While Roosters rouse their farmers somewhere,
Crows call their Indians.
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God is in the details as opposed to when the devil doesn’t want to be.
In my internet wanderings I encountered a thread where some ex-Mormons disparaged members who believed that the Book of Mormon truely was another testament of Jesus Christ, because members prayed about it and according to the ex-members, the members had “good feelings” about it. As those ex-members implied that anyone could have ubiquitous “good feelings” about anything–which discounts the credibility of its truthfulness.
Having experienced the process of praying about something and receiving answers, I can testify that God answers prayers in specific ways.
A, These specific ways are as follows:
(1) according to D&C 6:22-23 Verily, verily, I say unto you, if you desire a further witness, cast your mind upon the night that you cried unto me in your heart, that you might know concerning the truth of these things.
Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?”
This is not just generally “feeling good” about something, but feeling a specific feeling of peace.
(2) According to D&C 9:6-9 Do not murmur, my son, for it is wisdom in me that I have dealt with you after this manner. Behold, you have not understood; you have supposed that I would give it unto you, when you took no thought save it was to ask me. But, behold, I say unto you, that you must
(3) study it out in your mind; then
(4) you must ask me if it be right, and if it is right
(5) I will cause that your bosom shall burn within you; therefore, you shall feel that it is right. [This is an actual singular physical feeling of warmth that blooms within the chest] and
(6) But if it be not right you shall have no such feelings, but you shall have a stupor of thought that shall cause you to forget the thing which is wrong; and
(7) “A person may profit by noticing the first intimation of the spirit of revelation; for instance, when you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas… and thus by learning the Spirit of God and understanding it, you may grow into the principle of revelation.”
— Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 151
B, Recognizing these specific ways can be taught. [which God has taught and I have listed] and
C, You will recognize these unique and specific experiences when they happen to you. Because of having these spiritual experiences, you will also be able to discern between those who knowingly testify of the truth, those who err, and those who disparage.
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Snarling tuba
His wife, when she snores
Posted in Haiku, Poem, Poems, Poetry | Tagged Haiku, Poem, Poems, Poetry | 3 Comments »
I’m visiting friends and family on the reservation in the next five days which prompts this flurry of posts.
As a follow up to the post “Think Tribal”, I have thought about ways I could help my tribe. Since I can’t be there in person, my words on this website are the best I can do. As with any offer of help I realize that there are some who want it and those who don’t. This is for those who choose to live in some degree of squalor but don’t want to. How do you get out of it?
Having been a mental health counselor, you would think cognitive/behavioral therapy would have greater utility for me. But the results of the use of it in one instance has been something of a revelation.
My spouse who knows me, would tactfully describe me as “messy”. (And I would agree.) The basis for this would be the thought, “I’ll just leave it for later.” This resulted in my sphere of chaos, clutter and instances of things like tools left out in the rain, things undone, and most of all, my beloved partner’s irritation!
So one thought governed a way of life. That thought was: “I’ll do it later.” Not a bad way of life but not the best either.
One day, tired of the acrimony the results of that thought engendered, I decided to think something different.
“It’s better if you do it now.”
So I did, and do. Tools are findable because I chose to put them right away and don’t get rusty, (“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”) Things are more organized and my sphere (my home, car and garage) is not so messy, and most of all the boss is happy, which makes me happy!
My second thought is not always perfectly executed, but, life is better!
Posted in American Indian, Health, Indian Values, Non Fiction, Thoughts | Tagged Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Thoughts | 2 Comments »
Think Tribal
like The late John F. Kennedy said:
Ask not what your tribe can do for you but ask what you can do for your tribe.
I sometimes think that we Indians are more reactive than proactive. The latter is a higher stage of development. If you see something that needs to be done around the reservation to make it a better place, then, do it.
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That one thing is the process of prayer as it relates to the category of visions.
Pop once said: “A man has a vision and then the poor sap has to spend the rest of his life trying to live up to it.”
There are two kinds of visions: The supernatural one (with a capital “V”) where you get a supernatural view of the past, present, or future with some form of accompanying interpretation, or an interpretation you have to tease out.
And a regular vision (with a small ‘v”) where someone is able to clearly imagine or picture a particular situation or outcome in their mind, often implying they can easily see it happening or believe it is a likely possibility.
Regular vision, and the revelation and inspiration that comes with the fasting and prayer that precedes it, is not as hard to achieve as you would suppose. Distilling all the scripture, and stories I have read and heard, and experiences as a Latter-day Saint, have taught me the process I need to know as a Red Laker–or anyone else for that matter–in order to envision small v, or have a supernatural Vision.
That regular process, with God as a partner is:
- Be good.
- Define the problem.
- Study the possible solutions to that problem out in your mind.
- Decide on an answer.
- Ask God if that answer is right.
- If it is right you will receive a peaceful feeling, or feel certain you were right.
- If it is wrong you’ll feel “a stupor of thought” or forget that avenue of thought or action.
- If you don’t receive an immediate answer, act on your decision. Sometimes the answer is “Wait”, and the circumstances which follow will either bear you out–or not.
- Sometimes God just wants you to be happy with your own choice. It’s up to you to decide whether the furniture you buy is Early American or French Provincial.
- Sometimes the answer is “No.”
A Supernatural Vision includes all of the above but requires extra. It requires:
- Fasting which requires you to feed the spirit by taming the body.
- Two way prayer which requires you to be Good. Having a Vision requires you to be very, very, very, good; according to your conscience of what you know to be Good; being Good not just to satisfy the immediate desire to have an answer, but so your Goodness endures beyond the foreseeable future.
Perhaps that is why little children, and virgins, and old people are the ones who have visions in the stories. For them it is good news and bad news. For while it may be easier for them because they are further away from raging hormones and easier to be Good, they are the poor saps who have to spend the rest of their lives trying to live up to their Visions.
Posted in American Indian, Anishinabe, Chippewa, Indian Values, Latter-Day Saints, Native American, Non Fiction, Spirituality, Thoughts | Tagged American Indian, bible, christianity, faith, god, Native American, Non Fiction, Reflection, supernatural, Thoughts | Leave a Comment »
Cherry Blossoms fall like snow.
My thoughts of you.
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Why is Thanksgiving or giving thanks important? When we are thankful, we recognize that someone has done something good for us. This creates memories which are the social bonds that make us noble human beings.
People who neglect thanks-giving do not create such memories and forget that others have done good things for them. They bereave themselves of these ennobling social ties to others, leaving them lacking and in a state of always wanting more.
Today, remember to thank God for all that has been done for you. Take this time to write that note or letter, make that phone call, or visit to thank family, friends, acquaintances and neighbors for all the good things and gifts they have given you.
This Thanksgiving I am thankful for everything you all have given or done for me, things and acts great and small!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING !!!
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Sunday Thoughts
The Monarch Butterfly is an organism that has four stages in it’s life cycle; egg, caterpillar, pupa, and butterfly. Each with its’ own unique characteristics. Each so different than the other. The egg with its’ genetic instruction of when and how and what to grow into a caterpillar. The fat grubby earthbound caterpillar. The pupa which changes from caterpillar to butterfly. And the butterfly which knows where to fly thousands of miles to complete it’s life cycle. As far as we know, this is all done by instinct.
But what if I were to tell you of an organism that actually exists in this universe that is even more extraordinary, even supernatural? If it were not true, it’s story would be the stuff of science fiction!
It has five stages in its’ development. It first existed as unorganized intelligent light. Then it meets its’ parents who birth it into a discrete being of pure spiritual matter. It lives millennia, gaining knowledge and power, helping its’ parents and community create an earth and its’ heavens.
In time it agrees to another transformation, and its’ parents transform it into a being much like the caterpillar. It is born physically helpless and without a knowledge of its’ previous existence. It takes on a form of what one might term gross matter, but can mature into a being with great powers of what we would term faith, hope and love, if it chooses. It’s parents can help with this maturation if it let’s them.
Next, it sheds its’ physical body in what we might see as a death, but its’ animating spirit enters a state of abeyance where it further progresses until it is prepared to agree to enter its’ final state.
This final state, which also sets it apart from all other species, is characterized by two things. First, the organism will have chosen what physical stage of development it desires. And second, its’ parents change the existence of that organism to one composed of infinite and eternal refined spirit and matter.
Like any species, many of these individuals may cease to exist due to predators, or not reach their full potential because of their choices. Only a minority will become parents.
Where in the universe can this unique and extraordinary organism be found? Why, right here on earth.
We human beings are a member of this species!
To put it simply, We were spirits born of Heavenly parents. We chose to come to Earth to gain a body and see if we would choose to obey spiritual laws and develop spiritual gifts. We die and our spirits are provided opportunities we may not have had on Earth, and in time we judge ourselves in the company of our Heavenly parents. We are then resurrected to that state of being to which we were willing to receive.
Our majesty is in our choices. What do you choose?
Posted in Family, Latter-Day Saints, Non Fiction, Religion, Spirituality, Thoughts | Tagged Reflection, Thoughts | Leave a Comment »
Red Lake Writer 