In this episode, Latter-day Faith host Dan Wotherspoon goes solo this time to talk about the aspect of “surrendering” or “yielding” or “allowing” the Divine to work in us. He asserts that if we allow the idea that God is all in all and in and through everything, including ourselves, and if we seek to abide in and be influenced by our spiritual center that exists “in” God and is God, we will be able to grow spiritually in ways our minds and plans and goals can’t even imagine, as experiencing deep abiding in God is far richer than these can ever touch. From there, he moves into aspects of surrender and yielding, and reveals through various LDS scripture how deeply embedded this practice is, this stance of allowing something more than what our dualistic minds and beliefs can change us in our very core.
If “ideas about” God or aspects of the universe as describe in religions language are increasingly feeling constrictive and impotent, let this episode and its focus on experiencing God sink in a bit. You’ll be intrigued and hopefully motivated to trust the deepest calls of your soul.
Links:
“One” by Birdtalker, video and lyrics
Latter-day Faith Retreat, October 11th to 13th
____________
Change the Game
Life is so immeasurably vast,
that to conclude
you are limited
is only because
you are accessing
a minuscule, subjective twig
of infinite Reality.
There will come a time,
when you will not be bound
by this current body and brain,
and instantly you will
experience and remember
more of your eternal heritage
and ethereal nature.
Why wait for that time,
when it is available to you now
while you are still here?
The game changes
when you release
your current reference points.
Poem from Educare Unlearning Institute (daily emails)
Dan,
As I was listening this morning, I took note of your quoting Doctrine and Covenants Section 10:
“Therefore, I will unfold unto them this great mystery; For, behold, I will gather them as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if they will not harden their hearts; Yea, if they will come, they may, and partake of the waters of life freely. Behold, this is my doctrine—whosoever repenteth and cometh unto me, the same is my church.”
(Doctrine and Covenants 10:64-67)
I think there are three powerful points in this scripture:
1. Mystery. When scripture speaks of “mystery” it is often in the context of how two or more things can be one. For example, we speak of the unity of God in godhead as being a mystery. We speak of how Christ can be fully God and fully human as a mystery. So when two become One — the very essence of atonement — the mystery is in the mystical union of the two. Rohr speaks of this as nondualism.
2. The use of the term “gather” is significant here. The term for “Church” in Greek is ekklesia, meaning a “gathering”. So when God says that he intends to gather us, it should speak of what “church” truly is: a gathering together. Jesus said, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20 KJV).
3. I think it quite significant that God reveals, “This is my doctrine.” You illuminated how “repentance” is to change one’s mind. When we become born again, transformed by the spirit, we change our minds, soften our hearts, and come unto Christ. All those who do, gathered by this same Spirit, are God’s gathering/church.
Powerful stuff, Dan.
Thanks!