#260: Mayday Monday – “Unmasking the Powers”

“Angels, spirits, principalities, powers, gods, Satan—these, along with all other spiritual realities, are the unmentionables of our culture. The dominant materialistic worldview has absolutely no place for them. These archaic relics of a superstitious past are unspeakable because modern secularism simply has no categories, no vocabulary, no presuppositions by which to discern what it was in the actual experiences of people that brought these words to speech. And it has massive resistance even to thinking about these phenomena, having fought so long and hard to rid itself of every vestige of transcendence.”*

“Held up against the divine Logos, Satan here would represent the lesser lures and promptings that appear alongside the lure of the highest. Some of these lures are flagrantly evil; most are not intrinsically evil but merely trivial, less than best: a diversion, a waste.”**

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*Wink, Walter. Unmasking the Powers: The Invisible Forces That Determine Human Existence .[Vol 2] Fortress Press. (Loc. 126+) Kindle Edition.
**Ibid., . (Loc. 513+).

#230: “Changed From Their Carnal and Fallen State”

Self-Reflection: Have I been changed?

25 And the Lord said unto me: Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters;
26 And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.
27 I say unto you, unless this be the case, they must be cast off; and this I know, because I was like to be cast off.
28 Nevertheless, after wading through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death, the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning, and I am born of God.
29 My soul hath been redeemed from the gall of bitterness and bonds of iniquity. I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God. My soul was racked with eternal torment; but I am snatched, and my soul is pained no more.
30 I rejected my Redeemer, and denied that which had been spoken of by our fathers; but now that they may foresee that he will come, and that he remembereth every creature of his creating, he will make himself manifest unto all.*

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*Book of Mormon | Mosiah 27:25-30 (bold emphasis added).

#050: That Ye May Be Numbered

Self-reflection: Will I accept this invitation?

2 Turn, all ye Gentiles, from your wicked ways; and repent of your evil doings, of your lyings and deceivings, and of your whoredoms, and of your secret abominations, and your idolatries, and of your murders, and your priestcrafts, and your envyings, and your strifes, and from all your wickedness and abominations, and come unto me, and be baptized in my name, that ye may receive a remission of your sins, and be filled with the Holy Ghost, that ye may be numbered with my people who are of the house of Israel.

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Book of Mormon | 3 Nephi 30:2

#39: What is a Man Profited?

[From Lutes edition of Joseph Smith Translation showing deletions (strikethroughs) and corrections (bold) by Joseph Smith.]

Self-Reflection: What is my personal cross?

25 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
26 And now for a man to take up his cross, is to deny himself all ungodliness, and every worldly lust, and keep my commandments.
27 25 Break not my commandments for to save your lives; for whosoever will save his life in this world, shall lose it in the world to come.
28 25 And whosoever will lose his life in this world, for my sake, shall find it in the world to come.
29 26 Therefore, forsake the world, and save your souls; for what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?*

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*Lutes, Kenneth and Lyndell. Joseph Smith Translation (p. 2152). Lutes Publishing. Kindle Edition. (JST Matthew 16:25-29)

#023: Choosing Salvation?

Self-Reflection: How much do I hearken?

26 And yet, notwithstanding his mighty works, and miracles, and proclamation of the truth, in great power and authority, there were but few who hearkened to his voice, and rejoiced in his presence, and received salvation at his hands.*

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*Doctrine and Covenants | Section 138:26)