Every thing shall live

whither the river cometh

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This just in…This just in…

C.S. LewisC.S. Lewis

……in other sciences the in other sciences the instruments you use instruments you use

are are things external to things external to yourself (like microscopes and yourself (like microscopes and telescopes), the instrument through telescopes), the instrument through which you see God is your whole self.which you see God is your whole self.

And if a man’s self is not kept clean and And if a man’s self is not kept clean and bright, his glimpse of God will be blurredbright, his glimpse of God will be blurred—like the Moon see through a dirty —like the Moon see through a dirty telescope. telescope.

Nathan Jenson, The Restored Gospel According to C.S. Lewis, Nathan Jenson, The Restored Gospel According to C.S. Lewis, p. 43p. 43

What is it that aids our What is it that aids our “vision”?“vision”?

C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia)C.S. Lewis (Chronicles of Narnia)Here on the mountain I have spoken to you Here on the mountain I have spoken to you

clearly; I will not often do so down in clearly; I will not often do so down in Narnia. Here on the mountain, the air is Narnia. Here on the mountain, the air is clear and your mind is clear; as you drop clear and your mind is clear; as you drop down into Narnia, the air will thicken. down into Narnia, the air will thicken. Take great care that it does not confuse Take great care that it does not confuse your mind. your mind.

And the signs which you have learned here And the signs which you have learned here will not look at all as you expect them to will not look at all as you expect them to look, when you meet them there. That is look, when you meet them there. That is why is it so important to know them by why is it so important to know them by heart and pay no attention to appearance. heart and pay no attention to appearance.

Remember the signs and believe the signs. Remember the signs and believe the signs. Nothing else matters.Nothing else matters.

The Restored Gospel According to C.S. Lewis, p. The Restored Gospel According to C.S. Lewis, p. 4545

Ezekiel Ezekiel 4747

Afterward he Afterward he brought brought me me again unto again unto the the door of the door of the house; and, house; and, behold, behold, waters issued out from under the waters issued out from under the threshold of the house eastward: for threshold of the house eastward: for the forefront of the house the forefront of the house stood towardstood toward the east, and the waters came down the east, and the waters came down from under from the right side of the from under from the right side of the house, at the south house, at the south sideside of the altar. of the altar.

Ezekiel 47Ezekiel 47Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward, Then brought he me out of the way of the gate northward,

and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by and led me about the way without unto the utter gate by the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out the way that looketh eastward; and, behold, there ran out waters on the right side.waters on the right side.

3 And when the man that had 3 And when the man that had the the line in his hand line in his hand went forth eastward, went forth eastward, he he measured a thousand cubits, and measured a thousand cubits, and

he brought me through the waters; he brought me through the waters; the waters the waters werewere to the ankles. to the ankles.

4 Again he measured a 4 Again he measured a thousand, thousand, and brought and brought me through the waters; me through the waters; the the waters waters werewere to the knees. Again to the knees. Again

he measured a thousand, and he measured a thousand, and brought me through; the waters brought me through; the waters werewere

to the loins.to the loins.5 Afterward he measured a 5 Afterward he measured a

thousand; thousand; and it and it waswas a river that I a river that I could not pass over: for could not pass over: for the the waters were risen, waters to swim in, a waters were risen, waters to swim in, a

river that could not be passed over.river that could not be passed over.

Michael WilcoxMichael WilcoxThe first time we enter a temple, we barely get our feet wet. We are The first time we enter a temple, we barely get our feet wet. We are

barely introduced to the Lord's light and love. What a tragedy it is barely introduced to the Lord's light and love. What a tragedy it is when members of the Church judge the temple to be shallow or not when members of the Church judge the temple to be shallow or not deeply refreshing based on that first experience. Yet all of us know deeply refreshing based on that first experience. Yet all of us know that on a hot summer day, wading even ankle deep in a cool stream that on a hot summer day, wading even ankle deep in a cool stream brings instant refreshment and a hesitancy to leave the flowing water brings instant refreshment and a hesitancy to leave the flowing water to return to our shoes. to return to our shoes.

Elder Widtsoe cautioned that it is not fair "to pass opinion on temple Elder Widtsoe cautioned that it is not fair "to pass opinion on temple worship after worship after one day's participation followed by one day's participation followed by

an absence of many years. The work an absence of many years. The work should be repeated several times in should be repeated several times in quick succession, so that the lessons quick succession, so that the lessons of the temple may be fastened upon of the temple may be fastened upon the mind." the mind." Little do the casual waders know that Little do the casual waders know that down the river, if they will patiently down the river, if they will patiently persist, are life-giving, healing persist, are life-giving, healing "waters to swim in." For the water "waters to swim in." For the water rises each time we wade. Little do rises each time we wade. Little do they realize the power of those they realize the power of those waters to heal the disharmony of our waters to heal the disharmony of our lives, our families, and eventually the lives, our families, and eventually the world. (House of Glory, p. 40-44)world. (House of Glory, p. 40-44)

Living WatersLiving Waters

Then said he unto me, These waters issue out Then said he unto me, These waters issue out toward the east country, and go down into toward the east country, and go down into the desert, and go into the sea: the desert, and go into the sea: which beingwhich being brought forth into the sea, the waters shall brought forth into the sea, the waters shall be healed.be healed.

And it shall come to pass, And it shall come to pass, thatthat every thing every thing that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever that liveth, which moveth, whithersoever the rivers shall come, shall live: and there the rivers shall come, shall live: and there shall be a very great multitude of fish, shall be a very great multitude of fish,

because these waters shall come thither: for because these waters shall come thither: for they shall be healed; they shall be healed; and every thing shall and every thing shall live whither the river cometh.live whither the river cometh.

Interesting…Interesting…Ezekiel 47:12Ezekiel 47:12And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side And by the river upon the bank thereof, on this side

and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, and on that side, shall grow all trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit whose leaf shall not fade, neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed…and the fruit thereof shall be thereof be consumed…and the fruit thereof shall be for meat, and the leaf thereof of medicine.for meat, and the leaf thereof of medicine.

Parley P. Pratt:Parley P. Pratt:...a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, will flow ...a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, will flow

through this renewed city, proceeding from the throne through this renewed city, proceeding from the throne of God, just as living waters will flow from the sanctuary of God, just as living waters will flow from the sanctuary in the temporal city, as described by Ezekiel...the tree of in the temporal city, as described by Ezekiel...the tree of life will stand on either side of the river, even the tree life will stand on either side of the river, even the tree which will have once borne twelve manner of fruits, and which will have once borne twelve manner of fruits, and have yielded its fruit every month, its leaves having have yielded its fruit every month, its leaves having been for the healing of the nations. been for the healing of the nations.

(A Voice of Warning , (A Voice of Warning , p.108)p.108)

Spencer J. CondieSpencer J. Condie

Thus, using the example of the Dead Sea, the Thus, using the example of the Dead Sea, the Lord's prophets have chosen the worst Lord's prophets have chosen the worst possible case to illustrate the power of the possible case to illustrate the power of the living waters to heal that which is dead. living waters to heal that which is dead.

The living waters of the gospel of Jesus Christ The living waters of the gospel of Jesus Christ and His atonement can heal dead marriages, and His atonement can heal dead marriages, dead relationships between parents and dead relationships between parents and children, dead friendships between business children, dead friendships between business partners and neighbors, and spiritual death partners and neighbors, and spiritual death from years of alienation from the Church. from years of alienation from the Church.

(Your Agency, Handle with Care , (Your Agency, Handle with Care , p.103)p.103)

Question:If this is the case, why are so many of us not willing to take advantage of the living waters. Why are there still too many dead “things” in the church?

Elaine MarshallElaine MarshallOn that first day as a nurse, I On that first day as a nurse, I

assumed cure, assumed cure, care, and healing to be care, and healing to be synonymous. I have synonymous. I have learned they are learned they are not the same. Healing is not the same. Healing is not not cure. Cure is clean, quick, and done--cure. Cure is clean, quick, and done--

often under anesthesia. The antibiotic kills often under anesthesia. The antibiotic kills the pathogen; the scalpel cuts out the pathogen; the scalpel cuts out

the the malignancy; the medication malignancy; the medication resolves the resolves the distorted chemistry. distorted chemistry.

Healing, however, is often a lifelong process of Healing, however, is often a lifelong process of recovery and growth in spite of, maybe because recovery and growth in spite of, maybe because of, enduring physical, emotional, or spiritual of, enduring physical, emotional, or spiritual assault. It requires time. We may pray for cure assault. It requires time. We may pray for cure when we really need healing. when we really need healing.

Whether for cell reconstruction, for nerve and Whether for cell reconstruction, for nerve and muscle rehabilitation, for emotional recovery, or muscle rehabilitation, for emotional recovery, or for spiritual forgiveness, healing needs work and for spiritual forgiveness, healing needs work and time and energy. time and energy.

Elder HollandElder HollandThe Church . . . is more like The Church . . . is more like a hospital provided for a hospital provided for those who wish to get well. . those who wish to get well. . . . . For some of you that is simply to live with . For some of you that is simply to live with greater faith, to believe more. For some of greater faith, to believe more. For some of you it does mean to repent: Right here. . . . you it does mean to repent: Right here. . . .

For virtually all of us it means to live more by For virtually all of us it means to live more by the promptings and promises of the Holy the promptings and promises of the Holy Ghost and to "press forward with a Ghost and to "press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men." . . .all men." . . .

Come unto Me," BYU Devotional, March 2Come unto Me," BYU Devotional, March 2ndnd, 1997, 1997