The Law of Consecration

"Do not get what you can get, get what you are going to be given. What God is going to give you." - Yogi Bhajan

 

Pretty nails. Pretty wedding band.

Back in May I wrote a cryptic post about how I had done something brave. I didn't feel like sharing details then. Six months later I am ready to share. A week before Mother's day, after months of consistent mediation with the simple intention of having more faith, I got a crazy inspiration. The inspiration was that I should set my ex-husband free of child support payments. I am not sure how it came. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it might not be so crazy.

I was not in the financial position to do this. But I realized that: a) when selfish people owe you money, they hate you for it (he is the type of person who would spend 1000s of dollars fighting me over a couple hundred dollars) b)money is an energy exchange. I am in the business of positive energy. I suspected that if I acted in faith and let go of this negative energy exchange, I might actually make more money and have more abundance in every way. This is what happened two summers ago when I followed inspiration and cut my work week in half to spend more time with my daughter.

So after only a week of thinking about it, I did it. The phone call was completely baffling to him. He asked me if it was a passive aggressive tactical maneuver. I laughed and said no. I am just done fighting about money.

And that was it. I felt so free! I wanted to tell everyone. But I kept it quiet because child support is a topic that triggers a lot of other people's stuff and I didn't want them to worry for me or tell me I was stupid or that it wasn't fair that he gets off so easy. I knew that in fact, I was the one setting myself free, and that was very fair to me. 

After I released myself from that bondage, I did indeed notice an influx in clients and my own ability to recognize opportunities. I also noticed an unusual, and at first uncomforatble, peace and quiet in the relationship between me and my ex. But the biggest learning I had was when I went to the temple and discovered that God had things to teach me about money and about the Law of Consecration.

I sometimes feel a little sad that we as a people (or our ancestors, really) weren't ready and so missed the chance to live the law of consecration. But those of us who have been through the endowment session in the LDS temple do covenenat to live this law in our own way--specifically, that we will consecrate our selves, our time, our talents and everything that the Lord has blessed us with, or may bless us with, to building up of the kingdom of God.

This is the highest covenant we make in the endowment session. And associated with it is a token and sign. There is only one higher covenant we make in the temple, and that is the sealing covenant--when husband and wife are sealed to each other for time and all eternity. You may notice, if you have been to a temple sealing, that the betrothed couple uses the token of the Law of Consecration during the sealing ceremony. For me, this was a macro-cosmic mind explosion.

I know from statistics and from experience that one of the things married couples fight about most is money. (Sex and in-laws are next on the list. But I'll save those for another blog post.) I realized that if a couple really were both living this covenant and taking it to heart, then there would be few arguments about money.
I thought perhaps this information was preparing me for when I would be a couple again.

One thing to note about the words of the covenant are that we not only consecrate our means and time and talents, but also our "selves."  If one consecrates him or herself, to the building up of God's kingdom, then that person is not likely to want anything unrighteous. Consecrating one's self, means literally to become one with God. We do this in many ways, (the most obvious is birth), but I will have to save that for a whole different post.

Here comes the second part of the macrocosmic mind explosion. In the endowment we covenenat to give everything to God, then in the sealing ceremony, he promises to give us everything He has. Thrones, principalities, kingdoms, powers, etc. Woah! Does anyone else feel that this is more than fair?

Queen Elizabeth. Not wearing her crown, but boy she had style.

One last big thing I learned during a temple session when I was meditating on the law of consecration is this: just because we promise to consecrate everything we have to building the Kingdom of God, doesn't mean that we are to be ascetics or to deny ourselves of all luxuries. In fact, Jesus Christ, both enjoyed luxuries, and gave luxurious gifts.

Here is a great quote from Jesus the Christ, by James Talmage, on page 110 (discussing John 2:11):

"The presence of Jesus at the marriage, and His contribution to the successful conduct of the feast, set the seal of His approval upon the matrimonial relationship and upon the propriety of social entertainment. He was neither a recluse nor an ascetic; He moved among men, eating and drinking as a natural, normal Being. On the occasion of the feast He recognized and heeded the demands of the liberal hospitality of the times, and provided accordingly. He, who but a few days before had revolted at the tempter's suggestion that He provide bread for His impoverished body, now used His power to supply a luxury for others."

Back in May, as I was sitting in the temple and contracting a little bit (just a small freak out) after having given up child support, I got a very clear inspiration to go and get a manicure and a pedicure. I don't even blink any more at strange inspirations, but I do like to understand, if I can, and so I meditated on this a little longer and I these scriptures came to mind:

18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;

 19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.

 20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion. (Doctrine & Covenants 59)

Hmm. Well, having pretty nails does make me happy, and to me, it is symbolic of a certain level of self care that I like to maintain. (If my toenails are a mess, I feel like life is a little out of control.)  It was wonderful to feel that a loving Heavenly Father would be absolutely generous with our Heavenly Mother in this way and I felt he was showing me this same generosity. Interestingly, I felt it was not just the generosity of a loving father, but an example of a generous partner. Again, preparing me to be in a couple? I believe so. 

Back to the words of the covenant again: I also realized that the Kingdom of God is also within my own body, as Christ taught, and that if I don't take care of that Kingdom, then I won't have much to offer anyone else.

So I went and got a mani/pedi. I told my friend about it on the phone that night. I was happy. My nails looked pretty. I got out of the lack mentality and suddenly had an influx of clients, friends, free stuff, and helpers of all kinds. Not only did I let go of child support, but I also let go of lack. And in letting go, I gained everything.

As my gift to you, I would like to share with you, a powerful prosperity meditation. Here is a video on how to do it. Many blessings.

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