"He Counseled God"

God listened in His silence, as he rambled on his plight.
With patience, love, and charity, the Lord, He would not fight.

Negotiating with God he went, into the late hours of the night.
Explaining a hundred reasons why, he knew that he was right!

Debating his positions, and then struggling with his quest.
He offered more excuses, with words that would not rest.

He said,"dear Lord, it's very clear, the gospel I was taught,
Is different than theology, and the answers friends have sought."

So he counseled the Lord, and justified, and argued there his case.
Asking God to change His will, that truth would now keep pace.

"The prophet is old, his mind is closed, his beliefs are rather slim.
The younger crowd, they need new thought, and change with views on sin."

The Lord was kind, he sent some prompts, hoping He could sway.
The young man's heart, it hardened more, and drove the light away.

Convinced he'd won, that God agreed, to his philosophy,
Head held high, he then embarked, the path to apostasy.

POET'S COMMENTS

God has declared His word. It is endless and eternal. It does not deviate from left to the right, nor right to left. His truth is unchanging, because, "He in the same yesterday, today, and forever." (Mormon 9:9) With truth, there is no beginning nor end, it simply "is."

No man has the authority to counsel the God who created all things. Those men who do, have usually fallen into sin, stopped keeping all of the commandments, and have broken their covenants. They use the excuse that unanswered questions justify a change from righteous behavior to evil behavior. Bad behavior takes on the appearance of good. Doubt exonerates disobedience, and lost sheep encourage the newly found acceptance of worldly standards.

God has warned. "For although a man may have many revelations, and have power to do many mighty works, yet if he boasts in his own strength, and sets at naught the counsels of God, and follows after the dictates of his own will and carnal desires, he must fall and incur the vengeance of a just God upon him.(D&C 3:4)

"Wherefore, enter ye in at the gate, as I have commanded, and seek not to counsel your God. Amen.". (D&C 22:4)

Deep down inside, discomfort in not living God's standard does exist, but it is gradually smothered by embracing worldly standards. Sadly, this is where apostasy begins. Leadership is questioned. Doctrines are put on trial by judges and juries selected from the great and spacious building. (See 1 Nephi 12:18) The tight grip on the iron rod is lost, and the mist of darkness take away the light that burned so brightly once before.

Instead of moving towards Christ and allowing the Spirit to reveal the truth of all things, by patience and enduring to the end, dissenters ease their conscience by suggesting the reasons that gospel principles are not true. The result is, that the natural man is left "to kick against the pricks" (D&C 121:38), to never realize the blessings of their eternal birthright, nor be rewarded with an inheritance in His kingdom. Faith requires believing, and exercising that faith through obedience and good works. Then and only then, can the Spirit reveal truth on the time table the Great I Am decides.

Man's counseling of God usually occurs when one has knowingly strayed from the Savior's teachings. The consequences of this disobedience and counseling God, are serious.

"Behold, thus saith the Lord unto my people-you have many things to do and to repent of; for behold, your sins have come up unto me, and are not pardoned, because you seek to counsel in your own ways. And your hearts are not satisfied. And ye obey not the truth, but have pleasure in unrighteousness." (D&C 56:14-15) "And if any man shall seek to build up himself, and seeketh not my counsel, he shall have no power, and his folly shall be made manifest." (D&C 136:19)

What a sad commentary and ending for those who trade a relationship with God for the things of the world; those who seek to give counsel rather than receive it. And so the road to apostasy is wide, and many there be that find it. But, the path to life eternal is narrow and strait. This life requires being undeviating, and following the counsel of an all knowing God. Blessed are those who listen and follow. God's laws and commandments are never up for debate.