Why would an LDS mom learn of such Eastern sounding beliefs?
Some people might wonder why an LDS mom would want to learn of such Eastern sounding beliefs. Others get downright nervous. I hope that the quotes I found below on truth will dispel many misconceptions that members of the church may have. Brigham Young said,
I stand with Garth L. Allred who wrote,
"For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God...and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ." (Moroni 7:16, 19) The things I have studied have deepened my testimony of Christ. I know God led me to and along this path. The Lord gives healing truths to people all over the world. Are we open to the possibility that modern men & women can be inspired of God on this subject? When we stay close to the Spirit He can lead us to truth from many sources. I know this because that is how my daughter got well! The Prophet Joseph Smith proclaimed that the Saints are not circumscribed by a rigid and unchanging creed or a prescribed set of beliefs, as were some of the churches of his day. He said,
"This is the belief and doctrine of the Latter-day Saints. Learn everything that the children of men know, and be prepared for the most refined society upon the face of the earth, then improve upon this until we are prepared and permitted to enter the society of the blessed- the holy angels that dwell in the presence of God."Orson F. Whitney said in General Conference,
"God has been using not merely his covenant people, but other peoples of the world as well, to carry out a work that is too demanding for the limited numbers of Latter-day Saints to accomplish by themselves. This has been true down through the ages... Good and great men and women, who have not borne the priesthood or been fully aware of God’s ultimate designs, but who have thought profoundly, accumulated great wisdom, led exemplary moral lives, and unselfishly desired to uplift their fellow beings, have been inspired by God under many circumstances to deliver dimensions of light and truth that the people were able to understand and use wisely. This includes many reformers, and founders of the religions of the world, such as Zarathustra, Bautama Buddha, Lao Tzu, Muhammad, and Guru Nanak." (untitled address, 91st Annual Conference SLC 1921 p32-33)Joseph Smith said, "We should gather all the good and true principles in the world and treasure them up, or we shall not come out true "Mormons." (Teachings, p316)A Latterday Saint Perspective on Muhammad.htm/pop00007.htm
Elder Bruce R. McConkie said in Tahiti:
"Keep all the truth and all the good that you have. Do not abandon any sound or proper principle. Do not forsake any standard of the past which is good, righteous, and true. Every truth found in every church in all the world we believe. But we also say this to all men—Come and take the added light and truth that God has restored in our day. The more truth we have, the greater is our joy here and now; the more truth we receive, the greater is our reward in eternity."
I stand with Garth L. Allred who wrote,
"For the Saints, all truths are compatible and will blend perfectly whether they are from sacred temples or from secular universities, or even from what we might consider foreign cultures. I believe that as distant doors are opened to the missionaries and as Israel is gathered from all nations- as we become more and more an international church- "They [who are gathered into the church] shall bring forth their rich treasures unto the children of Ephraim, my servants."(D&C133:30). Could it be that as East meets West there will be a complementariness of knowledge? Our highly technological culture has much to learn from those nations and cultures who realize the importance of mind and spirit healing connected with healing of the body. ... Since Israel has been scattered among all nations, it should not surprise us to find important healing
truths from among all nations. It would be naive to think that our western culture alone has the edge on truth- healing truths or otherwise. Of course caution must be encouraged as we seek for proper healing principles and practices for our spirits, minds and bodies. The spirit of discernment and wisdom is vital as we sift and sort through new ideas and techniques for healing....Sadly, I find people in the Church who reject medical and psychological help simply because this help lies outside the framework of the Church. Many times the process of healing takes in a combination of many different sources of help, working together to heal the whole person." (Garth Allred, Unlocking the Powers of Faith, p 6-7,10)
"For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God...and if ye will lay hold upon every good thing and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ." (Moroni 7:16, 19) The things I have studied have deepened my testimony of Christ. I know God led me to and along this path. The Lord gives healing truths to people all over the world. Are we open to the possibility that modern men & women can be inspired of God on this subject? When we stay close to the Spirit He can lead us to truth from many sources. I know this because that is how my daughter got well! The Prophet Joseph Smith proclaimed that the Saints are not circumscribed by a rigid and unchanging creed or a prescribed set of beliefs, as were some of the churches of his day. He said,
"We believe that we have a right to embrace all, and every item of truth...when that truth is clearly demonstrated to our minds, and we have the highest degree of evidence of the same." (The Personal Writings of Joseph Smith p 420).Brigham Young addressed the all encompassing nature of the gospel more specifically.
"‘Mormonism,’ so-called, embraces every principle pertaining to life and salvation, for time and eternity. No matter who has it. If the infidel has got truth it belongs to ‘Mormonism.’ The truth and sound doctrine possessed by the sectarian world, and they have a great deal, all belong to this church. ...All that is good lovely and praiseworthy belongs to this church and kingdom.‘Mormonism’ includes all truth." (Discourse of Brigham Young , p.3.)
Does the Bible mention our Energy system?
One’s Energy system has 7 main energy centers known as ‘chakras. ’ The word "chakras" is from Sanskrit meaning " wheels." Each wheel is an Energy center, a spinning vortex located down the center of one’s body. Ezekiel chapter 1 is the most obvious reference. The prophet saw in vision 4 creatures with the likeness of a man having wheels of colored brightness up and down. Ezekiel said "the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels" and "their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps...." Ezekiel said one wheel was like the color of a beryl (a green gem), and above their head it was the color of the terrible crystal and above the firmament over their heads it was the color of a sapphire stone (deep blue.) The color of amber was seen above the loins and from the loins downward "I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about." Those colors seem to match the location and color of the 7 main chakras!
Their appearance and work was as it were a wheel in the middle of a wheel. Wherever the spirit was to go, they went. They had dreadfully high rings which were full of eyes. All of that fits with the literature on chakras. Verse 11 has a cross reference to D&C 77:4. "Q. What are we to understand by the eyes and wings, which the beasts had? A. Their eyes are a representation of light and knowledge, that is they are full of knowledge; and their wings are a representation of power, to move, to act, etc."Apparently, the "dreadfully high rings" contained light and knowledge, precisely what one would expect concerning the rings of the complete circuit of energy. D&C 93:29 teaches us that intelligence is the light of truth. D&C 88 teaches that the light of truth shines and that it is the same light that quickens our understandings. Quantum mechanics tells us that at levels well below protons and electrons there is mostly space. And that in that space -what exists? Information. The First Presidency has written, "There is a universally diffused essence which is the light and the life of the world... which proceedeth forth from the presence of God throughout the immensity of space, the light and power of which God bestows in different degrees to ‘them that ask him,’ according to their faith and obedience." (Improvement Era, Mar 1916, 460 quoted by Boyd K. Packer, Ensign, Apr 2005, 8)
Those who can see subtle Energy systems also write of a cord connecting our Energy body/physical being to our "Source" in heaven. Eccles.12:6-7 says "Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it." In other words, when the silver cord that connects our Energy system from a heavenly place to our physical being is loosed, our spirit returns to God. That fits fine with my belief system.
Some people’s minds seem closed to new ideas, yet the Lord says we are to "be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle... Of things both in heaven, and in the earth, and under the earth. (D&C 88:78-79) I can think of few other subjects to study that purport to be in all 3 of those places other than our complete system of energy. (Some of our Energy centers are located a few feet under our physical feet, or "under the earth.") I feel fine learning about my Energetic body which is above, on and below the earth as long as I stay firmly planted on the rock of Christ which is His gospel. (See D&C 11:24) Orson F. Whitney wrote, "[The gospel] embraces all truth, whether known or unknown, it incorporates all intelligence, both past and prospective. No righteous principle will ever be revealed, no truth can possibly be discovered, either in time or in eternity, that does not in some manner, directly or indirectly, pertain to the gospel of Jesus Christ."
Energy Medicine sounds unconventional, is it ok?
Energy Medicine sounds so unconventional. Is it really okay? How many times in Sunday School have we heard the amazing story of Amanda Smith who lost her husband and a son in the Haun’s Mill Massacre? She found another son severely wounded with his hip blown away. Amanda knelt down and pled with the Lord for help asking Him to direct her with what to do. A voice gave her step- by- step directions so that the Lord could make her son a new hip. (Our Heritage pg 47-48) The answer wasn’t anything "conventional." The procedures may have sounded strange. Yet, surely we believe this story is true and that a novel approach was indeed what was needed. I doubt that people back then went around whispering how strange and untraditional the methods she used to treat her son were. I believe they rejoiced that the Lord through the Spirit gave her the wisdom to help heal her son in a manner previously unknown and certainly not understood. We have the same options today. I choose to rejoice that new options are available today!
1 Nephi 17:41 says, "...he prepared a way that they might be healed; and the labor which they had to perform was to look; and because of the simpleness of the way, or the easiness of it, there were many who perished." God is just. Since He prepared a way for the Israelites to be healed, we can be assured that the Lord has also prepared a way to help us today! The question is, do we have enough faith to believe that He will help us? We are to liken the scriptures to ourselves. "Behold, he was spoken of by Moses; yea and behold a type was raised up in the wilderness, that whosoever would look upon it might live. And many did look and live. But few understood the meaning of those things, and this because of the hardness of their hearts. But there were many who were so hardened that they would not look, therefore they perished. Now the reason they would not look is because they did not believe that it would heal them. O my brethren, if ye could be healed by merely casting about your eyes that ye might be healed, would ye not behold quickly, or would ye rather harden your hearts in unbelief, and be slothful, that ye would not cast about your eyes, that ye might perish? If so, wo shall come upon you; but if not so, then cast about your eyes and begin to believe in the Son of God..." (Alma 33:19-22)
What are some basic premises in this field?
1. The mind/body connection is real. Thoughts affect our health. We are more than Person = Body.
Person = Body + Spirit + Mind.
2. We store emotions in our body which are vibrations or forms of energy that affect us.
3. When we store unresolved emotions in the body they can lead to pain and disease.
4. Forgiveness can heal on the physical level as well as the emotional, mental and spiritual level.
5. Our bodies are intelligent and know how to heal.
6. Love, gratitude, forgiveness, and praise in all things exhibits higher consciousness which has an impact regarding health.
7. Genetic issues stored in DNA can be cleared.
8. Subtle energy is non-local, so distance healing work is possible and efficacious.
It is my opinion that spiritual gifts can be at work in healing modalities.
Person = Body + Spirit + Mind.
2. We store emotions in our body which are vibrations or forms of energy that affect us.
3. When we store unresolved emotions in the body they can lead to pain and disease.
4. Forgiveness can heal on the physical level as well as the emotional, mental and spiritual level.
5. Our bodies are intelligent and know how to heal.
6. Love, gratitude, forgiveness, and praise in all things exhibits higher consciousness which has an impact regarding health.
7. Genetic issues stored in DNA can be cleared.
8. Subtle energy is non-local, so distance healing work is possible and efficacious.
It is my opinion that spiritual gifts can be at work in healing modalities.
Why should I learn about my subtle energy system?
David Eisenberg, an M.D. who studied Traditional Chinese Medicine said,
"There are several of these subtle, invisible substances but little understood as yet by man,and their existence is only demonstrated by their effects." Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology, p 39)
Brigham Young said, "...and there is no other one item that will so much astound you, when your eyes are opened in eternity, as to think that you were so stupid in the body." (JD 8:30)
The Lord explains, "There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes; We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter." (D&C 131:7-8)
Einstein’s equation E=MC² tells us that energy can be converted into matter and that all matter is energy. The things we can touch are materialized energy, but there is another kind of energy. It is unmaterialized energy. We believe the wind exists, although we do not see it. We believe in electricity, radio waves and a magnet’s pull, although those forces are invisible. Emotion is also an invisible force. We can’t see it because it is unmaterialized energy. Emotion is energy in motion. Quantum physicists say that matter is actually vibrations. Thoughts and emotions are electrical energy or vibrations. They do affect us!
Why would it be important to learn about the subtle energy system? It interacts with and regulates the other physical body systems your doctor does know about. Subtle energy techniques go to the root of problems which can be held below the physical level instead of dealing exclusively with symptom relief. They balance the whole person: body, mind & spirit. When one’s Energy system becomes blocked or disharmonious, illness and disease set in sooner or later in the physical systems of the body.
In other words, you could be physically ill, in a chronic condition, or depressed... and find much relief to your mind & body by clearing your Energy fields! Healing occurs when Energy Medicine techniques balance, clear or re-pattern your Energy. The field of Energy Medicine uses clearing techniques called modalities (such as Rapid Eye Technology; Quantum Touch; Emotional Freedom Technique which is similar to Acupressure and Energy Psychology; Cranio-Sacral Therapy; Vibrational Medicine; Theta Healing; Reiki; the YUEN Method; ....) These modalities are cutting-edge technologies that many people have never even heard of.
Hospitals are cluing in to the wisdom of combining the best of this Eastern sounding medicine with our Western medicine. Shouldn’t you? It makes no sense to strictly go to doctors/ specialists in traditional medicine when they are unable to find answers, while making no attempt whatsoever to consult with anyone in the Energy Medicine Field -or doctors/specialists who use BOTH schools of thought! More and more nurses are becoming trained in using different types of therapeutic touch in their work. Doctors are writing prescriptions for Reiki. Classes on Energy medicine are being held at hospices, medical centers and even medical schools. If one truly wants to be well, they will address more than just what their doctor does on the physical level. "Too many mainstream doctors today become so specialized they treat the body parts and forget they are treating a whole human being. Disease usually appears as a local symptom, but it is always related to the entire system. So you have to treat the whole person to cure the disease, and not just the symptom." (Goldberg, Alternative Medicine, p xxxvi) Sometimes, physical symptoms will not heal until the emotional roots underneath are dealt with.
Another great benefit of the Energy Medicine field is that it takes into account the preventive side of health- something traditional medicine has woefully too little of. "Though conventional medicine excels in the management of medical emergencies, certain bacterial infections, trauma care, and many, often heroically complex surgical techniques, it seems to have failed miserably in the areas of disease prevention and the management of the myriad new and chronic illnesses presently filling our hospitals and physicians offices." (Burton Goldberg, Alternative Medicine, p 3 )
Parley P. Pratt wrote an excellent book about this spiritual energy that exists. He wrote,"China also taught me that we in the West don't have a monopoly on understanding the human body or the relationship between the mind and the body. I am more and more convinced that to understand health, I can't limit my study just to the physical body. I also have to study the mind and the spirit." (Bill Moyers, Healing and The Mind p314, emphasis added)
"There are several of these subtle, invisible substances but little understood as yet by man,and their existence is only demonstrated by their effects." Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology, p 39)
Brigham Young said, "...and there is no other one item that will so much astound you, when your eyes are opened in eternity, as to think that you were so stupid in the body." (JD 8:30)
The Lord explains, "There is no such thing as immaterial matter. All spirit is matter, but it is more fine or pure, and can only be discerned by purer eyes; We cannot see it; but when our bodies are purified we shall see that it is all matter." (D&C 131:7-8)
Einstein’s equation E=MC² tells us that energy can be converted into matter and that all matter is energy. The things we can touch are materialized energy, but there is another kind of energy. It is unmaterialized energy. We believe the wind exists, although we do not see it. We believe in electricity, radio waves and a magnet’s pull, although those forces are invisible. Emotion is also an invisible force. We can’t see it because it is unmaterialized energy. Emotion is energy in motion. Quantum physicists say that matter is actually vibrations. Thoughts and emotions are electrical energy or vibrations. They do affect us!
Why would it be important to learn about the subtle energy system? It interacts with and regulates the other physical body systems your doctor does know about. Subtle energy techniques go to the root of problems which can be held below the physical level instead of dealing exclusively with symptom relief. They balance the whole person: body, mind & spirit. When one’s Energy system becomes blocked or disharmonious, illness and disease set in sooner or later in the physical systems of the body.
In other words, you could be physically ill, in a chronic condition, or depressed... and find much relief to your mind & body by clearing your Energy fields! Healing occurs when Energy Medicine techniques balance, clear or re-pattern your Energy. The field of Energy Medicine uses clearing techniques called modalities (such as Rapid Eye Technology; Quantum Touch; Emotional Freedom Technique which is similar to Acupressure and Energy Psychology; Cranio-Sacral Therapy; Vibrational Medicine; Theta Healing; Reiki; the YUEN Method; ....) These modalities are cutting-edge technologies that many people have never even heard of.
Hospitals are cluing in to the wisdom of combining the best of this Eastern sounding medicine with our Western medicine. Shouldn’t you? It makes no sense to strictly go to doctors/ specialists in traditional medicine when they are unable to find answers, while making no attempt whatsoever to consult with anyone in the Energy Medicine Field -or doctors/specialists who use BOTH schools of thought! More and more nurses are becoming trained in using different types of therapeutic touch in their work. Doctors are writing prescriptions for Reiki. Classes on Energy medicine are being held at hospices, medical centers and even medical schools. If one truly wants to be well, they will address more than just what their doctor does on the physical level. "Too many mainstream doctors today become so specialized they treat the body parts and forget they are treating a whole human being. Disease usually appears as a local symptom, but it is always related to the entire system. So you have to treat the whole person to cure the disease, and not just the symptom." (Goldberg, Alternative Medicine, p xxxvi) Sometimes, physical symptoms will not heal until the emotional roots underneath are dealt with.
Another great benefit of the Energy Medicine field is that it takes into account the preventive side of health- something traditional medicine has woefully too little of. "Though conventional medicine excels in the management of medical emergencies, certain bacterial infections, trauma care, and many, often heroically complex surgical techniques, it seems to have failed miserably in the areas of disease prevention and the management of the myriad new and chronic illnesses presently filling our hospitals and physicians offices." (Burton Goldberg, Alternative Medicine, p 3 )