Telepathy, Empaths & Psychic Abilities

21/05/2025

Interesting - a framework that solves centuries old debates

🧨 For 500 Years, Christianity Has Wrestled With a Theological Contradiction It Can’t Reconcile... Until Now.

Romans 3:28 — “A man is justified by faith apart from works.”
James 2:24 — “A man is justified by works and not by faith alone.”

This isn’t a soft contradiction.
It’s a theological knife fight between apostles—one that cracked the Protestant Reformation right down the middle.

Paul says it’s faith, not works.

James says it’s not faith alone.

How can there be two Truths?

For centuries, this tension has been spiritualized, softened, or ignored.

But now, for the first time, the contradiction is fully resolved.

🔁 Enter: The Laws of Creation — as defined by M. Allen Castle
The Laws of Creation introduce a cosmological and spiritual model where faith and works are not competing forces, but consecutive stages of eternal refinement.

In this framework:

Faith is the initial harmonic alignment—the intention of the intelligence toward divine resonance.

Works are the collapsing of that intention into form—the tangible manifestation of agency in the resonance field.

Justification is not a legal declaration—it is the dimensional convergence of intelligence, truth, and light.

Faith opens the field.
Agency activates it.
Works collapse it.
And convergence sanctifies it.

This is not metaphor—it is structure.

🧬 This is where quantum physics and scripture align:

A wavefunction exists in potential until observed.

So does faith—it remains unformed until acted upon.

Observation collapses probability.
Agency collapses truth.

“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17)

The Laws of Creation explain that truth is independent, agency is elemental, and justification is not imposed but refined.

🛐 The Restoration Confirms What the Laws of Creation Reveal:

“For we labor diligently... to persuade our children... to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do.”
— 2 Nephi 25:23

This verse doesn’t contradict Paul—it completes him.

The Restoration never separated faith and works—it showed how they function dimensionally:

“Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ... feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end...”
— 2 Nephi 31:20

Faith is the gate.
Works are the motion.
Agency is the law.
And convergence is the reward.

🎤 Final Thought:

This isn’t just doctrinal clarity—it’s structural revelation.

What theologians called contradiction, the Laws of Creation reveal as resonance and collapse—the sacred interplay of intention, action, and ascension.

The Restoration didn’t patch the gap. It reframed the map.
And the Laws of Creation defined the physics of salvation.

The question was never “Faith or works?”
The answer has always been “Both—by law.”

10/04/2025

“The Law is Not Bent - Truth is the Law”

“Truth aligns itself with no one. You must align with truth.”

That is the crucible of awakening.

Truth is not a feeling. It is not an opinion. It does not flatter your desires, your politics, or your insecurities.

Truth is a resonance. A frequency. An eternal chord that sings in harmony with the Divine—you are invited to align - no man forced may receive.

We live in a world that asks truth to shift to match our preferences.

But eternal laws do not compromise. They do not flatter.
They cut.
They cleanse.
They consecrate.

The Laws of Creation do not wait for your permission.

They are already moving—Combining, Compounding, Comparing, Correcting, Continuing, Concluding, and Converging with or without your permission, awareness or appeal.

The real question is not: “What is your truth?”
The real question is: “Will you refine yourself until you resonate with THE Truth?”

That is the path of the prophet. The ascender. The reconciler.

You do not change Truth.
Truth changes you.

02/04/2025

Tell me what you know about ascension - imagine yourself as a vortex - this vortex is made up all your knowledge, information and Truth and you are just one of an Ocean of Vortexes all struggling for relevance and all seeking to ascend - one way to get one to ascend slower than you is to restrict not only their knowledge, but their information and as such reducing their momentum - Truth is Truth and knowledge is ascension - refine your Truth and ascend, that's the way it works. :-0)

01/04/2025

interesting phenomenon. I wonder if it is a clue of what happens when we die.

I don't subscribe to reincarnation but I do believe when we die we await judgement day and there is a Spiritual paradise for the faithful and a Spiritual prison for those needing further refinement.

If this story is true, it indicates a definite acknowledgement of Christ and if so I wonder if Spiritual paradise allows a worthy spirit to inhabit earthly creatures awaiting judgment day.

31/03/2025

✨ The Veil is Thinning – Last Days Prophecies Unfolding ✨

We are living in a time unlike any other. The veil is thinning, and the power of God is becoming more manifest in the world. Those with eyes to see and ears to hear can feel it—miracles are increasing, revelation is pouring forth, and the work of gathering Israel is accelerating.

The scriptures and modern prophets have foretold that in the last days, the gifts of the Spirit will be poured out in greater measure. Joel 2:28 prophesied:

"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."

President Russell M. Nelson has repeatedly testified that we are in the latter days, and that we should expect to see more manifestations of the power of Christ as we prepare for His coming. He said:

"The Lord is hastening His work, and you can be a part of it. You will see miracles happen in your life as you choose to follow Jesus Christ and allow Him to guide you through these perilous times." (Worldwide Devotional for Young Adults, May 2022)

Elder David A. Bednar has also spoken of how spiritual sensitivity is increasing:

"The Lord is revealing things ‘line upon line, precept upon precept.’ The heavens are open, and those who seek with real intent will receive revelation and light."

We are entering a time when the power of Christ will become undeniable—not just in our personal lives, but on a global scale. The righteous will receive greater protection, greater light, and greater discernment, while the wicked will be left to their own devices.

Now is the time to stand strong! Seek personal revelation. Strengthen your testimony. Prepare for even greater manifestations of Christ’s power in the days ahead.

✨ What signs of the Lord’s hand have you seen in your life recently? Drop a comment below! ⬇️

26/03/2025

𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝘃𝘀. 𝗨𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸: 𝗔𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗴𝘆𝗽𝘁’𝘀 𝗔𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀

Recent headlines have sparked global fascination with the 𝗣𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗶𝘇𝗮 A new report claims that scientists have identified a vast underground complex – “a 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 beneath the Pyramids of Giza, potentially rewriting the history of ancient Egypt”

Using advanced radar, researchers described 𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗳𝘁𝘀 reaching 𝟮,𝟭𝟬𝟬 𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 below the pyramids, connected to massive subterranean structures

Some observers are breathlessly calling it 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀.Undefined Excitement ripples through social media and news outlets, as people speculate about hidden knowledge and mysterious powers locked beneath the desert sands. There is an almost electric enchantment in the air – a sense that these ancient stones might conceal secrets that could 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 of a long-lost world.

It’s easy to be captivated by such grandeur. The Egyptian civilization, with its colossal pyramids and arcane hieroglyphs, has always evoked a kind of mystique. Their dynasties embodied worldly power and ancient knowledge. In their heyday, Egypt’s rulers were revered as gods among men, and their sorcerers were masters of secret arts. As modern media now uncovers 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 undefined under the Great Pyramid, we might feel that same pull of curiosity and wonder that has lured truth-seekers for centuries. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲. The 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 – impressive as it is – can subtly begin to 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 and draw our focus away from a far greater foundation of truth.

𝗠𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗴𝘆𝗽𝘁 𝘃𝘀. 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗱

The 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 gives us a stark reminder through the story of Moses confronting Pharaoh. Egypt’s power was not only political but spiritual – backed by magicians and mystics who claimed to channel divine forces. When Moses, by God’s command, performed miracles (like turning his staff into a serpent), Pharaoh’s magicians 𝗺𝗶𝗺𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘆. Scripture records that “the magicians of Egypt… did in like manner with their enchantments” 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗱 with occult imitations. Imagine that scene: the court of Pharaoh 𝗳𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝗺𝗽 and occult spectacle, as if human enchantments could nullify the power of Jehovah. The Egyptian dynasty, for all its 𝗴𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗱𝗼𝗺, stood in 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 against the true God.

Yet despite the magicians’ tricks, 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱. The Lord humiliated Egypt’s gods through the plagues, parted the Red Sea, and delivered His people while Pharaoh’s mighty army perished. The lesson is clear: 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗺, 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗱. The ancient Egyptians may have wielded impressive knowledge of architecture, astronomy, and magic, but 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗽𝘀𝗲. Their monuments eventually turned to tombs. What remains of that empire is indeed 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 to look upon – 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗳-𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱 – yet these are monuments to mortality, symbols of a civilization that 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 from desolation.

Today, as we marvel at new discoveries under Giza’s pyramids, we must remember that 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝗴𝘆𝗽𝘁’𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆, 𝗵𝗼𝘄𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱, 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀. In the end, it is 𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 – fascinating, yes, but 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 if it leads us away from God. The Pharaohs believed their elaborate tombs and hidden knowledge would secure them immortality; instead, those treasures stayed on earth, and their souls met the God whom they had defied. 𝗡𝗼 𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱, 𝗻𝗼 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼𝗱.

𝗜𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 “S𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝘀” 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁

Why, then, are we so drawn to these 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀? The Apostle Paul warned that 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀, people would 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗲, attracted instead to teachers who cater to their desires – who tell them what they 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 to hear. 𝗧𝗼 𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿, Paul wrote (2 Timothy 4:3, NIV). In other words, they will indulge in 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 – seeking out appealing 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀 or 𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 instead of the solid but sometimes hard truths of the Gospel.

We see this happening all around us. The world runs after the 𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗱, the newest scintillating theory, the notion that some long-buried secret (be it 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘀, 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘀) will finally unveil 𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵. How easy it is to get 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘂𝗽 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹 – to have our ears tickled by the suggestion that something other than Christ can fulfill our spiritual hunger. The idea of a hidden city under the Giza Plateau or a fabled 𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 filled with ancient wisdom plays into a longing in the human heart: a longing for 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿, a shortcut to enlightenment.

But 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 can puff us up and lead us astray. The serpent in Eden lured Adam and Eve with a similar tease: 𝗲𝗮𝘁, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗱𝘀, 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗹. There is nothing wrong with learning about history or archaeology – indeed, such learning can be enriching – 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗹. The Gospel of Jesus Christ contains the 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 found in The Book of Mormon and all that is needed for our salvation. If we find ourselves more excited by an article about pharaohs and hidden chambers than by the 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱, it may be time to re-center our hearts.

Paul’s warning echoes through the ages: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗲𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁. The world’s intrigue can be intoxicating. It can make the 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 seem too plain by comparison. We must be vigilant not to let the 𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 or 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 distract us from the core message of salvation. The Apostle Peter reminds us that 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀 – our faith rests not on secret myths, but on 𝗲𝘆𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁’𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆.

𝗔𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁

Against the backdrop of the world’s feverish curiosity, 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘂𝘀 𝗮 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. While the sands of the desert may shift and reveal new ruins, the 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝘀 does not move. 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿. In Him alone is 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 and 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿. Elder David A. Bednar recently taught about the vital importance of building our lives upon the 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁. He explained that 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 is 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 centered in Jesus and His redemptive mission in a talk given in April 2004 in the Spring General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, "Be Still, and Know That I Am God"

𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿… 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝘄𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀, Bednar declared

When we speak of 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸, it means He is the 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸 under our feet – 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹. In the Book of Helaman, the prophet Helaman exhorted his sons (and us) to build on that rock: 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… his shafts in the whirlwind… when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you… because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

If we build on Christ, we 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹. Though the storms of life pound us, though secular winds howl with doubt or sensationalism, we will stand firm.

Elder Bednar used a powerful metaphor from modern construction. In building skyscrapers or reinforcing structures, engineers will often 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸. These unseen supports fasten the building’s foundation to solid rock beneath the loose soil, 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆

In a similar way, our 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 and ordinances in the gospel of Jesus Christ function like those 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹 𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘀. The sacred covenants and ordinances of the Savior’s restored gospel can be compared to the anchor pins and steel rods used to connect a building to bedrock. Every time we faithfully receive, review, remember, and renew sacred covenants, our spiritual anchors are secured ever more firmly and steadfastly to the ‘r𝗼𝗰𝗸’ 𝗼𝗳 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁.

Each prayer, each sacrament taken worthily, each time we go to the temple or remember our covenants, we are 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗿 into the Rock. We are 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 our soul to Him.

Think of that contrast: the world is enthralled by the 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘀 – stone shafts descending into darkness. Impressive, yes, but will those 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 save a single soul? Meanwhile, God invites us to 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀’ 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁, the 𝗟𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸. Those who do so experience what Elder Bednar described as an 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹. In the midst of life’s upheaval, they can heed the Lord’s call: 𝗕𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗚𝗼𝗱.

In fact, as we bind ourselves to Christ through covenant promises, we become 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗱, 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱, 𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲𝗱 in our faith

The 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 of the world begin to fade, replaced by a divine calm. 𝗔𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿, 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 ‘b𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹’ — 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿… 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿.“Be Still, and Know That I Am God

There is a 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 that comes from being 𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁, a stillness that no worldly excitement can counterfeit. It is the peace of 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 where we stand, of feeling our feet planted on solid rock.

𝗛𝗲 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗢𝘄𝗻… 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗢𝘄𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗡𝗼𝘁.

Tragically, when the 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗛𝗶𝗺𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 came into the world, many people missed it. The Gospel of John records the poignant irony: 𝗛𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁

The 𝗝𝗲𝘄𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, steeped in scripture and awaiting a Messiah, in large part 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 because He did not fit their expectations. They were looking for a conquering king to 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲, not a lowly Savior to crucify. Many of 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 were too in love with their own ideas, their status, or the 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱, and they failed to recognize the very 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗮𝗹𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 standing before them.

This is a sobering warning for us. We who claim to be 𝗛𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘄𝗻 today – Christians, believers, members of His Church – can also be at risk of 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 if our hearts are elsewhere. If I am so fixated on worldly intrigue (even something as intriguing as pharaonic mysteries) that I 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿’𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, am I not doing what those ancient people did? Jesus Christ knocks on the door of our hearts, offering Himself as the 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 we need. How sorrowful if we were to be so busy peering into the past, or gazing at worldly splendors, that we 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝗺!

Jesus once lamented over Jerusalem, saying, 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘄𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. Let us not make that mistake. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘂𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼𝘄. Through His Spirit, through the scriptures, through living prophets and personal revelation, through the very man or woman that stands battered and broken before you testifying of His Truth, He offers 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 – truth that satisfies eternally. Yet if our ears are attuned only to the 𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 or if our eyes are glued to the 𝗴𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, we might fail to receive Him. The pyramid of Giza will not judge us at the last day; 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹. And He will ask if we knew Him, if we built upon Him, if we received Him with full purpose of heart.

𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝘁’𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗳𝗲: 𝗡𝗼 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝗮𝗰𝗸

Jesus gave a short but powerful caution in the Gospel of Luke: 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗟𝗼𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲 (Luke 17:32). 𝗟𝗼𝘁’𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗳𝗲, as they fled the destruction of 𝗦𝗼𝗱𝗼𝗺, made the fatal error of turning back with longing to what she’d left behind. The Old Testament recounts that she 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸… 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝘁.Genesis 19:26

Her body was frozen as a statue, a grim monument to a 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁. God was delivering her to safety, but her heart still yearned for the sinful city. In looking back, she 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗳𝗲𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.

Lot’s wife stands as a symbol for anyone who sets out to follow God but keeps 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿 at the world’s temptations. Are we 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝘁𝗼 𝗘𝗴𝘆𝗽𝘁 or holding onto judgements of the past or false pride in our Truths resistant to the offering up of the testimony's sent unto us by the very Father you've prayed to? When we should be pressing forward to the Promised Land? The Israelites in the desert often murmured that they missed the “leeks and onions” of Egypt, forgetting the 𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 God freed them from. Likewise, after setting our hands to the plow in Christ’s kingdom, we cannot afford to look back wistfully at the 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱. If God has called us out of spiritual Babylon or spiritual Egypt, then 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 – even just in our affections – can cause us to 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗰𝗶𝗳𝘆. We become stuck, unable to move forward, like Lot’s wife literally stuck as a salt pillar.

In our context today, 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 might mean 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝘀, 𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗶𝘁𝘀, 𝗼𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀 when we have covenanted to move upward on the covenant path. It could also mean 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗳𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 in a way that diminishes our devotion to God. Even failing to see Perfected Truths revealed for our day. For example, being more enchanted by the 𝗮𝘂𝗿𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗼𝗵𝘀 or the 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝘁𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀 or the 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 than by the miracles of Christ and the gifts of the Spirit. If we do so, we risk turning into 𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗽𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 – intact on the outside perhaps, but inwardly empty and lifeless, “salt” that has lost its savor. The Savior implores us: 𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸. Don’t crave the 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗜’𝗺 𝘁𝗿𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺.𝗗𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜’𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲.

We must choose: 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱’𝘀 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗿 𝗚𝗼𝗱’𝘀. We cannot serve two masters. Lot’s wife could not have S***m *and* salvation; we cannot have the 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱 while our heart pines for the 𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗱𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲𝗻. If we attempt it, we too will end up motionless, stuck in between, unable to progress in either realm. So let’s 𝗳𝗶𝘅 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗴𝗮𝘇𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱—o𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁. There is nothing behind us worth more than what lies ahead in Him.

𝗔 𝗠𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮

Thousands of years ago, the Lord gave a prophetic dream to a man named 𝗟𝗲𝗵𝗶, recorded in the Book of Mormon. In that dream, people journeyed toward the 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 (symbolic of God’s love and eternal life) along a strait and narrow path. But along that path arose a 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀… 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, causing many travelers to lose their way and become lost ([1 Nephi 8]

The only ones who reached the Tree were those who “𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗼𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻 (the word of God) ([1 Nephi 8]

That 𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗼𝗱 was their guide when worldly eyes failed; it cut through confusion and led them to safety.

Brothers and sisters, consider the world we live in today. We truly live in 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗯𝘂𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀, an age of information overload, constant media buzz, and viral fads. If ever there were a 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 in our day, it is this cloud of ceaseless 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗻𝗼𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺 that can so easily obscure our view of God. The recent obsession with Egyptian archaeology is just one example. Tomorrow it might be a new conspiracy theory, or a charismatic false teacher performing 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀. Jesus Christ Himself warned that in the last days even deceivers would come, 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁, 𝗶𝗳 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁. ([Matthew 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders that would deceive even the elect, if that were possible.]

In other words, the deception will be so sophisticated and appealing that 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘄𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 – 𝗶𝗳 those believers are not firmly rooted in truth.

Think about it: Satan doesn’t usually tempt devoted Christians with blatant evil like worshipping Pharaoh or bowing to a golden idol. He’s far sneakier. He sends a 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀, half-truths, and glossy distractions. He loves to get us fascinated by 𝗮𝗻𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 – even things that seem grand or enlightening. If the devil can get an upright person to spend all their energy chasing, say, proof of ancient extraterrestrials or secret codes in the pyramids (or even just obsessing over news and entertainment), that person might 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, losing hold of the iron rod of God’s word. The adversary gleefully uses the 𝗺𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗲𝘁 as his fog machine, billowing out endless speculations, controversies, and pleasures to cloud the minds and hearts of people. How many souls have gotten lost in that mist, their attention swallowed by YouTube rabbit holes, their faith dimmed by the constant drizzle of doubt and distraction?

The grandeur of ancient Egypt, as presented in documentaries and articles, can serve as 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀. It’s not that archaeology or history are evil – far from it. It’s that the 𝗴𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 of human antiquity can become a tool to 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗚𝗼𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀. We see it when commentators gush over the engineering marvels of the pyramids (and indeed they are astonishing) but then imply, ancient man was so advanced, who needs the ‘myths’ of religion? Or when a discovery is hyped as “challenging biblical history,” causing some to question their faith. Or when people begin to mix 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗘𝗴𝘆𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗺 with their spiritual practices, thinking they are finding deeper truth, but in reality walking into spiritual dead-ends. All of this is like that 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗟𝗲𝗵𝗶’𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 – it *looks* intriguing, but if you step into it without holding fast to the iron rod, you will quickly lose your bearings.

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗰𝘁 can be deceived if they pridefully assume they cannot be. We must 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 to safely navigate today’s fog. We have the iron rod within our grasp – the scriptures, the words of living prophets, the Holy Spirit’s whisperings. 𝗪𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺. Hold them with the same urgency and firmness as if you were in a smoke-filled hallway searching for an exit. There is safety and clarity in the iron rod. It cuts through confusion and leads us back to the presence of God. With one hand on that rod and our eyes toward the Savior, we can pass through any mist unharmed. Without it, even an 𝗵𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗸𝗲𝗿 can be led astray by the sheer volume of persuasive voices in the great and spacious building of the world.

𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 **𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

My dear friends, in a world of shifting fascinations and 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀, we must deliberately choose to root our lives in the 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁. The pyramids of Egypt have stood for millennia upon their massive stone foundations, yet even those 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆. Only one foundation is 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 – the foundation we build upon 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱. We cannot build our faith on the 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲, because no matter how exciting or convincing they seem today, they will shift and crumble tomorrow. New theories will replace old ones; today’s trend will become yesterday’s trivia. 𝗧𝗿𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲. 𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗻𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗹𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗱, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 (1 Corinthians 3:11). He *𝗶𝘀* the Truth. He is our rock, our Redeemer, our sure cornerstone.

Elder Bednar taught that each time we deepen our commitment to Christ – by covenant, by obedience, by repentance – it’s like driving another steel rod into bedrock, 𝗳𝗶𝘅𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝗺

Let us truly 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀 in Christ. How do we do this? We do it by 𝗽𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗽𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 that isn’t just casual, but heartfelt and constant. We do it by partaking of the 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 with real intent, renewing our promises to serve Him. We do it by worshipping in the temple, where covenants literally bind us to the Lord. We do it by following the living prophets and apostles, who guide us safely through modern mists. We do it by practicing charity and holiness in our daily life – in other words, by living as 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀 who hear 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗼 the words of Christ.

Christ invites us, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲… 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸. Will we come? Will we build? Or will we, like the rich young ruler, walk away sorrowing because we can’t let go of something else? I testify that 𝗻𝗼 𝗽𝘆𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱, 𝗻𝗼 𝗵𝗶𝗱𝗱𝗲𝗻 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲, 𝗻𝗼 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗺 can compare to 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗿. When we are 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗹𝘆 𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗺, we feel an 𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲, even if the world around us is quaking. 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗶𝗺, the hysterias and fads of media neither unsettle us nor seduce us. We see them for what they are – interesting perhaps, but not life-giving. Our hearts, being filled with the love of God, no longer hunger for the 𝗽𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀 the world offers.

Consider the image of a 𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 built on solid rock, waves crashing against it in a storm. That lighthouse stands secure because of its foundation. Jesus Christ is our lighthouse and our foundation in one. If we are fused to Him, we shine with His light and remain steadfast amid storms. But if we build on any other foundation – be it the 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗴𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 or the promises of modern intellectualism or the pursuit of wealth and status – we build on 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱. And 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗱𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲, 𝗶𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝘁 (see Matthew 7:27). 𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 – what tragic words, and how many once-faithful souls have we seen fall because their foundation shifted from Christ to something else?

In my work and life, I have seen the importance of 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺 𝗳𝗼𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗼𝘀. I know that in a crisis you fall to the level of your training and foundation. Spiritually, it is the same: 𝘄𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. If our foundation is 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁, we will not fall 𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗼𝘄 hope, below faith, below divine help – for He upholds us. If our foundation is anything less, when the pressure is on we may crumble. Now is the time to inspect our own spiritual foundations. Now is the time to dig deep, 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁, before heavier trials come.

Let the 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗴𝘆𝗽𝘁 serve as a caution, not a distraction. Yes, the pyramids are wonders of the world – but they are also 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗯𝘀, resting on a foundation of death. In contrast, the 𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗯 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 stands as a testimony of 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, resting on the power of an infinite Atonement. One foundation leads to a 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝗱; the other to 𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲. Will we choose the living Christ over the dead pharaohs? Will we choose the truth of the Gospel over the titillating lie that salvation or enlightenment can be found 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝘆?

I add my voice as a witness: 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵. He loves us with an everlasting love. He will steady every soul who comes unto Him. In a world of 𝗺𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱, He offers the 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 through His covenants. In a world of restless searching, He offers the 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 that Elder Bednar spoke of – that sweet, unshakable knowledge that 𝘄𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝘀.

Let us answer the call to 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆. Let us, figuratively, 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝘀𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗱𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗻𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆. The 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 will not fail us. He reached out His hands in the Garden and on Calvary to 𝗲𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹. I promise that as you center your life on Jesus Christ – as you trust His sure and eternal foundation – you will find 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗳𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗺.

When the world entices us with glittering pyramids or sophisticated philosophies, may we have the wisdom to respond: 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱, 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜 𝗮𝗺 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘂𝗽𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝘀. 𝗠𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗲, 𝗺𝘆 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘀𝘄𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱. 𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗚𝗼𝗱, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗳𝘆.

In the end, 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝗴𝘆𝗽𝘁 are but dust compared to the 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁. All the pharaohs’ wisdom is folly next to a single whisper of the Holy Ghost. Let us not be as those who 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗛𝗶𝗺 𝗻𝗼𝘁 Let us receive Him fully – embrace Him as 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗿, 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿. If we do so, we will stand with Him in glory when all worldly thrones have fallen. 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗝𝗲𝘀𝘂𝘀 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗲.

May we ever remember that 𝗘𝗴𝘆𝗽𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 in all its might could not save 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹, but 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁 in His mercy can save 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹𝘀 who come unto Him. No height nor depth – not even a 2,100-foot pyramid shaft – can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. That love is our foundation. I so testify, and invite each of us to firm up our faith, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.