in premortal our infinitely loving Heavenly Father gave each of us a different personally designed mission for our mortal journey (See Chapter 2 of It’s About Time). He designed it so that it would be the best way to bring us back home to Him. Then the Lord says, “Behold, this I have given unto you as a parable, and it is even as I am. I say unto you, be one; and if ye are not one ye are not mine (D&C 38:27).”

Hence, CHOOSING to be ONE with Him is paramount in our path to eternal life. And we know the only one who can perfect us and get us there is Christ (Moroni 10:32-33). “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).”

What Can We Do to Help the Cause of Christ?

Because God’s love is perfect and infinite, we have His great promise before Christ comes again: “For it shall come to pass in that day, that every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his tongue, and in his language, through those who are ordained unto this power, by the administration of the Comforter, shed forth upon them for the revelation of Jesus Christ (D&C 90:11).” Furthermore, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the only religion that now offers the fullness of the gospel on both sides of the veil. This includes all the saving ordinances associated therewith. Yet, we are only 0.2 % of the world population, but fortunately, the Church is growing rapidly, and the growth rate is now increasing.

In the meantime, what can we do to help the cause of Christ? First, we need to be His disciples by sharing His glorious message of redemption and hope for eternal life. “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples (John 15:8).”

As part of the Lord’s plan for ONEness, we know the ideal society to meet the Lord is ZION: “the pure in heart (D&C 97:21)” “And the Lord called his people ZION, because they were of one heart and one mind, and dwelt in righteousness; and there was no poor among them (Moses 7:18).” Clearly, knowing how to be one with God is paramount. Now, with 8.1 billion different world views across the globe for all of Father’s children, how can they be ONE? Accepting the Full infinite atonement of Jesus Christ and HIs teachings are the keys.  But most don’t know of these beautiful and life changing truths.

St. Petersburg Russia and being ONE

In 2015, I was invited to write a paper, give a lecture, and chair a panel in St. Petersburg, Russia. I took two cases of my book, It’s About Time, which harmonizes true science and true religion. They sold very quickly, and I had a great experience there.

I felt to add to the paper that I wrote for the conference an equation, which I feel the Lord gave me, on how to be one with God. The Savior opened the door for us to be “one” like He and the Father are one for all believers (Read John 17). In His great High Priest prayer, He excluded no one except the “world” of non-believers.

As background for this equation, consider God’s infinite love for us. He gave us His Only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him and lives His teachings shall have eternal life (John 3:16). Christ also gave us our conscience to “light” our way that we may know good from evil (John 1:9). At each decision point in life, we make choices. As we choose the good, we synchronize our souls with the will of God; otherwise, we become more asynchronous and are estranged from God. Well, did the Apostle James say, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin (James 4:17).”

A loving and merciful God has given us the door of repentance made effective through the infinite atonement of Christ so that we may resynchronize our souls with God. “Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them (D&C 58:42-43).” Also, in God’s love, He has twice as many angels around us to counter the adversary’s opposition, there for us as we pray (D&C 10:5).

Taking from Shakespeare’s Othello, from Charles Dickins, Barnaby Rudge, Chapter 29, which Abraham Lincoln used in his inaugural address, let us choose our “better angels,” who are whispering to us the best path for us.

Light Before Death

I recently learned of a remarkable book, The LIGHT BEFORE DEATH, by Vincent (Vinney) Todd Tolman.  It is our own Lazarus raised from the dead documented experience happening right here in Orem, Utah, in 2003. After he died, he was taught ten heavenly principles, by his Great-great-great grandfather, Charles Drake Cazier, as he moved to higher levels of light. One was the great importance of “Listen to your inner voice.”

The Kingdom of Heaven is perfectly organized, and the Lord’s angels are ever-attending. It is our choice to listen or not. They speak the words of Christ to know what we should do to align ourselves with God’s will (2 Nephi 32:2-5).

Drake beautifully shares with Vinney the great importance of Alma’s insight: “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).” The sixth principle Drake shared was, “Release prejudice.” And the capstone and tenth principle is: “Know that we are all one.

Can we imagine a higher path in life than going about–best using our time and talents–in doing good as we follow the light of Christ? This is “the still small voice” shared so profoundly in the Bible (1 Kings 19:12). Then we are ONE with Him!

Following this still, small voice moves us to the path that aligns with the mission we agreed to do during our mortal journey. Doing so will bring honor and glory to our loving Heavenly Father. With Him, in a pre-mortal epoch, we agreed and rejoiced in our opportunity to come to earth. As developed in Chapter 2 of Itʼs About Time, I share that we had a special interview with our Heavenly Father in which we jointly mapped out our life’s mission that we knew would be for our eternal best good.

Because we have free agency, we can choose not to do our mission, but that path will not be the best for us.  When we apply faith in the Lord Jesus Christ in our lives and repentance, it means changing our path direction to align our will with His.

Our Time on Earth is Like a Clock

We can think of our time on earth like a clock, we move our soul’s clock closer to synchronism with Him, as we choose the right. We are doing the right things, at the right place, at the right time. Our thoughts are aligned with His omniscient and loving wisdom. He asks us, “Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not (D&C 6:36).”
Here is the equation.

yavg = xN/Ntauavg

We bring our clock into synchronization with God’s will when we make the right choice—listening to the Lord’s angels who speak the words of Christ. In this equation, N numbers our xN choice. Nτavg denotes our time on earth since we were accountable for our choices—nominally age eight. Our goal is to be ONE with God—zero distance between us and Him. One can show from this equation that yavg moves to zero as each choice ever moves us closer to the will of God as we listen to His angels ministering to us.

One can show mathematically that our frequency (our different world views) will move ever closer into perfect resonance with the Father through the Son as we move to be with them and their teachings. We are in harmony emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically with His will and are in ONEness with God. Synchronization means same time; syntonization means same rate. Our lives are syntonized in this ONEness, yavg = 0, God is with us in all we do, say, and think.

Our oldest son, Sterling, shared with me this fascinating experiment shared on the web of how five independent metronomes are brought into synchronization and syntonization. Synchronization of Metronomes. You can see Daniel in a 1 minute 49 seconds YouTube video showing that when the sounding board is free to respond to the metronomes’ movements, they come into synchronism—ONEness.

As I presented the paper for the international navigation conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, I included the above equation and insights as part of the paper. This allowed me to share the message of the gospel with my international colleagues. They politely asked me to remove it as they didn’t want spirituality as part of a technical conference. But here I share it with the world, and my colleagues reviewing the paper received the benefit.

Two clocks can be syntonized and have very different times; they could be an hour apart in their time readings while running at the same rate. If syntonized but not synchronized, then the time difference remains constant, and they remain out of sync. Because the time error of a clock is the integral of the frequency error, synchronization guarantees syntonization. We will see this concept being very important, as we develop how to resonate our souls with God.

I discuss the fascinating MASER and LASER action–invented by Nobel Prize winner Charles Townes, et. al.–in Chapter 20 of my book: www.ItsAboutTimeBook.com. The first atomic clock was an ammonia maser built by Harold Lyons, et. al. at NBS Washington, D.C. The first atomic clock I worked on in 1960 at NBS/Boulder, CO, was an ammonia maser.

Maser and laser are acronyms meaning Microwave or Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. The maser concept was first illustrated using hydrogen. In a hydrogen maser, when a hydrogen atom enters the resonant cavity of the maser in an excited-quantum-clock-transition-energy state, it is stimulated to give off its clock-transition photon in phase (synchronized and syntonized) with all the emissions of all the other atoms, which have already entered the cavity. The photons of all the atoms are in resonance with each other–like Daniel’s metronomes.

Notice, that Daniel first shows in the video that they do not resonate until the coupling-sounding-board is free to sense the combined movement of the metronomes. In the ideal ZION society motivated by the pure love of Christ, we are of “one mind and one heart.” We are in resonance with the will of God.

Because of this resonance phenomena, the time deviation TDEV time-stability plot improves as the square root of the averaging time, τ^-1/2. This gives hydrogen masers their unique excellent short-term frequency and time stability. And they are widely used across the globe to this day.

But, as explained in Chapter 20, for significant worldly reasons, this ideal resonance phenomenon, τ^-1/2, doesn’t persist. If a TDEV time-stability plot were made of the time differences of the metronomes in Daniel’s experiment, the stability would improve like the masers after resonance was achieved, but not before. This resonance phenomenon was first observed by the famous inventor of the pendulum clock, Christiaan Huygens, back in the 1600s. This ZION society mentality joyfully brings persistence to this Divinely orchestrated resonance phenomenon–illustrated by masers and Daniel’s metronomes.

As We Choose The Good

As we choose the good, we synchronize our souls with the will of God; otherwise, we become more asynchronous and are estranged from God. Also, in God’s love, as I mentioned before, He has angels around us to counter the adversary’s opposition.

We can synchronize our thoughts and actions with Him through prayer and pondering, studying, and feasting upon His word (2 Nephi 31:20). It is exciting to know that in our desires to synchronize our will to His, each of us has a unique mission, given our different times on earth and our different talents. In His infinite wisdom, He knows our uniqueness and will customize the inspiration given to each of us for our eternal best good. His will is to have each of us return to Him and receive a fullness of joy. But know that He will not force us; such force would violate our free agency and make it, not heaven. He will never do that; that is contrary to the laws of heaven. Being ONE with Him is our choice.

As we treasure up His word (JS-M 37) and hearken to it, in our Nth occasion to do so, we move xN closer to synchronism as we align our will to His. If we choose otherwise, we move our clock further away from the “correct time” and away from being ONE with God. Like the sounding board for the metronomes needs to be “free” to facilitate resonance among the metronomes, so we need to get out of the noise of the world and find the freedom in communion with God that will open our minds and hearts to the still small voice. That is the path to true freedom. “If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed (John 8:36).”

His Loving Arms are Stretched Out

His loving arms are stretched out continually to all of us in His infinite capacity to do so that we may find resonance with Him through faith in Christ and repentance from sin.
The denominator ever grows larger and the numerator can be made smaller and smaller as we synchronize our wills to the will of the Father, as the Son did perfectly. One can show that this equation converges to perfect resonance; we grow into ONEness with God and are guaranteed eternal life in that process. When our worldview becomes aligned with His perfect view, His promise is, “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32). In that unity we become free of sin as individuals, and free from bondage as a society. We become one with God in that ideal society motivated by the pure love of Christ, and each of our time and talents are thus utilized fully for the betterment of that society in time and in eternity. How exciting is that? This is he path to a fullness of joy.

We model our society after the harmony of the Godhead. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost each have different missions within the Godhead, but they are one–motivated by pure and perfect love. They move the cause of Truth forward throughout the universe. Following this perfect model is how, as Jesus has asked us to pray, that Father’s kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:9-13). Could there be a more exciting message–a society based on the pure love of Christ, which will partake of a fullness of joy?

For those wishing to chat online about the gospel of Jesus Christ, you may visit Mormon.org. They have the facility to chat in some fifty different languages. The Book of Mormon (another witness for Christ) is available in 110 languages. This book–companion to the Bible–is designed to help bring us to Christ and to this ONEness.

David W. Allan (updated 25 May 2024)

Photo: Freep!k

The Great Plan of Joy

The world with all its ugliness makes it difficult to see the “Plan of Joy.” We hear of the plan of salvation, the plan of happiness, but seldom of the “Plan of Joy.”  The Book of Mormon, states,  “Adam fell that men might be, and men are that he might have joy.” (2 Nephi 2:25)

Satan’s Plan

Satan is successfully getting many to act according to his promptings.  His intention is to create contention, hate, envy, wars, rumors of wars, depression, and that suicide is a way out.  Instead of Sabbath worship, sports, and leisure activities take precedence over keeping the fourth commandment.  There are all kinds of sexual distortions and deviations that take away from the sacredness of the husband-and-wife relationship. The great importance of family is being diminished, which is the most precious and most important unit in time and eternity.

The Fullness of Joy

The Savior descended below all and then ascended above all to open the door to the greatest joy in this life and a fullness of joy in the life to come.  His glorious resurrection, the seventh step and capstone to the infinite atonement, brings us back into the presence of God and opens the door to receive a fullness of joy for all those who will embrace the grace and mercy offered by His infinite atonement. It is hard for most to look through the ugliness—all pain and suffering—and see through the clouds of darkness to the fullness of joy offered. They fail to see the beautiful full colors of the rainbow and the abundant life extended by the Savior and the joy and sunshine that shines so brightly in God’s presence.

Scriptural References to Joy

Let’s look at some of the beautiful references to Joy.  The fruits of the spirit are love, joy, and peace. As we come to Christ, we find this most delicious fruit, and we know nothing is more desirable. The Prophet Lehi describes: “And as I partook of the fruit thereof it filled my soul with exceedingly great joy; wherefore, I began to be desirous that my family should partake of it also; for I knew that it was desirable above all other fruit.” (1 Nephi 8:12)

Just before working out the infinite atonement, the Savior said: “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.” (John 15:11)

“For man is spirit. The elements are eternal, and spirit and element, inseparably connected, receive a fullness of joy; And when separated, man cannot receive a fullness of joy.” (D&C 93:33-34) The glorious resurrection opens the door to fullness of joy. The resurrection, as the capstone to the infinite atonement, offers this “fullness of joy.” “Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.” (D&C 101:36)

The meek also shall increase their joy in the LORD, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” (Isa. 29:19)

As the Prophet Nephi shares a Hebrew Midrash on Isaiah discussing our day he proclaims: “And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness. And the meek also shall increase, and their joy shall be in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.” (2 Nephi 27:29-30)

In the same midrash on Isaiah chapters 2-14, Nephi shares many major insights about our day, and we know that Satan and all who follow him will be destroyed, as the Lord comes to reign as King of kings and Lord of lords during HIs glorious millennial reign.

At the birth of the Savior, the angel proclaims the glad tidings of great joy. “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” (Luke 2:10) The promise is “to all” who will come unto Him.

Just before working out the infinite atonement, He said to the Twelve Apostles, “And ye now, therefore, have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.” (John 16:22)

The Apostle Paul enumerates: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” (Gal. 5:22-23)

Love is the first law of heaven, and those who live that law of love will have a “fullness of joy.” We cannot imagine a better plan. All the imperfections of mortality will be made right through His infinite atonement while opening the door to all who will receive Him a fullness of joy.

Nephi does a Hebrew Midrash on Isaiah 50, 51, 52:1-2 in Second Nephi 9—giving us one of the best treatments of the infinite atonement. There Nephi shares, “But, behold, the righteous, the saints of the Holy One of Israel, they who have believed in the Holy One of Israel, they who have endured the crosses of the world, and despised the shame of it, they shall inherit the kingdom of God, which was prepared for them from the foundation of the world, and their joy shall be full forever.” (2 Ne. 9:18

King Mosiah promises: “And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness [fullness of joy]. Oh remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.” (Mosiah 2:41)

We have the remarkable conversion story of King Lamoni’s father: “And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy.” (Alma 22:15)

Following his complete conversion example, thousands of Lamanites followed the king’s complete conversion as well—anticipating the fullness of joy the Lord promises.

Alma in his exuberance to share the glorious gospel message states, “Oh that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people! …  But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; …  for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire… whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction…

“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.  I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, …yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy. And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy;” (Alma 29:1-10)

Alma, in sharing his own conversion experience with his son, Helaman. He describes the joy that filled his soul: “And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain! Yea, I say unto you, my son, that there could be nothing so exquisite and so bitter as were my pains. Yea, and again I say unto you, my son, that on the other hand, there can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy.” (Alma 36:20-21)

And the Lord promises, “And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!” (D&C 18:15-16)

Glorious Anticipation

We live in that day in glorious anticipation of the return of our Lord and Savior. Satan, knowing it is his last hour, is pulling out all stops to turn people away from the Lord. Atheism is on the increase. Suicide rates are epidemic. Satan has cleverly made the ethics of the Bible unteachable—turning the masses to his worldly ways. He does everything he can to cover up the “Great Plan of Joy” available to all who come to Christ.

At the same time, many are waking up to the fundamental importance of liberty, of truth, of true love, and to the Lord’s light. “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (Jn. 8:12) Further, the Lord warns and promises, “ Wherefore, fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.” (D&C 101:36)

Who is Jordan Peterson?

Jordan Bernt Peterson, 60, is a clinical psychologist, author, and major media personality from Alberta, Canada.

Recently,  Peterson shared his profound insights as he came to know God: Jordan Peterson’s INCREDIBLE Journey To GOD | Heartbreaking Moments on His FAITH – YouTube. Jordan is the world’s best psychologist, and in his pursuit of truth is doing an enormous amount of good in the world that is spiraling down. In spite of not having the blessings of the fullness of the restored gospel, his accomplishments are incredible. However, he lacks the vision of the “fullness of joy” the Lord has in store for the righteous.

Help the Father’s Work

The best thing we can do is to help the Father in His work, “This is my work and my glory (Joy) to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.” (Moses 1:39) “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” (Jn. 15:8) Then we can join with all the other great missionaries saying, “This is my joy.” In His infinite love, He offers “The Great Plan of Joy.

David W. Allan

PS You can reach me at gospelquestions7@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Planting Seeds and a Fullness of Joy

You have heard, “You can count the seeds in an apple, but you cannot count the apples in a seed!”  Implicit in this statement is the infinite nature of the universe.  In the spring we plant our seeds in the garden and then after nourishing them and watering them we observe the miracle as they produce perhaps 100-fold after their own kind.

Like the parable of the mustard seed, we plant seeds of faith, and as they are nourished we grow in understanding of God’s marvelous ways, of His infinite love, of His Son’s infinite atonement, which gives full purpose to all of humanity and a hope for a fullness of joy in the eternities.

A husband and wife have the sacred privilege of planting seeds and having precious children in a healthy, happy, family setting.  We come to understand that the family is the most important unit in time and eternity, that family is the order in heaven, and that we can be an eternal family and receive a fullness of joy.  Hence, God has asked us to call Him, Father in Heaven.

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