Adam Miller was at BYU previewing his book coming out this summer An Early Resurrection: Life in Christ Before You Die. They were selling advanced copies afterwards and they ran out right when I was next in line. Grrrr. Writ & Vision the book store on Center Street in Provo said they should have more copies in the next couple days.
I am the biggest Adam Miller fan, and I wasn’t disappointed. Great presentation. I can’t wait to read the book.
He referenced the advanced and early Christology in the Book of Mormon. This has been something our critics poke fun at us for, Miller said, but this a brilliant aspect of the book.
Jarom 1:11
11 Wherefore, the prophets, and the priests, and the teachers, did labor diligently, exhorting with all long-suffering the people to diligence; teaching the law of Moses, and the intent for which it was given; persuading them to look forward unto the Messiah, and believe in him to come as though he already was. And after this manner did they teach them.
The Nephite prophets were teaching the people to live and walk with Christ in the present. Believe him, follow him, walk with him, live with him, “as though he already was“. The Nephite prophets challenge was to teach people not to think of Jesus as something in the future that applied to them at some later point in time. He was something for them in the here and now. We think of Christ as living a long time ago. Or that we will live with him sometime in the distant future. But the present is all we have. The present is where he wants to come to us and be with us. The present is where he wants us to be.
Adam doesn’t go quite far enough.
Everything is a symbol of the real thing.
How to experience the real thing can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Second-Comforter-Conversing-Lord-Through/dp/0974015873/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1527193218&sr=1-1
Nicely thought out.
The link above to Denver Snuffer’s book isn’t the best source for living with Christ in the present. The best source is the Book of Mormon.
Here are a few examples of those who show the way to know Christ and how they opened the channels of communication with Him. Prayer, as taught in the Book of Mormon, is work, hard work.
After he had poured out his whole soul to God, the voice of the Lord came to him. Mosiah 26:14
Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer. Alma 8:10
The brother of Jared cried unto the Lord. Ether 2:18
I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit of revelation which is in me. Alma 5:46
They had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God. Alma 17:3