Messengers Of God Are As One Soul

Dennis Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0. Shrine of The Báb. Haifa, Israel. Use does not imply endorsement.

If thou be of the inmates of this city within the ocean of divine unity, thou wilt view all the Prophets and Messengers of God as one soul and one body, as one light and one spirit, in such wise that the first among them would be last and the last would be first. For they have all arisen to proclaim His Cause and have established the laws of divine wisdom. They are, one and all, the Manifestations of His Self, the Repositories of His might, the Treasuries of His Revelation, the Dawning-Places of His splendour, and the Daysprings of His light. Through them are manifested the signs of sanctity in the realities of all things and the tokens of oneness in the essences of all beings. Through them are revealed the elements of glorification in the heavenly realities and the exponents of praise in the eternal essences. From them hath all creation proceeded and unto them shall return all that hath been mentioned. And since in their inmost Beings they are the same Luminaries and the self-same Mysteries, thou shouldst view their outward conditions in the same light, that thou mayest recognize them all as one Being, nay, find them united in their words, speech, and utterance. ~ Bahá’u’lláh

Source: "Gems of Divine Mysteries." © Bahá’í International Community. Used in accordance with BIC terms. Photo © Glenn Franco Simmons. Photo © BWAA.

My apologies to my Muslim brothers and sisters. I had used a Creative Commons-allowed photo of the Kol Sharif mosque in Kazan, Russia. The magnificent photo of the beautiful mosque was by Maxim Malkov. While I did not imply Mr. Malkov's endorsement of such use, I felt use of the Mosque with a quote from my Faith might be offensive to some Muslims. So, my heartfelt apologies, if this were the case. The mosque is certainly Divinely inspired. May God continue to bless it and the Muslims in Kazan.

Loving Message To My LDS Brothers, Sisters

Photo source: Entheta, Wikipedia. CC BY-SA 3.0.

by Glenn Franco Simmons 

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints recently suffered grievous losses that have shocked the world.

In writing this tribute to my LDS brothers and sisters, verses are derived directly from the Book of Mormon and align with LDS teachings (as I understand them) on enduring persecution through faith — a theme rooted in the historical experiences of the early Saints.

“And it came to pass that the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. And I will also ease the burdens which are laid upon your shoulders... And it came to pass that so great was the burden they had to bear, and so great was the sorrow of their hearts, that they could not bear it.” ~ Mosiah 24:13–15

“This passage recounts the experience of Believers enduring severe persecution and bondage, during which they receive divine reassurance,” Grok noted. “It acknowledges the profound weight of sorrow while affirming the promise of relief and deliverance, making it particularly apt for addressing the pain of an attack while instilling hope.”

“But Alma said unto him: Trust no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God. … And he [Alma] said unto them: Be not troubled, for, when you cannot obtain deliverance, ye shall be delivered in mine own due time.” ~ Alma 14:11

“Drawn from the narrative of Alma and Amulek witnessing the martyrdom of faithful women and children for their beliefs,” Grok noted, “this verse provides reassurance in the midst of profound violence and loss. It encourages trust in God’s timing during persecution, offering a message of enduring hope for those impacted by such an event.”

“O Lord, my heart is exceedingly sorrowful; wilt thou not comfort my soul in Christ? O Lord, wilt thou grant unto me that I may have strength... that I may be filled with joy and not be cast down.” ~ Alma 31:31

Exterior of Carthage Jail by C.C.A. Christensen depicting the death of Joseph Smith, Jr. A beam of sunlight
from parting clouds prevented a mobster from decapitating Smith's body. Courtesy Brigham Young
University Museum of Art via Wikipedia. Public domain.

“This verse captures Alma’s prayer amid opposition and spiritual turmoil on a mission, expressing deep grief and a plea for Divine comfort,” Grok stated. “It illustrates the transformation of sorrow into joy through Christ, making it an appropriate choice for extending sympathy to those grieving an act of hatred against their faith community.”

“Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted. My God hath been my support; he hath led me through mine afflictions in the wilderness; and he hath preserved me upon the waters of the great deep. He hath filled me with his love... He hath confounded mine enemies unto the destruction of the murderer of my father.” ~ Nephi 4:19–21

“In this reflection,” Grok explained, “Nephi contemplates personal losses, including his father’s death, and the threats posed by enemies, while affirming God’s sustaining love and protection. This resonates with the context of a church attack, emphasizing divine preservation as a counter to adversity.”

May God continue to bless The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints!