SON OF THE MORNING 2

 

He Shall Reign by Susan Edwards

“Satan is not opposed to good morals. He’s opposed to Jesus Christ.

“Read that again because most Christians miss this completely.

“Satan doesn’t care if you’re a “good person”. He doesn’t care if you volunteer at the food bank, recycle your trash, and help old ladies cross the street. He doesn’t care if you’re kind, generous, and well-liked by everyone in your community.

“He cares that you don’t bow the knee to Jesus. Here’s the deception that’s damning millions: Satan has convinced people that morality equals spirituality. That being a “good person” is the same as being a Christian. That if you just live right, treat people well, and avoid the “big sins”, you’re acceptable to God.

“This is a lie straight from the pit of hell. The Pharisees had impeccable morals. They followed the law meticulously. They were respected, disciplined, and religiously devoted yet Jesus called them children of the devil. Why? Not because their morals were bad. Because their morals replaced Christ. Satan’s greatest trick isn’t making bad people worse. It’s making good people think they don’t need a Saviour.

“Think about it: The atheist who feeds the homeless thinks he’s good enough without God. The Buddhist who meditates and practices compassion thinks she’s enlightened without Christ. The Muslim who prays five times daily thinks he’s righteous without Jesus. The moral Christian who goes to church, pays his tithe, and avoids scandal thinks he’s saved without surrender. All of them are headed to the same place: eternal separation from God.

“Because morality doesn’t save. Jesus saves: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“Satan loves moral people who reject Jesus. They’re his best advertisement for the lie that you can earn your way to heaven.  They’re living proof that you can:

·         Be kind without Christ;

·         Be generous without God;

·         Be disciplined without the Holy Spirit;

·         Be respected without redemption.

“And still be lost. The most dangerous people in hell won’t be the murderers and rapists. They’ll be the moral, upstanding citizens who thought their goodness was good enough. Their morals became their idol. Their goodness became their god. And Satan smiled because he’d accomplished his goal: to keep them away from Jesus.

“Your goodness won’t save you. Your works won’t redeem you. Your morality won’t justify you. Only the blood of Jesus Christ can wash away your sins and make you acceptable to a holy God. Everything else is just Satan’s distraction from the one thing that actually matters.”

-          Author Unknown

This piece of writing made me think of the truthfulness of it. President Nelson once said that Lucifer is skilled at distraction, distortion, deception and misdirection. He will employ any tactic to lift us to the level of his pride, even the tactic of ‘goodness’. This is perhaps one of the greatest tools he is using today: to make us think we are good enough as we are, to believe in ‘our truth’, to pursue our importance, to make this world attractive veiled in our self-absorption. He has succeeded creating the ‘me, myself and I world’.

His goal is for us to miss out on Christ’s salvation of grace. Lucifer is the ultimate antithesis of the Saviour of the world who desires our salvation while he desires our destruction. They are polar opposites who have one thing in common: they both desire for us to become as they are.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

SON OF THE MORNING 1

 

Get Thee Hence Satan by Carl Heinrich

Some years ago I wanted to know what the ‘Son of the Morning’ title meant so I elicited the meaning of it from a friend who is well versed in scripture. This was his understanding: “While there is not much written about Lucifer and his being ‘the son of the morning’, it is interesting that in the only two places in the scriptures (at least that I can think of; Isaiah 14:12-20 and D&C 76:25-27) where the name Lucifer is used there is also a reference to him being ‘a son of the morning’.

“My presumption is that the term ‘morning’ refers to the fact that he was born early on as a spirit offspring of the Father. Perhaps he might have even been second born vs his brother who was firstborn. We have so many fascinating stories among the great patriarchs of having two competing sons vying for the firstborn birthright and it almost seems as though these stories are a continuation of that which started in the pre-mortal life with the Saviour and Lucifer.

“You can even get that sense from a statement in D&C 88:115, about Lucifer having as his goal that of displacing of his brother from his throne. It seems likely from the two scriptures above and one in Luke 10:18 that Lucifer (whose name means ‘Light Bearer’ or perhaps a ‘Shining One’ and in the Hebrew Bible could be translated as ‘son of dawn’ or ‘son of morning’) had progressed greatly and was in fact a ruler and had authority of some kind (D&C 76:25-26; Isaiah 14:12-20).” (Larry Keeler, Feb 6, 2023)

The Latin word ‘lucifer’ comes from the Latin words luc-and-fer, which mean ‘light and ‘bearing’ respectively. Lucifer was a sprit son of Heavenly Father and led the rebellion in the pre-mortal life seeking to dethrone the Father and His Christ. He fell and was banished to this earth with his followers (Isaiah 14:12; Luke 10:18; 2 Nephi 24:12; D&C 76:25-29). After his fall, he became Satan and the devil (D&C 76:25-29; Moses 4:1-4).

He is the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Jesus proclaimed him to be a liar and a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). In his first epistle Peter warned that we should be sober and vigilant because our adversary the devil was a roaring lion who walks about seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Paul warned that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). This is the way he accomplishes his work:

HIS THREE DOCTRINES:

No punishment for sin

Nothing after death

He does not exist

HIS LIES THROUGH RATIONALISATION:

Just once won’t hurt

No one will know

Everybody is doing it

HIS VALUE SYSTEM:

Selfishness

Self-indulgence

Immediate gratification

HIS SALES TECHNIQUES:

Pacifying

Flattering

Lulling

HIS GOAL:

To steal our spiritual identity

To kill our faith in God

To destroy our commitment to Christ

HIS WORLDLY ENTICEMENTS:

Power

Popularity

Praise

Lucifer, or Perdition as he was also called in pre-mortal life, where he was so mighty he was in authority amongst us, would have to be the biggest tragedy known to man. Such a great tragedy that we wept over him when he was lost. Not only him but also one third of the host of heaven, no doubt siblings we loved and were close to who were overcome with the charm and persuasion of one such powerful liar of influence (D&C 29:36,37; Revelation 12:4,9).

 

He was the Son of the Morning,

His pride yielded irreversible cost

In the beginning we sorely wept

When his soul was forever lost.

 

Like a thief in the night,

He now seeks to steal, kill and destroy.

He is the collector of ruined lives,

The Master of ravaged souls.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

MY EVERYTHING

 

Transcendent Glory by Greg Collins

He is my Sovereign,

He is the King of all kings,

He is my wings of protection,

He is my everything.

 

-      Cathryne Allen 

A NOISY WORLD

 

Send Forth Labourers by Greg Collins

“Inspiration comes more easily in peaceful settings. Such words as quite, still, peaceable, Comforter, abound in the scriptures: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalms 46:10). And the promise, “You shall receive my Spirit, the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which shall teach you the peaceable things of the kingdom. (D&C 36:2)

“The world grows increasingly noisy. Clothing and grooming and conduct are looser and sloppier and dishevelled. Raucous music, with obscene lyrics blasted through amplifiers while lights flash psychedelic colours, characterizes the drug culture. Variations of these things are gaining wide acceptance and influence over our youth. This trend to more noise, more excitement, more contention, less restraint, less dignity, less formality is not coincidental nor innocent nor harmless.

“The first order issued by a commander mounting a military invasion is the jamming of the channels of communication of those he intends to conquer. Irreverence suits the purposes of the adversary by obstructing the delicate channels of revelation in both mind and spirit.” 

The above was spoken by Elder Boyd K. Packer of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles during his talk, “Reverence Invites Revelation” in General Conference of October 1991. That was 35 years ago. The world has grown much busier and louder since then. Technology has made sure of that. Today we cannot exist without our phones and social media connections.

Technology has become the adversary’s greatest tool of 21^st century. Not only has he used it to keep our minds occupied with the voices of the world, he has used it to spread his loudest message yet by calling “evil good and good evil” (Isaiah 5:20). This is true of even the most innocent messages through technology today. Misinformation of all sorts  is spread from all corners of the world and mistrust has become rampant in our society. AI created content is a large part of that mistrust.

We live in “spiritual Babylon” today: “Each era of the earth has known its own Babylon, but the Babylon of the latter-days was seen by the prophets as being among the most wicked of any era and the object of destruction at the coming of the Lord…..ancient Babylon with its evil and judgment was a shadow and a type of present-day Babylon, or the world. It is to present-day Babylon that Isaiah delivered the sharpest warnings.” (Old Testament Student manual 1 Kings – Malachi, p 153)

Among these sharpest warnings of today, lies also the call for the “sanctified ones”, the Saints of the latter days, to gather together and join with God in overthrowing wickedness and spiritual Babylon from the world to coincide with the Second Coming as contained in chapter 13 of Isaiah.

Considering the population of the world and the wickedness which abounds, that’s an enormous call to action but there is hope in Nephi’s vision of us:

“And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few….and their dominions upon the face of the earth were small….and it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the church of the Lamb and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth; and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.” (1 Nephi 14:12-14)

The more righteous we are, the more spiritual light we emit throughout the world which fights the forces of evil and opens the channels of inspiration and revelation from the realms above for the benefit of all the nations upon the face of the earth.

The spiritual war begun in heaven with Lucifer and his angels continues, only the venue has changed….(Revelation 12:7-9)

There is a desire in my soul

That wants to conquer Goliath

And watch him fall….

This warrior within me never sleeps

And yearns to hear the angels’ call,

A call to battle to make the devil fall.

And when Christ comes in clouds so holy

He will conquer that enemy

And we will confess His glory.

 

-      Cathryne Allen

MY HOLY GRAIL

 

Seeds of Joy by Yongsung Kim

I looked up to You

When in my beginning.

I saw Your strength,

Your care, Your undying love,

And I knew only You

Could make up for what

I alone could not do.

 

You are my Shepherd,

You are my King,

You are my Holy Grail,

You are my everything.

 

-      CATHRYNE ALLEN 

EMMANUEL

 

His Mighty Hand by Yongsung Kim

Perhaps the greatest of all the prophecies of Isaiah is the birth of Christ:

“Behold a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)

There are two significant truths in this sentence, and they both confirm that the Saviour Jesus Christ is the Son of God. The first is that his mother was a virgin which some have discounted, including the Jews, whom He was sent to, and who accused Him of being born of fornication (John 8:41). The definition of ‘virgin’ seems to have become lost over time with modern translators claiming: “Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Holy Bible, Revised Standard Version [1952], Isaiah 7:14) The loss of Isaiah’s precise wording is also the loss of belief that Christ was divine (see also the Old Testament Student Manual Book 2, p 145)

The second truth has to do with the name Immanuel:

“This name is also a title that describes Jehovan’s mission in mortality. The New Testament provides a correct interpretation of its meaning in Hebrew. Matthew recorded: “Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God With Us” (Matthew 1:22-23) (Old Testament Student Manual Book 2, p 145)

I have over the years been collecting the names and titles by which the Saviour is known. So far I have found 99 names and 16 titles. My favourite would have to be Isaiah’s name for Him which is “The Holy One of Israel”. I think one of the most known would have to be “The Prince Of Peace” because it is so relatable for people of all dispensations and walks of life. Here is something significant about this title:

“Modern Man sometimes vainly thinks that Jesus’ mission was to wipe out war; and scoffers have cried that since war still curses the earth, Christ’s mission has failed and Christianity is a blight. Yet Christ himself sent forth his Twelve, saying: “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” (Matt 10:34).

“Christ did proclaim a peace – the peace of everlasting righteousness, which is the eternal and mortal enemy of sin. Between righteousness and sin, in whatever form, there can only be unceasing war, whether in one man, among the people, or between nations in armed conflict. This war is the sword of Christ; whatever its form this war cannot end until sin is crushed and Christ brings all flesh under his dominion. Righteousness is peace wherever it abides; sin in itself is war wherever it is found.” (President J. Reuben Clark, Jr., In Conference Report, April 1939, pp 104-5)

Whatever one of Christ’s names appeals to us the best, according to our understanding of Him, the name that should stand out in our minds the most is the one of salvation:

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation…..Praise the Lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the Lord; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great is the HOLY ONE OF ISRAEL in the midst of thee.” (Isaiah 12:2-6)

Your arms, so willing and so strong,

Dived into the deep and shattered my sorrow;

The depth was no match for the strength

You gained at Calvary so long ago.

Your saving grace

Has lifted me to Your cross

Becoming my mortal weakness’ greatest foe.

I now walk with You

In paths I dare not walk alone;

In the valley of shadow of death,

I rejoice to be Your own.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

ENDURING THE ROAD

 

And Israel's Daughters Wept Around by Rose Datoc Dall

The road is so rough dear Lord

And I am here all alone.

I don’t know how I will walk

To the end with my burden

Pressing on me so.

 

Yes, I remember, said He,

I walked it myself long ago.

The cross was heavy

But I carried it

Because some burdens

Are meant to be carried alone.

-      CATHRYNE ALLEN