Thursday, 24 July 2025

TO BE WILLING

 



Section 88 of the Doctrine and Covenants speaks of us being quickened by the glory of the kingdom we will inherit after this life and that the sons of perdition will be ‘quickened’ but not to any glory. Verse 32 says they will ‘enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received’. How could you choose eternal darkness and reject a kingdom of glory? Did they understand this in pre-mortal existence when they made this choice?  

I have also reflected on those of us who will inherit lesser kingdoms and will not enjoy eternally the presence of the Father in Celestial Kingdom. Some of us here will trade our inheritance for a mass of pottage because they will reject the refining fire of this life. I get it. It’s a hard thing to endure to the end and in the process accept whatever ‘the Lord sees fit to inflict upon us’ (Mosiah 3:19).

Often times we wonder how a loving God could ‘inflict’ anything upon us. I have marvelled at that many times. There are just some things I find difficult to digest emotionally. I am just grateful that the Father is a master of restraint and that He has not rescued me from the important lessons I have had to learn and trials I have been able to prove myself by. Without those I would be not fit to inherit the kingdom of glory that would afford me the privilege of living in His presence again. Consider what it would be like to be cast out from His presence forever:

“To be cast from the presence of the Holy One is estrangement of the worst kind. It is to take from us that which means most – our sense of belonging to the divine family. It is to strip us of security and self-worth in one fatal blow. It is like tearing the suckling babe from her mother’s bosom, sending the wayward child to his room, or sentencing the incorrigible to solitary confinement. It is akin to restricting our communication with a loved one to the telephone; the lines can be clear, the conversation frequent, but the happiness that comes from being in another’s physical presence is missing.” (Tad. R. Callister, “The Infinite Atonement”, p 41)

When I studied The Fall one year, I came to understood the inexpressible horror of being endlessly lost and I wept as the comprehension of the Atonement flooded my heart feeling the witness of the Spirit in the very marrow of my bones. I think this is something I understood in my pre-mortal existence, before this world was even made. I am certain my desire to live with God eternally was born there.

I am reminded of Alma who after he tasted his exquisite pains and looked into the jaws of hell, beheld God sitting on His throne surrounded by countless angels singing His praises and he longed to be in His presence again (Alma 36:22). Even Cain who chose to worship Satan rather than God considered his banishment from God’s presence ‘a punishment greater than he could bear’ (Genesis 4:13,14; Moses 5:38,39).

I have this written on a card and stuck on my writing table where I can see it constantly: “FEAR NOTHING AND CONQUER EVERYTHING……88”)  It reminds me that I am ‘willing to enjoy that which I might receive’……..

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art by Divine Design) 


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