VESSELS OF THE LORD

 

The injunction “be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” has been given anciently and in our day to the men who have the priesthood upon them (Isaiah 52:11; 3 Nephi 20:41; D&C 133:5). The meaning is that the priesthood holders need to be clean as they handle ‘the sacred vessels and emblems of God’s power’ as they administer the duties of the priesthood such as the sacrament.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland encouraged the men of the Church to be ‘sanctified instruments’ themselves by being clean, not only because of what they do but more importantly because of what they are to be (CR Oct 2000, 51-52; or Ensign Nov 2000, 39). President Gordon B. Hinckley also reminded the gathering of the priesthood of this important principle:

“Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord (D&C 133:5). Thus has He spoken to us in modern revelation. Be clean in body. Be clean in mind. Be clean in language. Be clean in dress and manner.” (CR April 1996, 68; or Ensign May 1996, 48). In other words, don’t just be clean so you can handle the vessels of the Lord, but BE the vessel. When people look at you, they should recognise God’s power within you through your cleanliness. You are the vessel of the priesthood.

I am reminded of Joseph and how people recognised the authority he had when they met him, how much he reflected the powerful spiritual demeanour that was in him and because of it many trusted instantly that he was the prophet and a man of God. I love this story that illustrates that:

“While waiting for the ferry-boat, a man of the world, knowing of the miracles which had been performed, came to Joseph Smith and asked him if he would not go and heal two twin children of his, about five months old, who were both lying sick nigh unto death. They were some two miles from Montrose.

“The Prophet said he could not go; but, after pausing some time, he said he would send some one to heal them; and he turned to me and said: “You go with the man and heal his children.”  He took a red silk handkerchief out of his pocket and gave it to me, and told me to wipe their faces with the handkerchief when I administered to them, and they should be healed…..I went with the man, and did as the Prophet commanded me, and the children were healed.” (Wilford Woodruff, “Leaves From My Journal” [1881] p 65)

There was one other who had the spiritual demeanour that exuded power the people trusted in and that is Apostle Paul: “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.”  (Acts 19:11,12)

The power of the priesthood works on principles of faith and righteousness. What an incredible privilege for you men to exude inspiration for both.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Prophet Joseph Smith by David Lindsley)

LEAVING THE PAST

 

I tend to look back a lot now that I am in my twilight years. Not surprisingly, my rear-view mirror syndrome has brought up a lot of issues that have long been buried and caused me a great deal of guilt that I was not aware of. I have lived a good life but this is what happens when you are very hard on yourself. You are never good enough to the most important person you have to live with – yourself.

I realised in my reverie that I was in sore need of self-forgiveness. This made me reflect on the two men from scriptures who are in my mind perfect examples of this principle, Paul of Tarsus and Alma, the son of Alma.

When I study Paul’s epistles I am amazed at the grand scale of his growth, the depth of his understanding of the doctrine of Christ and his repeated testimony of the only source of our salvation. His words expounding doctrine have been studied for over 2,000 years. Yet in the beginning, presumably because of his guilt, he considered himself ‘the least of the apostles’ and not worthy to be called such because he persecuted the church of God (1 Corinthians 15:9).

Paul eventually came to recognise his good deeds and self-worth through the greatest tool of all: “By the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). I believe he arrived at that place of self-forgiveness when he could in the end, in clear conscience say: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7).

In his day, Alma became a living testament of the Saviour's power of deliverance.  Not only because Christ forgave him for his sins but because He freed him to become a great man.  After Alma came out of his three days of torment he immediately began to preach of Christ's mercy and His power to save (Mosiah 27:32).

Nowhere in the scriptures does it say that he moped around and agonised over his past sins and felt bad about himself because ‘he had his guilt taken away from his heart, through the merits of God’s Son’ (Alma 24:10). Alma, who went about with the intent to destroy the Church became Alma who led the Nephite armies in battle, who sat naked with Amulek in dungeons, who was spat upon by the unrepentant, who dumbfounded an anti-Christ, who baptised thousands of souls unto repentance (Alma 4:4-5), who the Lord in the end took up unto himself (Alma 45:19). 

When you look at Paul and Alma, do you see broken men with a past or do you see powerful servants of the Lord?  If you are still 'harrowed' up by your past sins, you are missing the person that you could be.  If you believe you are no good, the Lord can make nothing of you.  If you have repented of your sins but can't let them go, you are giving them more power than you are giving God. Your forgiveness is not complete until you allow the Saviour to take away your remorse. The power of the Atonement can complete this process. 

Remember, consequences of sin keeps your wrong doing in your memory discouraging backsliding better than guilt. Guilt just stops you from moving forward.

Mortality is not for the faint hearted. It affects each of us negatively in different degrees but the grace of Him who died to make all things new is our only saving grace (2 Corinthians 5:17)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Lean On Him by Chris Brazelton)

A LIVING BOOK PART 3:

 

This would have to be the greatest proof that the Old Testament is not a dead book: all scriptures are very much alive because they contain the word of God and God is not dead. His word will live forever.

Cast your mind on the road to Emmaus when the resurrected Saviour joined two travellers who were discussing the hottest topic of the day, His possible resurrection (Luke 24:13-15). They told Him they ‘trusted’ the Galilean was the Messiah who would redeem Israel but were now sceptical because He had died (v 21). It would seem that nobody besides Isaiah understood the necessity of His death.

The Saviour simply expounded ‘unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning HIMSELF….beginning at Moses and all the prophets’ (Luke v 27).  He thought the written word of the past was all they needed as proof of the living Christ. The rest came with the witness of the Holy Ghost which burned within their hearts (v 32).

Now we come to the greatest man of the Old Testament who testified of Christ, of His birth, His ministry, His necessary death: Isaiah, whom Jesus quoted more frequently than He quoted any other prophet. His words have lived through the New Testament, The Book of Mormon, and the Doctrine and Covenants. Why? Because “great are the words of Isaiah”…..(3 Nephi 23:1) This, from the Saviour’s own mouth.

Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah as a ‘suffering servant’ in earthly ministry who was “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” is heart rendering (Isaiah 53:3-8) and his prophecy of Christ’s Second Coming as  the King of Glory when the Saints will praise His ‘loving kindness and the great goodness toward the House of Israel….to give unto them that mourn in Zion, beauty for ashes..” a splendour to look forward to (Isaiah 63:7; 61:3).

How can we ever proclaim dead the eloquence of Isaiah who announced: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). This is the prophecy of the living Christ, the majestic King who will make us His forever.

We cannot think that anything that has been and gone is dead. If we do, we run the risk of believing that the very God we worship is dead also. He who has the whole human family in His hands is more alive than any of us. All that has been will echo throughout eternity, most especially His words that live on….even the words of the Old Testament, the root of our beginning.

“For whatsoever things were written afore time were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4)

I stand in awe of Your sacrifice

And Your soul’s pain;

The body freely given

For nothing of You to remain.

 

I ache, I ache,

Knowing the cost;

Then I read Your living word

And I am comforted

Knowing nothing is lost.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Transcendent Glory by Greg Collins)

A LIVING BOOK PART 2

 

One of the reasons why I believe  the Old Testament is a living book is because all the prophecies have not yet been fulfilled, least of all ‘the marital relationship’ between Jehovah and Israel:

“The Saviour commonly described his relationship with ancient Israel as a marriage. So when Israel descended into patterns of sustained disobedience to Jehovah’s commandments, Israel was “unfaithful”, like an unfaithful spouse. The Lord thus warned through Moses that Israel should not worship other gods, for Jehovah ‘is a jealous God’…..

“In expressing the permanence of his covenants with Israel, again the Lord used the language of marriage: “I will betroth thee unto me forever….and I will say to them….thou art my people, and they shall say, Thou art my God.” (Hosea 2:19,23) (Elder Bruce C. Hafen, “The Belonging Heart” p 142)

Until we, Israel, are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb, we are betroth to the Saviour (Revelation 19:7-9). In plain terms, we are in the ‘engagement period’ awaiting the wedding. And this is something of importance to us as we wait. Ancient betrothal was a legally binding agreement considered as serious and unbreakable as a marriage itself, with a formal divorce required for any separation. The Saviour already considers us His own because of the covenants we have made with Him…..hence He is a jealous God.

Why would the Saviour describe our relationship to Him through the metaphor of marriage? It’s all about love. 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. This is the bride that the Saviour wants…..a deeply committed one grounded in love.

The only way to understand HESED is to understand God’s love for the House of Israel. The scriptures are replete with messages of love for us from the Saviour: 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).

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 (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 our hearts,

We will forever know.

Through highs and lows,

Through depths unknown,

Its flame we will carry with us

Wherever we go.

We await Thy call…..

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Sending Forth the Bride by Danny Hahlbohm)

A LIVING BOOK PART 1

 

The Old Testament is my favourite book of scripture. I cannot tell you how it touches the core of my heart. I believe we need to understand our  history to better understand our present and our future. Once we understand who we, as a group of people really are, we will hope for the destiny that is ours as God’s favoured people.

I have heard it said that the Old Testament is a ‘dead book’. I suppose some think it is so because it contains the fulfilled law of Moses but to me nothing that has been and gone is dead. The law of Moses is not all there is to the Old Testament and indeed the more important content of it is the everlasting covenant between Jehovah and His chosen people.  

Consider the prophets of old who are still very much a part of our dispensation:

-          Father Adam who will yet return to earth and preside at the meeting of Adam-Ondi-Ahman to deliver up his stewardship to Christ, who holds the keys of the universe, but will retain his standing as head of the human family (“Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith” p 157);

-          The righteous Father Abraham who Jehovah himself covenanted with, promising that the covenant would be fulfilled in the latter days and that in “his seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed” (1 Nephi 15:18). This is us and this is our day. We are “the seed” and these are the latter days. The covenant is not dead. It is very much alive. 

-          Ezekiel who prophesied the end of times with the battle of Armageddon that will usher in the Second Coming (Ezekiel 38) and his amazing prophecy of resurrection of the human family (chapter 37). This too is yet to be fulfilled, therefore it is not a dead doctrine.

-          Dear Elijah whose spirit keeps turning the hearts of the children to their fathers to this very day.  The beloved servant of God who came to Kirtland Temple to restore the sealing power so that ‘the whole earth would not be utterly wasted at Christ’s coming’ (D&C 2:3). Christ is yet to come and the temple work for the dead is ongoing in our day to fulfil the earth’s purpose.

-          Moses, the mighty lawgiver of Israel, who conferred the keys of the gathering on Joseph Smith on 3 April 1836 in Kirtland Temple (D&C 110:11). Would we be gathering Israel today without these keys? The keys are not dead, nor is the gathering.

These prophets are still very much alive as is the history they created. And this is how important they are to our dispensation: they validate the calling of Joseph Smith: “If the Bible is evidence for anything, read about the calling of Noah, Abraham, Moses, Isaac, Jacob, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul and John the Revelator. ALL were called in precisely the manner that Joseph was. All spoke with God or angels, just as Joseph did.” (Bruce C. Hafen, “The Believing Heart” p 26)

Even the greatest prophet of Israel, Isaiah, prophesied of Joseph himself down to the finest detail of the failure to authenticate the Book of Mormon by Professor Anton (Isaiah 29:11,12)

The prophets of the Old Testament will remain in my heart forever, because they were all converted and devoted to the same God we worship today, God Jehovah, God’s own Son. Their struggles, their achievements, their contribution to the Plan of Salvation and humanity will never be erased. Their memory might be like ashes blown in the winds of time but their legacy remains. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: I Was There by Danny Hahlbohm)

CONDITIONAL LOVE

 

There is a dangerous philosophy that we often hear in the Church and that is that God’s love is unconditional. The danger of the word ‘unconditional’ gives us a mistaken belief that we can do whatever we want and we will still be loved and accepted by God hence no need for restrictions and commandments as repeated offences against God will be excused. (see President Russell M. Nelson’s “Divine Love” Ensign, Feb 2003, and Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “Abide In My Love” GC Oct 2016)

This is where the philosophy of ‘unconditional love’ began: “During the last several decades, a heresy regarding God’s love has surfaced. The heresy states that God’s love is unconditional. The heresy first started with humanist psychologists who invented the term. Unconditional love, they taught, is the love parents ought to have for their children.  Eventually, the term was adopted into Christian dialogue to describe God’s love. This is a classic example of mingling the philosophies of men with scripture. This has been true even within the dialogue of the Church. And this is why President Nelson wrote his article.” (Bruce Satterfield, Gospel Doctrine Lesson 44: God Is Love, Nov 2, 2015)

I recently came to understand this philosophy on a deeper level and it is this: there is an important component of God’s love that makes ‘unconditional love’ an impossibility and that is mercy.

I know of someone in the Church who believes that all of God’s children will in the end live with Him again because of His mercy. And this is the problem…. When we believe that God’s love is unconditional, we not only think we can get away with anything, we also believe because He loves us, He will be merciful when the time comes.

If God’s love encompasses mercy and if His love was unconditional then mercy would have to be extended to the unrepentant on Judgment Day and that can never be because of three reasons: 1. Mercy cannot rob justice (Alma 42:25); 2. No unclean thing can enter the Kingdom of Heaven (3 Nephi 27:19); and 3. We cannot be saved in our sins (Alma 11:37).

The third reason seems the most important because it has to do with the Plan of Salvation. If God saved us in our sins, we would not be prepared for eternal life and exaltation. We would not have developed godly attributes that come only through repentance. If God showed mercy to the unrepentant and saved them in their sins, this would negate the purpose of the Plan of Salvation and ultimately His love which put that Plan into effect.

The more righteous we are, the more love we can receive and ultimately, more mercy. Mercy has to be our over-riding goal, a goal bigger than love because it is mercy that will save us in the end. It is mercy that will sanctify us and lift us out of our probationary state of imperfection to the Saviour’s status of perfectness to be co-heirs with Him in the Kingdom of Heaven. This is what He suffered for, this is what He died for.

This is love. God is not the Father of spoilt children. He is the Father of eternal joy and happiness, not short-term indulgence. If we really want to be loved, we will strive to be the children He intends us to be.

“….whose keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected….” (1 John 2:5)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Lord is Good by Chris Brazelton)

HARD THINGS

 

Sometimes God asks us to do some hard things that not everyone else can do. Lehi’s colonisation of ancient America is an amazing proof of that. It shows that God puts in key positions those of His children who He knows would not let Him down. He certainly knew that a rich merchant Lehi would walk away from his riches and cross two oceans to get to where God wanted him to go.

The same with his son Nephi. I love how his father could depend on him when he asked him to return to Jerusalem to get the brass plates (1 Nephi 3:6). Nephi immediately affirmed that the Lord will provide the way for accomplishing such a hard task (1 Nephi 3:7). The whole story thereafter reads like Arabian Nights….

Obtaining the plates took three attempts. Nephi’s perseverance was admirable (1 Nephi 3:15). This is what stands out to me though. Nephi was an obedient person who had lived by the commandments his whole life. Then the Lord asks him to kill someone. I don’t know that I could ever do it knowing how incredibly evil killing is. But God knew that Nephi’s commitment to obedience was strong enough to do such a hard thing and He knew that he could depend on him (1 Nephi 4:17,18).

David slew Goliath in the same manner by cutting off his head, without blinking, and he became a man of war but I don’t recall Nephi killing anyone else for the rest of his life. It was clearly not in his disposition to destroy life. But obedience was.

God knows us incredibly well and this is how: “During the ages in which we lived in the pre-mortal state, we not only developed our various characteristics and showed our worthiness and ability, or the lack of it, but we were also where such progress could be observed…..it was natural for our Father to discern and choose those who were most worthy and evaluate the talents of each individual. He knew not only what each of us COULD do, but also what each of us WOULD do when put to the test and when responsibility was given us.” (President Joseph Fielding Smith, “The Way to Perfection” [1970], 50-51)

The greatest example of this concept is of course the Saviour. The Atonement He performed in mortality was in actual fact just a formality. We could actually draw upon its blessings and power in pre-existence as if it had already happened. Hence, we could be born innocent as the Atonement of Christ also covered our pre-mortal sins. (See Tad Callister, “The Infinite Atonement” p 85). The Father knew that His Son could do it and would do it. And so did we…..hence our vote.

We might not be the Saviour, Nephi or Joseph Smith but we just need to be strong enough to do whatever it is the Father is requiring of us and one day we will find out who we really are and we will be amazed…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art by Liz Lemon Swindle)

AGENCY

 

“Despite great efforts to do so, no one has been able to cast serious doubt on the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. So why doesn’t everybody believe in its divine origins? Because God does not allow the case to become so compelling that we are forced to believe. Man’s agency is too fundamental to be so compromised.” (Elder Bruce C. Hafen, “The Believing Heart” p 27)

I have always believed that our freedom to choose was God given out of His respect for us but there is so much more to it than that. I have been impressed by His restraint in seeing so many of us make so many foolish choices. One would almost wish He would interfere to the point of compelling us to believe in the Gospel and especially, in salvation through His Son. But there is a very good reason for His restraint and once again, it is for the good of us, His children. In fact, Elder Hafen points out: “It was all part of a plan carefully and deliberately designed NOT TO COMPEL BELIEF.” (ibid p 6)

This is the very first reason why man’s agency is too fundamental to be compromised: “Hugh Nibley has described this principle as the “policy of reticence”, which the Lord has always followed “to protect sacred things from common misunderstandings and to protect the unworthy from damaging themselves with them.” (ibid p 6)

Instead of compelling us to believe, God has given us the principle of “line upon line, precept upon precept”, in other words, God gives us what and when we are ready to hear, for our   protection, because we are tried on what we know and understand (D&C 98:12).

The second and more important reason is this: “A key reason for the Lord’s unwillingness to compel our belief is suggested by those scriptural phrases about doing the will of the Father and “receiving him”. Something happens to people who receive him – who do his will. They learn. They develop Christlike capacities and skills beyond the reach of other people.

“Following his will changes them. These changes do not occur within the lives of those who merely see the sign or hear the word. Such changes in character and spirit also do not happen without our active, voluntary participation. Thus by being believing, by receiving the Lord, and by following him, the process of becoming LIKE HIM is set into motion. That is a point he does not want us to miss.”  (ibid 7)

I am beginning to think that our most pressing priority in life should be coming to know God. The more we know Him, the more we will yearn to be with Him. I know people who have no desire to know Him and because they do not know Him, they do not love Him. It’s the greatest tragedy that they will get through this life without experiencing the greatest love of all.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: The Everlasting God by Spencer Rasmussen)

 

SEEKING GOD

 

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

“What then, are we to do, if we are thus to seek him with all our hearts? First, we must DESIRE to find God above all other desires. IF we want to seek God until we find him, even if we want eternal life – all these things can be ours, if we desire them, so long as we do not desire other things more. We show what we really want by what we DO, not just by what we SAY.

“Whatever it is we want so much, we are likely some day to have it. Not only will the righteous desires of our hearts be granted, the unrighteous desires of our hearts will also be granted. Over the long run, our most deeply held desires will govern our choices, one by one and day by day, until our lives finally add up to what we have really wanted.

“Next, we must live worthy of having the Lord’s spirit near to us. Brigham Young said: “pray for the Lord to inspire your hearts. Ask for wisdom and for knowledge, It is our duty to seek after it. Let us seek and we shall find…..” (“Journal of Discourses”, 1:20)

-          Elder Bruce C. Hafen, “The Believing Heart”  p 22-3

 

When I seek You; I find You.

When I look for You; You are there.

When I lay my petitions before You,

You fill my heart with joy.

You are my staff of life,

The sustenance of my soul,

You are my all.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Dayspring by Jay Bryant Ward)

THE ADVOCATE

 

“We must always seek to be on the Lord’s side; but what good news it is to know that HE IS ON OUR SIDE.

“His powerful advocacy in our behalf is not limited to pleading our case before the Father, for “your advocate…knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are tempted” (D&C 62:1).  It is the advocate’s role to present our case in its most favourable light, refuting the challenges of the adversary who opposes us and who presents our case in its worst possible light.

“Even in our thoughts about ourselves, we must resist the adversary’s attempts to convince us of our worthlessness by interpreting our life circumstances in a negative light; rather let us listen to him who knows our weaknesses fully yet believes in us more than we may believe in ourselves. What glorious news, not only that the greatest advocate of all is willing to represent those who are guilty, but also that he will take OUR case!

“I am the first and the last; I am your advocate with the Father….Therefore, lift up your heads and rejoice….Let the hearts of all my people rejoice.”  (D&C 110:4-6)”

-          Elder Bruce C. Hafen, “The Belonging Heart”, p 155

This should be the most comforting knowledge we could possibly have, especially for those of us who are hard on ourselves; and on those who have been damaged by life in some way and cannot lift their view of themselves onto higher ground. Know that, if not in this life, then in the next, we will be cleansed of all our sorrows and all the damage we have suffered at the hands of others will be washed away to make room for our eternal joy.

“And I John saw the holy city…and I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people…and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away.

“And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold I make all things new……I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (Revelation 21:2-6)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Our Advocate by Jay Bryant Ward)

JUDGMENT BAR

 

I had a personal moment with the powers of heaven yesterday which led me to contemplate about Him who affords the salvation to my inadequate soul, a soul which would otherwise be doomed for eternity.

As I reflected, my most favourite scripture, from Paul, came to my mind: “….I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” (Philippians 3:8-10)

Paul was ‘a real Jew, circumcised, of the stock of Israel, a Pharisee of the tribe of Benjamin’ (Philippians 3:5; Romans 11:1). He was highly respected in his Jewish community yet he turned his back on it and his Jewish family. He abandoned it all for the ‘excellency of the knowledge of Christ’.

Paul endured terrible hardships and paid an enormous price for his discipleship and thereby became the greatest missionary of early Christendom. Repeatedly imprisoned, thrice beaten with rods, once stoned and left for dead, survived three shipwrecks, spent a night and a day in waters' deep, dwelt in peril of robbers and of his own countrymen, lived amongst heathen, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness (2 Corinthians 11:23-27). And this supersedes it all....he was scourged by the Jews 5 times, 39 lashes each time (2 Corinthians 11:24). And he considered it all worth it for the ‘excellency of the knowledge of Christ’.

I could write pages about Paul. What fascinates me the most about him is that he viewed his earthly troubles as dross compared to knowing and having Christ in his life. I imagine we will all one day come to see the advantage and beauty of this.

This is the truth that came to me yesterday: There will come a day when all we have ever stressed over in this life will seem as dross: our sins, our weaknesses, our worries, our inadequacies, our earthly indignities, our failings, our hurts, our lack, our embarrassments, our wrongs, our insecurities, our injustices…..

When we stand at the judgment bar of God with Christ between us and the justice of the Father, we will then see that all we have been through in this life is but dross compared to our ‘excellency of the knowledge of Christ’ and our faithfulness to Him as our personal Saviour. Nothing else will matter but this. His mercy will be extended, the debt to justice paid, the forgiveness given, the slate wiped clean. We, the penitent, will bow before Him and wash His feet with our tears and we will go free.

 

If you were not,

I would not be,

Silence would have wept at Calvary!

 

If you were not,

I would not be,

Joyless would be my eternity.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Light of the World by Douglas Bentley)

THE LONGING TO BELONG

 

“Jesus Christ came to accomplish the great at-one-ment, not the great alone-ment. He came to overcome our separation from God and from one another. He seeks to bring us to His Father, to himself, and to each other, at one, through the gift of His Atonement.

“The natural yearning to belong eternally to close friends and family also includes a longing for an eternal relationship with God…..at times we feel an emotional or spiritual hunger, a kind of psychic emptiness. We wander to and fro, trying to satisfy this intuitive craving, which Robert Browning called “the passionate longing of the heart for fulness”

“The good news is that the gospel of Jesus Christ answers the heart’s longing for fulness. The Father of our spirits knows where we belong – where our core being can say, “I was made for this”. To that end, God would have us fulfil our deepest eternal yearnings and know the meaning of our very existence.

“The knowledge that we are literal, spirit children of God also reveals a stirring source of our attraction to him – the genetic-like link between ourselves and our Father in Heaven. We share with Jesus Christ the common heritage that God is the literal father of our spirit body, the substance that clothes our eternal essence or intelligence.

“Just as we carry certain genetic receptors that draw us to our parents and our children, we also carry some kind of spiritual genetic coding that is literally a part of the Father himself.

“Given the likelihood of that nearly incomprehensible tie, no wonder we long for God. Yet no matter how much of his Spirit we have, it may never be enough to satisfy fully our longing to draw closer to him. Perhaps that eternal fulness is possible only when we are permanently reunited with Him.”

-          Elder Bruce C. Hafen, “The Belonging Heart”, p 3-15

I see all you think and do

I see your longing and what you feel

Follow your heart and come unto me

That I might your Saviour be.

 

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  (John 14:6)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Guiding Light by Ivan Guaderrama)

THE PATH OF FAITH

 

I love Lehi of The Book of Mormon. I love him because he was a dreamer. He certainly proves that the path of faith is not for the faint hearted. Dreams, visions and revelations are in the spiritual realm and that’s where Lehi was.

His older sons couldn’t accept their father’s inclination for the spiritual because he was ‘a visionary man’ (1 Nephi 2:11). If that’s Nephi’s description of him, I am certain it was a complimentary one. If it was his brothers’, it would have been a scornful one leaning to opinions of lunacy. And this is how all unbelievers view the spiritual realm.

I can relate to Lehi. For many years now I have held Section 76 of the Doctrine and Covenants close to my heart. It contains a promise to the faithful saints, the fulfilment of which I have often prayed for: revelation of mysteries of the kingdom, wonders of eternity, wisdom, understanding, enlightenment, knowledge of things ‘which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor yet entered into the heart of man’ (v 5-10). This was the world of Lehi.

I can also relate to his son Nephi. He also thirsted for knowledge of ‘the mysteries of God’ (1 Nephi 2:16). Because of this noble desire, Nephi was ‘highly favoured of the Lord’ and his wish was granted (1 Nephi 1:1).

Since my quest to understand God’s ways, I have been blessed over the years with dreams, revelations and memories from my pre-earth life. At times I have wondered if my imagination was just a tad too fertile but I know deep down, I too have been favoured of God. All that was revealed to me has been pertinent to my life and my progression, even my understanding of the scriptures.

I know there are many of you that have enjoyed the same privileges. We are all entitled to them, if we want them….as long as we want them for the right reason.

I have reflected on Lehi’s spiritual riches and have realised what a responsibility it is to be so endowed with such knowledge and understanding…..”for of him unto whom much is given much is required, and he who sins against the greater light shall receive the greater condemnation” (D&C 82:3). Lehi endangered his life by preaching to the Jews (1 Nephi 1:20) but how dangerous his path would have been if he disregarded God’s messages? Can you see the responsibility of the path of faith that Lehi honoured? What is given us is not to be trifled with.

Surely we are blessed above all the people of the earth……if we are faithful, the Saviour of this world who guides His Church and oversees the salvation of humanity, will fill our spiritual cup daily with His Spirit which will enlighten us and give us understanding that will reach to heaven….(D&C 76:9,10).

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Fill My Cup Lord by Danny Hahlbohm)

PRIESTHOOD POWER

 

The most important element of the restoration of Christ’s Church through the Prophet Joseph would have to be the priesthood. Elder Bruce R. McConkie spoke in the October 1977 General Conference of the ten blessings of the priesthood. Notice how many you can identify that relate to the priesthood ordinances in the Church and consider the amazing privileges the priesthood represents for all of us, married or not:

First, being members of the Church and receiving the fulness of the everlasting gospel;

Second, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and the other gifts of the Spirit.

Third, becoming sanctified by the Spirit, thereby becoming fit to dwell with God.

Fourth, representing Jesus Christ in administering salvation to mankind.

Fifth, becoming children of God in the family of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Sixth, having the opportunity of eternal marriage, without which there is no exaltation in the highest degree of the celestial kingdom.

Seventh, having the power to govern all spiritual and temporal things.

Eight, having power to gain eternal life, the greatness of all the gifts of God.

Ninth, having power to make one’s calling and election sure while yet in mortality.

Tenth, having the power and privilege, if pure in heart, to see the face of God while yet in mortality.

-          (As quoted by Bruce C. Hafen in “The Belonging Heart” p 213-4)

When we consider that the author and the source of the priesthood is Christ himself, the importance of it goes way beyond the privileges listed. When we participate in the ordinances of the priesthood we inadvertently receive of His power and influence in our lives. This is evident through the ritual of the sacrament which promises His Spirit will be with us as we symbolically partake of His body and His blood. (D&C 20:77).

It is Christ’s power which sustains us in this life and prepares us for the next. Without it there would be no salvation. The forgiveness which we are granted through the Atonement and His suffering would be wasted if there was no priesthood to move us along the path of progression to the eternal reward.

May we remember this source of power next time we press the cup to our lips….. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Restoration by Liz Lemon Swindle)

TO KNOW YOURSELF

“Why did the Lord ask such things of Abraham? Because, knowing what his future would be and that he would be the father of an innumerable posterity, He was determined to test him. God did not do this for His own sake for He knew by His foreknowledge what Abraham would do; but the purpose was to impress upon Abraham a lesson to enable him to attain unto knowledge that he could not obtain in any other way.

“That is why God tries all of us. It is not for His own knowledge for He knows all things beforehand. He knows all your lives and everything you will do. But He tries us for our own good that WE MAY KNOW OURSELVES; for it is most important that a man should know himself.”

-          George Q. Cannon, “Gospel Truth, comp. Jerreld L. Newquist, 2 Vols [1974] 1:113

I can bear witness of this truth. I was drowning in despair. It was a test of my faith I did not expect and I wondered if God understood that He was asking of me more than I could give. I had gone through some tests before and I was weary. I had begun to believe this one was beyond me. To make matters worse, the heavens were silent. No explanation, no help.

I began to lose my desire for eternal life and returning to God’s presence, something I had arrived to over the years that exceeded every other desire I had. When you lose hope of something better at the end of the tunnel you are in, life becomes pretty bleak. Losing faith and hope in eternal life which was my over-riding goal, gave me only one alternative, darkness. It was suffocating me.

One morning I made it to the bathroom crying and begging God to send me something or someone to lift me, to help in some way….. and then I caught my reflection in the mirror. I could barely recognise myself. My face was haggard from the despair it wore. This is what came to me: “this isn’t me, not the me I once knew. I am not this person. I am strong and fearless…….”

I left my bathroom that morning crying again because God did send me someone….He sent me ME. And I understood the purpose of the test…..I had somehow over time felt beaten by life and had stopped believing in myself. I struggled with a will to live. But the test….what I considered a calamity, dug deep into my soul and showed me who I truly am and I saw HIM at the end of the tunnel once again.

So God tested Abraham so Abraham would know himself and his commitment to God. If you find yourself standing at a precipice one day, know that the moment of your decision will show you who you are and you will see the Saviour at the end of the dark tunnel where He stands beckoning…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: His Hand Is Stretched Out Still by Yongsung Kim)

 

TRIALS

 

"While you are passing through your trials, the pain and difficulty that comes from being enlarged will continue. If all matters were immediately resolved at your first petition, you could not grow. Your Father in heaven and His Beloved Son love you perfectly. They would not require you to experience a moment more of difficulty than is absolutely needed for your personal benefit or for that of those you love."

- Richard G. Scott, "Trust In the Lord", Ensign Nov 1995

You brought me to the foot of
Your throne today.
You pierced my soul
And understood all I had to say.
You opened my heart
And whispered the
truths I needed to know.
I surrender
My sins, my all, in gratitude
Of the suffering You bore.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Jesus Serene Saviour by Ivan Guaderrama)