Doug Tales 161: Enlightenment, Part Two

What prevents us from being enlightened? Fear, and not being able to see in the dark. That is, we can see in the dark of this world and its chaos when we have Light within ourselves and not fear. Doug Mendenhall continues his exploration of enlightenment and fear in I See…Awake! (2015), pp. 72-74:

Some religions use the tactic of fear to elicit compliance from their members. From radical Islam telling its adherents that they need to go out and kill a few Christians in order to get to heaven to Christians telling their members that they will reside in hell if they don’t come forward, confess Christ, and “get saved.”

The Lord God uses this technique of fear at times. He speaks of “eternal damnation” and “endless torment.” Why? To get the attention of our conscious mind, which for the most part is in a mental schism.

“Nevertheless, it is not written that there shall be no end to this torment, but it is written endless torment. Again, it is written eternal damnation; wherefore it is more express than other scriptures, that it might work upon the hearts of the children of men, altogether for my name’s glory. Wherefore, I will explain unto you this mystery, for it is meet unto you to know even as mine apostles. I speak unto you that are chosen in this thing, even as one, that you may enter into my rest. For, behold, the mystery of godliness, how great is it! For, behold, I am endless, and the punishment which is given from my hand is endless punishment, for Endless is my name. Wherefore—Eternal punishment is God’s punishment. Endless punishment is God’s punishment.” (D&C 19:6-12)

His name is “Endless” and “Eternal” so that is what He calls his punishment, but that doesn’t mean it lasts forever. But for those in a mental schism that is what they will “see” in their mind because they operate in a mode of fear—His punishment will go on forever and ever because it is endless and eternal.

In this section of scripture the Lord then goes on to call us to repentance and tells us how exquisite our punishment will be if we don’t repent. All of this is truth. It is said so as to work on the mindset and the hearts of His children so they will change—so they will wake up. Then in verse 21 He says:

“And I command you that you preach naught but repentance, and show not these things unto the world until it is wisdom in me. For they cannot bear meat now, but milk they must receive; wherefore, they must not know these things, lest they perish.” (vs. 21-22)

It is now time for meat, it is time to wake up from our mental schisms and become whole, complete, and “perfect.” We start this by becoming balanced in the Lord in our mind.