LOVE UNFEIGNED

 

There is a word in Hebrew which is difficult to render in English. It is usually translated as ‘steadfast love’. The Hebrew word is HESED. It is a covenant word that refers to the faithfulness or loyal love that binds two people together in covenant.

This love is motivated by an inner loyalty which arises out of the relationship itself and not by legal obligation. Such covenant love has the quality of constancy, firmness and steadfastness. It is a love you have for another that you would never break because of deep loyalty you feel towards them.

I am feeling today the responsibility of my covenant that I made with the Saviour in my pre-mortal life. Perhaps because I am struggling presently with my mortality and feeling very inadequate. My patriarchal blessing says I made promises in pre-earth life but I feel deep down it was a covenant and not just a flighty promise that I made to stay faithful to Him and the cause of salvation.

It has always fascinated me that the Saviour presents His relationship to His Church in a marital setting (2 Corinthians 11:2; Revelation 19:7-8; 21:2,9). At times I have thought it strange that He will be the bridegroom and the Church His bride at the Second Coming….until I came to understand that this is about love. That those who truly and undeniably love Him will be like a bride coming to the wedding with love unfeigned. She will be bound to the bridegroom by HESED.

Hosea speaks of Israel of the Old Testament as a fickle woman that lacks steadfastness and trustworthiness of true covenant love. He describes Ephraim as ‘a silly dove without heart’ (Hosea 7:11). In Hosea’s ‘vivid figure, Israel’s HESED was like a transient morning cloud, or like the morning dew that evaporates quickly (Hosea 6:4)’  (Old Testament Student Manual comments for Hosea 6:6).

The only way to understand HESED is to understand God’s love for the House of Israel. The scriptures are replete with message of love from the Saviour toward us: we are chosen to be a special people above all people upon the face of the earth (Det 7:6); He would sacrifice others for Israel (Isaiah 43:1-7); He has redeemed us because we are His (Isaiah 43:1-3); Israel is ‘the apple of His eye’ (Det 32:9,10; Zechariah 2:8; Psalm 17:8). Does this not make you feel special?

And this is the pinnacle of His love: Even though we often wander and break our covenant with Him, the Saviour will NEVER break His covenant with us, His people (Deuteronomy 4:31; Leviticus 26:44,46; Isaiah 49:15,16; 2 Kings 13:23). And this is why: “I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands….” (Isaiah 49:16).

This is HESED.

Such love as Yours

Burning bright in my heart,

I will forever know.

Through highs and lows,

Through depths unknown,

Its flame I will carry with me

Wherever I go.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Your Faith Has Saved You by Randy Riemel)

THE SHEPHERD

 

The more I study the Church history, the more I can see one truth: the Saviour himself restored His Church. We often say the Church was built on the sacrifices of the pioneers. This statement is not without its foundation but it overlooks the power behind those pioneers and their sacrifices.

When President Joseph F. Smith received his revelation regarding the spirit world in 1918, he was given to understand the greatest truth regarding the Church and its ability to rise. In the revelation, he observed that there were noble and great spirits who were chosen ‘in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God’, and that they were prepared, with many others, to come forth ‘in due time to labour in the Lord’s vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men’ (D&C 138:55,56).

I am amazed how plain it is to see that the Saviour placed these chosen people where they should be for the establishment of the Church. Over and over He sent men prepared to receive the Gospel to Joseph, asking for baptism and a revelation from the Lord to know what He would have them do. This is what the Church was built on. Consider just a few of these men:

·        Orson Pratt, a brother of Parley P. Pratt, was baptized in 1830 in New York and arrived on Joseph’s doorstep six weeks later asking him to inquire of God what his duty was. He was 19 years of age (History of the Church, 1:127-28)

·        Sidney Rigdon heard the message of the restored gospel in 1830 in Ohio and was baptized immediately. Soon after his baptism, he travelled to Fayette, New York, to meet the Prophet and inquired what the Lord wanted him to do.  (History of the Church, 1:128)

·        Edward Partridge first heard the Gospel message in Ohio in 1830, from the missionaries who had been sent to the Lamanites and who stopped there on the way to Missouri. In December of that year he travelled to Fayette, sought out the Prophet and asked to be baptized (History of Joseph Smith, p 191-2)

·        Parley P.  Pratt: I read about his story years ago. It is astounding. In short, he was preaching around the countryside and came upon a man who had been given a Book of Mormon. He thought Parley would be interested in it so he gave it to him. Parley Pratt started reading and could not stop until the next day. He could not eat or sleep until he finished it. He also found the Prophet and asked to be baptized.

And Joseph? It is not by accident that he wanted to know which Church to join at 14 years of age. He was led to read the scripture which brought him to the sacred grove to utter the question he asked. Therefrom, he was guided in all things until his life was asked of him.

The Church was restored and has prospered because of one thing: “I am the good shepherd…..and my sheep hear my voice” (John 10:14,27)

We are in this Church because we are His sheep. We were prepared long before the world began to answer the call. All glory be to the Shepherd who calls us His own….

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Gentle Saviour by Greg Collins)