GOD'S PLAN

 

“When we say God has a plan, he truly has a plan – not simply a grand scale, but for each of us as individuals, allocating some special talent to this dispensation and some to another. I regard God as the perfect personnel manager, even though He must work with and through all of us who are so imperfect.”  (Neal A.  Maxwell, “Deposition of a Disciple” p 46).

I am in awe of the sacrifices that were required of the early Church pioneers and I am convinced that the Lord in his wisdom allocated those spirits who were willing to sacrifice all for the establishment and restoration of the truth in this dispensation to be born at such a time.

Sidney Gilbert is just one example of the early Church converts who was asked to forsake the world despite his success in it. In 1830 he was a senior partner in the successful mercantile firm of Gilbert, and Whitney in Kirtland, Ohio. After he joined the Church, he was sent to Missouri to buy land and operate a small store (D&C 57:8). I imagine that would be akin to today’s successful city lawyer moving to a small town and mainly working only pro bono cases. That, my friends, is forsaking the world.

Sidney Gilbert proved to be a devoted and faithful member of the Church who sacrificed all of his goods during the persecutions in Missouri, even offering himself as a ransom for the Saints. Brother Gilbert lacked confidence though to preach the Gospel and was wrongly criticized for it (“History of the Church” 2:118).

I can relate to Sidney Gilbert’s hesitation. At my baptism, I naively said to the Elders who baptized me: “I will never give a talk or go on a mission”.  Three months later I was delivering my first talk in Church and three years after that, I was on a mission. I have served in many callings since then but there have been times when because of certain circumstances I had not been able to serve. The Lord makes of us what we should be for when He needs us in different situations.

I think of those of us who are Temple endowed and the special covenant we have made to give our all to the building of the Kingdom. I wonder how prepared we will be when the time comes to walk away from our earthly successes and forsake all for the privilege of building New Jerusalem. The call for that sacrifice will surely come.

In my opinion the Church has a way to go to prepare for the Second Coming. I for one am eager to see the splendour of New Jerusalem but that splendour will not come while we are sitting comfortably in our chapels listening to sacrament talks. It will come by sacrifice and work. The day will come when we will be asked to give up our all for the cause of Zion. Will we be ready? And will we be willing?

When we see the Saviour appear in the clouds of heaven in His glory, we will be grateful that we of the last days were sent here at such a time to welcome Him and present to Him His kingdom to which He will come to reign as our Lord and our King. May we be assured then that we have done our all to be worthy to see that day.

When through the water’s gate

I was given the Saviour’s name,

His law was written in my heart

Forever there to remain.

 

I sacrificed, I obeyed,

I followed the paths He had me take;

I performed His holy work

For His name’s sake.

 

When in clouds of heaven He appears,

And I stand in the shadow of His frame,

I want to hear the Saviour say:

Thank you for honouring my name! 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: His Return by Dan Wilson)