THE DIVINE GARDENER

 

“We grow in two ways – removing negative weeds and cultivating positive flowers. The Saviour’s grace blesses both parts – if we do our part. First and repeatedly we must uproot the weeds of sin and bad choices. It isn’t enough just to mow the weeds. Yank them out by the roots, repenting fully to satisfy the conditions of mercy. But being forgiven is only part of our growth. We are not just paying a debt. Our purpose is to become celestial beings. So once we’ve cleared our heartland, we must continually plant, weed, and nourish the seeds of divine qualities. And then as our seeds and discipline stretch us to meet His gifts, ‘the flowers of grace appear’…..like hope and meekness. Even a tree of life can take root in this heart-garden, bearing fruit so sweet that it lightens all our burdens ‘through the joy of his Son (Alma 32:23)” (Elder Bruce C. Hafen, CR April 2004, 100-101; or Ensign May 2004, 97)

Often when it comes to repentance we think all we need to do is stop doing the wrong things but this is far from the truth. It is not enough to stop doing wrong things, we must also do the right things for repentance to be permanent and sincere. If we don’t replace the bad with the good, there is a big chance that we will eventually return to the bad.

Repentance entails so much more than confessing and forsaking. Repentance is the start of the road to change and becoming someone we had not previously been. Repentance is useless if it is not a process of refining and developing within us a celestial being. All the work put into it becomes useless if the end product does not yield a mighty change of heart and a new person in Christ.

Sometimes we expect the fruits of our repentance to be instantaneous. We expect a mighty change overnight and a total eradication of our desire for wrong doing. Consider the following story:

“A friend of mine recently wrote to me, confiding that he was having a difficult time keeping his testimony strong and vibrant. He asked for counsel. I wrote back to him and lovingly suggested a few specific things he could do that would align his life more closely with the teachings of the restored gospel. To my surprise, I heard back from him only a week later. The essence of his letter was this: “I tried what you suggested. It didn’t work. What else have you got?” ( President Dieter F. Uchdorf, The Way of the Disciple, Ensign May 2009, 76-77)

Nobody became celestial material overnight. It takes a journey of a lifetime to perfect obedience and endurance. For me, sin is anything that does not keep me in alignment with God and which sabotages my eternal progression. When I am aligned with God, I feel His spirit on consistent basis regardless of the circumstances of my life.

Because sin makes us weak, repentance oftentimes seems beyond our capacity. The good news is that we are not required to do this alone. Through the power of Christ’s Atonement, we can receive of His strength to assist us in rooting out the weeds of sin. This is what Christ died for, not only to forgive us, but to lift us and enable us to become celestial beings that Elder Hafen spoke of. Without the effects of Christ’s Atonement we cannot fulfil our eternal destiny. The Saviour grants us power over physical and spiritual death and brings us into God’s presence once again. We are not left alone on the path to spiritual excellence and godhood. He is the Divine Gardener without whom we cannot achieve our optimum excellence.  He is with us every step of the way…..if we will allow Him to be.

Grant me Thy power, dear Saviour

To embrace the grandeur of my eternal goal

That I might sin less and obey more.

Thou who art the deliverer of my soul

May glory be Thine forever more.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Divine Gardener by Greg Collins)