ZIONWORKS NEWS for FEBRUARY 19th, 2025
PAIN AND GLORY
The glory of the Kingdom is difficult to imagine in its fullness even though all of us do envision it to a great extent. We also pray for it, pray that we can participate, and anticipate the peace, fullness and joy shared by all. We know that it will operate on celestial principles and will radiate physical and spiritual glory for the world to see and will be a safe residence for all of Christ’s pure-in-heart. But today, outside of Zion, spiritual sickness, attack from the enemy of righteousness and the resultant injuries will and do plague us and do real injury. Often, the enemy works by attacking with sabotage and propaganda, and retreating with a deceiving or booby-trapped trail. Because the saboteurs try to protect themselves, how do you know when you are being slandered and rumored about behind your back? Should we address ruinous slander and rumor or ignore it? What is our responsibility in these cases? Is there a way to undo slanderous damage done to you or your associates? If an offender refuses to cooperate in God’s way of resolution, what then? The scriptures provide God’s clear, complete and right means of dealing with rumors, slander and other offences. He expects us to adhere to his procedures in all cases of offence. His ways are miraculous, as always. In our modern national culture and even within our modern church culture, it is common to tell our friends and others about our hurt feelings or the injustice done to us and by whom. Jesus tells that is wrong and is a form of rumor and gossip. If he says it’s wrong, it’s wrong. If we rumor and gossip, we’ve destroyed the process of resolution and healing before it can even begin. There are no caveats or excuses for distrusting Jesus’ instructions and procedures. Here is a very brief flow chart of His procedures:
If you have been offended or damaged, think you have been offended, offended someone else or think you may have offended someone: In humility go to that person and find out if offence was intended or taken. If so, work it out in Christ-like love. (If the offence violates civil or legal law, it must be reported to legal authorities.)
If the offence is not worked out in mutual Christ-like love and understanding: Go back to that person with a witness, preferably a person neutral to the issue. Remember, no gossiping.
If the issue is not worked out in Christ-like love and understanding: Bring the issue to a priesthood teacher whose calling it is to mediate in these cases.
If the issue is not worked out in Christ-like love and understanding: The teacher will refer the case to the elders. This is called an Elders’ Court.
If the issue is not resolved in Christ-like love and understanding: The Elders will make a decision or verdict based on prayer and responsible procedure which may include dis-fellowship of the unrepentant offender. Remember, dis-fellowship is still done as a right and loving action in interest of all concerned, including the protection of the flock. This is not a pronouncement of judgement on any person’s soul. That person is still loved by all and given space to repent on his or her cognizance and will be lovingly received back into the flock, without judgementalism, upon repentance and confession.
When we do things Jesus’ way, we are opening the door for him to perform miracles, which he does. If we think we are too wise to do things his way or we think our case is an exception, we are opening the door to disaster. Here is some reasoning concerning your fears in the above difficulties: In the case a rattlesnake bites you, you must forgive him, which includes loving him with a Christ-like love. Should you then reach down and pet him or take him home to your family or children? You must use responsible reasoning in protecting yourself, your loved ones and the flock. When Jesus said not to cast our pearls before swine, it was not a judgement against one of God’s creatures. It is not within our prerogative to cast judgement upon one of God’s children. Jesus analogy of a swine refers to a being who will trample your precious soul’s outpourings into the mire or indiscriminately devour that which is precious and excrete it as dung. Jesus gives us this advice to be applied in personal stewardship. Life’s stewardships don’t always come easy. They involve pain, difficulty and long suffering. It is an incredible and mature privilege to be entrusted by our creator with stewardships.
IS AN “INNOCENTLY” REPEATED LIE STILL A LIE?
An unsubstantiated bad story told about another person or group is slander. If a person-- you, me or someone else repeats that story, we have committed slanderous rumor. This practice of slander and rumor is so common that many of us think that it is a right and righteous application of the gospel. Many have come to think that if two or more of us are engaged in it, we are justified in it and protected by common consent. Many have itching ears for it. We will hear about a person or group that did something suspicious or unsaintly and accept it as fact, then without asking those who have been insinuated, repeat the rumor and think we’re righteous for it. It’s so common that we’re usually unaware that we’re engaging in it. Be reminded that this practice must be personally accounted for at judgement day, and every day. No person is protected by the excuse that it is common practice.
It seems we are on the receiving end of this practice every day. When we are on the receiving end, we feel great grief and injustice, and rightly so. The damage done by rumor and slander is so pervasive among us that its cost to persons and to Christ’s work is inestimable. Consider the cost of the rumor that the Book of Mormon promotes polygamy and other aberrations of Christ’s Gospel. Some people that repeat those lies will go as far as to tell you that God told them that the book is full of beliefs inimical to the Gospel of Christ. Millions of gullible people, possibly the majority of the populace, believe those lies to be common fact. More painfully, many thousands of people who have read it and embrace it as true and authentic scripture have been persuaded by their church that they should engage in practices opposite to its unequivocal teachings, such as polygamy. The damage that any lie or rumor can grow into, can do huge world-wide damage. Without getting reminded of any more giant heart-breaking grief or little petty heart breakers, lets each one of us resolve to never engage in any form of gullibly believing a rumor or stupidly repeating one. Realize that the power is in you to stop any lie, rumor or slander at your feet and that Jesus has called you to do it.
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RESPONSES
There were a couple of edifying responses to last week’s question, “Can language reunite us with God?” They are:
Absolutely: "Therefore wait ye upon Me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for My determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger (Isa. 34:1-8): for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I re-turn to the people a pure language, - Purpose - that they may all call upon the name of the LORD (talk to Him), to serve Him with one consent (one accord)." Zephaniah 3:8-9
And
“The thoughts on language are so interesting! I always wondered when words were heard and spoken in the BOM that were not able to be written if they were the pure language of Adam.”
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WEATHER NOTIFICATION APOLOGY: Last Saturday when the forecast was for extreme cold on Sunday, some churches and Zionworks cancelled their Sunday meetings in order to minimize the danger of people's exposure. A notice was sent out to Zionworks members by text. Our apologies if you missed the notice and were inconvenienced.
CALENDAR: Next meeting: After attending our individual congregations, all are invited to gather to the February 23rd Zion works meeting for fellowship and deliberation. This will be held at Central Branch, 919 S. Delaware, Independence at 2:00 PM. The purpose: making Christ’s Kingdom on Earth alive as an operating proof of his promises. exist in him as reality. He does not make idle or hollow promises. His word is eternal and Zion in reality can exist among us in our meetings, in other activities and as we work together with our individual gifts. On the meeting agenda: Special prayers for special needs, including prayers of praise; Watchman’s report; Special Presentation; Preparedness team reports; New Ideas and New business. Continued fellowship after adjournment. Bring useful or intriguing items to barter with or give away and to show and tell.
EVENTS in the immediate future: BANNER presentation and (your) signing, presented by Annie Webb and Sherissa Callerman. This may be at this next meeting. Scheduled for following meetings: “Blood, Health and Your Life” presented by Christie Rollert; Early Start Gardening presentation; “The Torah through Time, Today and Tomorrow”, work days and hands-on Food Preservation days.
CONTACT: Your questions, suggestions and comments are welcome at zionworkz@protonmail.com , and at yyeoman@protonmail.com
With Christ and his love as our bond,
Your brothers and sisters at Zionworks,
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