ARMS OF FAITH

 

Some days, Father, I cannot bear,

The absence of Your touch.

I cannot wait for Your embrace

That I have missed so very much.

 

In this abyss of worldly darkness

I stumble but I fall into the arms of Him

Who lifts me higher than I can go.

 

I fly to You, Father, on my wings of faith,

I sail through stormy skies,

Seeking for Thy face.

Look Father, no hands!

Only trust in these strong arms

Of my Saviour’s loving grace.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Arms of Faith by Yongsung Kim)

A GODLY PRIVILEGE

 

“I know of a great man who held his dead son in his arms, and said, “In the name of Jesus Christ and by the power and authority of the Holy Melchizedek Priesthood, I command you to live.” And the dead boy opened his eyes.

“This great brother could not have possibly done that had he been looking at a pornographic piece of material a few nights before or if he had been involved in any other transgression of that kind. The priesthood has to have a pure conduit to operate.” (Elder Vaugh Featherstone, in CR April 1975, 100; or Ensign May 1975, 66)

Such is the power of the priesthood which demands utmost obedience from the men whose privilege it is to have it.

When Moses ascended Mt Sainai for the second time to intercede for Israel’s sin of breaking the covenant they entered into, he was given another set of plates which contained the same thing, with one exception.  The Lord told him: “And I will write on the tables the words that were on the first tables, save the words of the everlasting covenant of the holy priesthood…..” (JST Deut 10:2)

Israel was forgiven and given another chance to live the law but the everlasting covenant of the priesthood was denied to the congregation because of their wickedness. But there was mercy, always mercy from the merciful Jehovah, and the Levitical law and priesthood was given to Aaron for the benefit of the House of Israel (“Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith”, p 60)  

Consider these powers of the priesthood to better understand the relative worthiness that is required:

“We have power to govern all things, both temporal and spiritual, both the kingdoms of the world, and the elements and storms and powers of the earth: “For God having sworn unto Enoch and unto his seed with an oath by himself; that everyone being ordained after this order and calling should have power, by faith, to break mountains, to divide the seas, to dry up waters, to turn them out of their course;

“To put at defiance the armies of nations, to divide the earth, to break every band, to stand in the presence of God; to do all things according to his will, according to his command, subdue principalities and powers; and this by the will of the Son of God which was from before the foundation of the world.” (JST Gen 14:30-31; Bruce R. McConkie, “The Ten Blessings of the Priesthood” GC October 1977)

And here is the origin of the everlasting covenant of the priesthood which “was made between three personages before the organisation of the earth, and relates to the dispensation of things to men on the earth; these personages, according to Abraham’s record, are called God the first, the Creator; God the second, the Redeemer, and God the third, the witness or Testator”. (“Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith”, p 190)

I am in no way an expert on this subject but I am in awe of the priesthood, the backbone of the Plan of Salvation: its origin and its power of creation, eternal life and resurrection. Such power in the hands of man…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: My Father's Work by Chris Brazelton)

SEEKING HIS FACE

 

I lift and I float in this vast

Universal space,

Seeking and hoping to see Your face.

Angels are near me,

They beckon and call

Ensuring I find a soft place to fall.

 

I fly in night’s dreams above

The earth below,

Seeking my heavenly home.

I think I am high but really I am low.

You meet me at dawn,

In sacred prayer we have often met,

I hear You say:

My Beloved, it is not time yet.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)

TO SEE HIS FACE

 

“We have the power – and it is our privilege – so to live, that becoming pure in heart, we shall see the face of God while we yet dwell as mortals in a world of sin and sorrow. This is the crowning blessing of mortality. It is offered by that God who is no respecter of persons to all the faithful in his kingdom.” (Bruce R. McConkie, In CR Oct 1977, p 52 or Ensign Nov 1977 p 34)

“We read that Abraham talked with God face to face, and he also talked with Enoch and others. The modern world, however, will have none of it and have rejected the living God for one who cannot be seen or heard. (Joseph Fielding Smith, “Answers to Gospel Questions”, 2:162-63)

The question of whether we can see God in this life would have to be one of the biggest contradictions in the scriptures, Chapter 33 of Exodus being the biggest. Verse 11 states that “the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend” yet verse 20 contradicts this by stating: “Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.” Also, Exodus 24:9-11 states that Moses and seventy of the elders of Israel saw God.

This contradiction is a classic example of mistranslation or “more likely due to the fact that a translator in more recent years did not believe that God was a Personage and therefore could not be seen. This notion has come down to us since the introduction of the Athanasian Creed in 325 A.D.” (Old Testament Student Manual Book 1 p 142)

Thankfully, Joseph Smith made many corrections to such conflicting scriptures adding clarification such as: “And no man hath seen God at any time, except he hath borne record of the Son….” (JST John 1:19) and, “No man hath seen God at any time, except them who believe….Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God….(John 6:45-46).

So a person who has seen God has to be one who believes, has to be of God and has to bear witness of such. Joseph Smith comes to mind here.

So now that we know who CAN see God, it’s important we know who CAN’T. Genesis 33:20 states that whosoever sees Him would not be able to live. Obviously that is a reference to those who do not meet the criteria for such a privilege.  And this is why:

“Christ is a glorified celestial being, and the glory of such beings is comparable to that of the sun (see D&C 76:70). The presence of Christ when He comes in His glory will be as a consuming fire. The mountains will flow down at His presence, the elements will melt with fervent heat, and the waters will boil. Even the sun will hide its face in shame (see Hebrews 12:29; D&C 133:40-44,49) (Doctrine & Covenants Student Manual p 61)

“Incident to the commencement of the millennial era, the earth will be burned. Every corruptible thing will be consumed (D&C 101:24); all the proud and they that do wickedly shall be burned as stubble (Malachi 4:1; D&C 29:9; 63:34; 64:23-25; 133:63-64); and there will be an entire separation of the righteous and the wicked (D&C 63:54).” (Bruce R. McConkie, “Mormon Doctrine” p 494)

I once had a reader question Joseph Smith’s claim that He saw God the Father and the Son. She reasoned Joseph would have been burnt alive if he truly saw such celestial beings. In my opinion, Joseph qualified to abide their glory as sure as Moses and Abraham.

It is only those who are not worthy to see God that would be consumed, even as those who will be so at Christ’s coming…..while the righteous will be transfigured to withstand His glory (see Journal of Discourses, 16:328). It’s a startling choice isn’t it? To be burnt alive or to be privileged to see the face of the Son of God. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)

THE LAW OF OBEDIENCE

 

I have heard it said that the most important of the Ten Commandments is the one you are struggling with the most. There is a lot of wisdom in that. In reality though, there are only two real commandments because they underlie all others.

The Saviour was asked during His earthly ministry which is the greatest of all the commandments. The Saviour replied: to love God and to love your neighbour….on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets (Matthew 22:37-40). If we obeyed these two commandments, there would be no need for any other and here is why:

“Any person who truly understands the implications for daily living that are part of the commandment to love God with all his heart, might, mind, and strength and to love his neighbour as himself, can function well with no additional laws. One does not need to warn a person who loves God properly about idolatry, for any act of worship not devoted to God would be naturally offensive to him.

“The prohibitions against stealing, adultery, murder, and so on are not required if a person truly loves his neighbour as himself, for to injure his neighbour in such ways would be unthinkable. But, of course, the vast majority of men fail to understand and keep these two commandments, and so the Lord has revealed many additional laws and rules to show specifically what the commandments require……. all such commandmnets do nothing more than define and support the two basic principles: all the law and the prophets are summarized in the two great commandments.”  (The Old Testament Student Manul p 186)

Moses spent 40 days on Mt Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments. Before he went he entered the children of Israel into a covenant of obedience. The covenant bound God to support, defend, and save them and the people were bound to God to fear, love, and serve him.

This covenant was written in the book of the covenant, a sacrifice was offered, half the blood was sprinkled on the people and the other half on the altar. The covenant was binding when the people proclaimed: “All that the Lord hath said will we do, and be obedient” (Exodus 24:1-7).

You can only imagine the outrage Moses felt when he descended the mountain 40 days later to find the Israelites breaking the very first command by worshipping a golden calf. It is no wonder he broke the tablets of stone containing the commandments written by the finger of the Lord (Exodus 32:19).

Historians have speculated why the people turned away from the covenant so quickly. There is no scriptural explanation for this or Aaron’s seemingly unobjected fulfilment of the camp’s request for other gods to worship (ibid v 1-5). Their idolatry was a metaphorical ‘return’ to Egypt by worshipping an Egyptian highly revered idol of a cow but their greatest sin was giving the golden calf credit for bringing them out of Egypt (ibid v 4).

The Israelites paid a heavy price for breaking the covenant. Jehovah’s punishment caused 3,000 men to be slain (ibid v 27,28). Aaron also was nearly destroyed and was saved only through Moses’ intercession in his behalf (see Deuteronomy 9:20).

And Moses? He proved he truly was a prototype of Christ. He returned to the Lord and begged for Israel’s forgiveness, and if the forgiveness was not granted, he asked the Lord to blot out his name from the book of the covenant instead as intercession for the people’s sin (ibid v 31,32). The weight this man carried on his shoulders is astounding. But not nearly as heavy as the weight of the God of Israel.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)

 

STAY FOREVER

 

“The Lord Jesus Christ extends to each of us the invitation to abide in Him. But how do we actually learn and come to abide in Him?

“The word abide denotes remaining fixed or stable and enduring without yielding. Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explained that “abiding as an action means ‘to stay’ – but to stay forever. That is the call of the gospel message to…..everyone…in the world. Come, but come to remain. Come with conviction and endurance. Come permanently, for your sake and the sake of all the generations who must follow you.”

“Thus, we abide in Christ as we are firm and steadfast in our devotion to the Redeemer and His holy purposes, in times both good and bad.”

-          Elder David A. Bednar, “Abide in Me and I in You; Therefore Walk With Me” Liahona May 2023

 

I know You are watching me

From the shadow of Your love,

Hoping I will remember You

And our celestial home above.

 

I see You beckoning

For me to rise majestic and tall

But my path is unsteady beneath me

And I seek a soft place to fall.

 

Angels are around me,

They whisper and they mourn

Spreading their wings to catch me

Wanting to take me home.

 

I want to go with them

I am tired and all alone

I yearn to feel the comfort

Of that everlasting home.

 

Yet I don’t know if I am ready,

If I have given my very all,

So I can join You in Your shadow,

The safest place to fall.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: In the Shadow of Your Wings by Daniel Gerhartz)

THE LIVING WORD

 

“For the gospel to be written in your heart, you need to know what it is and grow to understand it more fully. That means you will study it. When I say study, I mean something more than reading. For conversion you should care more about the amount of time you spend in the scriptures than about the amount you read in that time.

“I see you sometimes reading a few verses, stopping to ponder them, carefully reading the verses again, and as you think about what they mean, praying for understanding, asking questions in your mind, waiting for spiritual impressions, and writing down the impressions and insights that come so you can remember and learn more.

“Studying in this way….you will be giving place in your heart for the word of God, and He will be speaking to you. Remember Alma’s description of what it feels like: “It beginneth to enlarge my soul; yea, it beginneth to enlighten my understanding, yea, it beginneth to be delicious to me.”

“You will know that the gospel is being written in your heart, that your conversion is happening, as the word of the Lord from His prophets, past and present, feels more and more delicious to your soul.”

-          Elder D. Todd Christofferson, “When Thou Art Converted” April 2004 GC

I add my testimony to that of Alma and Elder Christofferson. I began to study the scriptures in earnest 30 years ago during the darkest time of my life. They became my lifeline……I would get lost for an hour or more every day as I pondered, searched and savoured how delicious those words became to my soul…..and in them I found more than I expected. I found the Saviour.  

In the Old Testament I saw the merciful Jehovah; in the New Testament I saw the loving Saviour; in the Book of Mormon I saw the promised Messiah; in the Doctrine and Covenants I saw the majestic Christ and in the Pearl of Great Price I saw the pre-mortal promise of salvation. I saw the whole of Him.

The scriptures are still my lifeline. It’s the place I go to whenever I want to hear Him speak……

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: Hosanna to God and the Lamb by LDS Art)

A GLORIOUS HOPE

 

“When we go out of this life, leave this body, we will desire to do many things we cannot do at all without the body. We will be seriously handicapped and we will long for the body; we will pray for early reunion with our bodies. We will know then what advantage it is to have a body….” (Melvin J. Ballard, “Crusade for Righteousness” p 213)

I have never much appreciated my body in until I entered the stage of prolonged bad health. Simple tasks became huge ordeals and successfully putting on socks came to be a triumph. I have longed to walk unassisted and to perform the simplest tasks with ease, the ones I used to take for granted.

The other day as I was struggling with my socks and its frustration, I came to understand the above quote. I could see how a spirit without a body he or she once experienced would feel without it. Indeed, we get a glimpse of that from President Joseph F. Smith’s vision of the spirit world which tells us that ‘the dead looked upon the long absence of their spirits from their bodies as a bondage’ (D&C 138:50). I began to appreciate that maybe my body is a privilege……

The other day I quoted Melvin J. Ballard who shared his conviction of our unreserved willingness to come to earth and obtain a body whether it be cripped, maimed, or deformed. I thought as I was struggling with my socks, surely those afflicted with such bodies would have regretted that choice. I know all about physical pain and limit of movement. I cannot imagine that to be my whole earthly experience.

Elder Ballard continued to express our pre-earthly knowledge of the necessity of a body for our ascension to godhood which enabled us to be centered on an eternal view rather than the sorrows and troubles of this life ("Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard, p 179). Reconciling our pre-earthly perspective and the reality of living on this side of the veil is something of a challenge though.

In his last conference talk Elder Bednar spoke about enduring to the end and he connected to it a very necessary component, that of trust. It is something that has been on my mind of late. As I considered his talk I realized that this is the key to acceptance of earthly suffering and the power to endure to the end.

I realized my willingness to trust that my life is playing out according to God’s plan for me and my trust that what is to come in next life is imperative for my existence here and now.

And my ultimate trust comes with a hope which is this: to be faithful and valiant in my testimony of Jesus whilst in mortality with ‘a hope of a glorious resurrection, through the grace of God the Father and his Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ’ (D&C 138:12-14)

Because the valleys do not

Lead to where I need to be,

You give me mountains to climb

To reach Your divinity.

 

You are so high

And my reach is so low.

To come to Your arms

I accept the mountains

That show me which way to go.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Ponder Anew by LDS Book Store)

MOMENTS OF DESPAIR

 

When I feel forsaken

In my greatest moments of despair,

I yearn to feel You near me,

I wonder if You are there.

 

I know You are watching,

And whispering for me to know:

To know your strength to conquer,

Some moments you have to face alone.

I understand, it has to be so,

I faced mine at Calvary long ago.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: In the Wilderness by Ron DiCianni)

THE FOOT OF HIS THRONE

 

I carry my cross every day to the foot of Calvary

Where You carried yours so valiantly to the top;

I wait for You there to lift me

To meet You at the foot of Your gilded throne.

 - CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Behold the Man by Simon Dewey)

THE GOD OF VICTORY

 

As the children of Israel marched toward Canaan, their magnitude and size drove fear into the nations they encountered along the way. The most warlike nation they encountered inhabited the lands of Gobolitis and Petra and were called Amalekites (the descendants of Esau).

This is what the Amalekites saw: a formidable army of strangers, which by their strength, escaped the slavery of Egypt and which needed to be crushed before they came to be prosperous and take over the cities and all their goods…..therefore they had to be destroyed. (Josephus, “Jewish Antiquities” Book 3, Chapter 2:1).

The Amalekites made two big mistakes. The first was making the wrong assumption of the Hebrews which were ill prepared for war, who had nothing and only escaped Egypt through the strength of their God. The second mistake they made was cowardly attacking the rear end of the marching Israelites killing the feeble and the faint and the weary. This did not sit well with God who commanded the Israelites to “utterly put out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven” (Exodus 17:14; The Old Testament Student Manual p 123).

This slaughter of their weak members drove incredible fear into the rest of the camp. Lucky for them they had one great advantage over all the other nations they would encounter in their sojourn. They had a living prophet among them. Moses exhorted his people to be courageous and to look upon their entire prosperity at the hands of God since they left Egypt and to believe that God will deliver them again (Josephus, "Jewish Antiquities" Book 3, 2:2).

Moses had a brilliant battle strategy: First, he appointed as the captain of the army a man of great courage, of great abilities and very serious in the worship of God, and very much like Moses who the people could have confidence in. Enter Joshua, the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim. Secondly, he directed his brother Aaron and Miriam’s husband, Hur, to stand on each side of him and uphold his hands to be a beacon of God’s power which would ensure the victory (Exodus 17:8-13)

The children of Israel won that war, terrified the neighbouring nations and enriched themselves with the spoils, having not lost one soul while those of the enemy’s army were too many to be numbered (“Jewish Antiquities” p 117).

I wasn’t going to write about this part of the Israelite’s journey but I saw something very significant in it. I saw the importance of a living prophet who represents the one who stands at the head. The Israelites could never have made it to the promised land if they did not have a prophet holding his hands up invoking the power of Him who had said:  “….and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God” (Exodus 16:12)

Never in the history of the world have we needed a living prophet as much as we do now. The spiritual battle is raging, the evil power is the greatest it has ever been. The battle ground is fierce. Our promised land awaits but we need not fear.  I offer thanks this day that we have a prophet who is willing to hold up his hands to remind us we are led by the God of victory.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)

SEEDS OF LOVE

 

I will scatter the seeds of Your love

Along humanity’s path

To feed the hungry souls

For many years;

Until each cared for soul

Will pave the trail of my happy tears.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: You Are Loved by Alex Kovych)

 

AN ETERNAL VIEW

 

"I am convinced that no soul has ever been whipped into this mortal existence; that each one of us came willingly, cheerfully, and gladly; even though we might have known that we were to inherit a body that was crippled, maimed, and deformed, still we were glad to come.....

“We knew that it meant sorrow, pain, and ultimately, death, and yet we rejoiced in the prospect to come. We saw beyond the valley of the shadow of death, with all of its pain, with all of its suffering, the grand vistas of the eternities, providing for man's eternal and endless progress, on, up and up, until we should attain unto what God is. Yet we knew that we could never ascend until we had descended and had been given a mortal tabernacle, and the union of the spirit and the body had become an accomplished fact.

“So by the attraction of it all we came gladly and willingly, for our eyes were not so much centred upon the sorrows and troubles of life as upon the grandness of that which lies beyond." (Melvin J. Ballard, "Sermons and Missionary Services of Melvin J. Ballard", p. 179)

 

Teach me dear God

to till my little plot of earth

And give me strength

To overcome the imperfections

of my mortal heart.

Teach me to look upward

And hope for the glories

That will one day be mine;

Help me to rise on wings of faith;

Lift me above valleys,

Mountains and seas

That I might forsake this world

And fly with haste to Thee.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Homecoming by Danny Hahlbohm)

A LATTER DAY ROSE

 

There is a story of faith in the Book of Mormon that touches me to my core. It is the story of Enos whose faith became ‘unshaken’ in the Lord during his lengthy prayer in the forest (Enos 1:2,11). Faith is mentioned seven times in one chapter that constitutes the book of Enos. So unshaken in his faith Enos became that the Lord told him that his desires will be granted (v 12, 15).

And this was the desire of Enos: that the record of his people be preserved and brought unto salvation of the Lamanites at a future date (v 13). The Lord informed him that his predecessors too have ‘required’ this of Him and that their faith will be honoured also and the records therefore preserved (v 18). Think about it. The Lamanites were the enemies of the prophets that prayed for their salvation.

So bound was the Lord  by the faith of these righteous men that he made a covenant with Enos as to the fulfilment of His request (v 16) and confirmed this in our dispensation: “But before the great day of the Lord shall come, Jacob shall flourish in the wilderness, and the Lamanites shall blossom as the rose” (D&C 49;24).

“The Lamanites must rise again in dignity and strength to fully join their brethren and sisters of the household of God in carrying forth his work in preparation for that day when the Lord Jesus Christ will return to lead his people, when the Millenium will be ushered in, when the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory and its lands be united and become one land.” (Spencer W. Kimball, “Our Paths Have Met Again”, Ensign Dec 1975, pp 5,7)

President Kimball went on to say that ‘the remnant of the house of Joseph’, meaning the Lamanites, will be built upon the land of America which is their inheritance. The Book of Mormon gives us more of an insight into the role they will play in our day.

When the Saviour visited the Americas post resurrection He spoke of the immense pride, lyings, deceits, hypocrisy, murders and priestcrafts, whoredoms and secret abominations of the Gentiles that will exist in the land prior to His return. He made it clear that if they do not repent then ‘the remnant of Joseph’ will rise to clear the land of its wickedness ‘as a lion among the beasts of the forest’ (3 Nephi 16:10; 20:15-17).

The Saviour also stated that after the cleansing of the wicked, the Lamanites will assist in building of the New Jerusalem, following which He would personally supervise their conversion and gathering (3 Nephi 21:23-26; see also “Prophecy and Modern Times” by Clean Skousen p 38 and President Marion G. Romney, BYU Speeches of the Year 1972)

Alma made it clear that “there are many promises which are extended to the Lamanites for it is because of the traditions of their fathers that caused them to remain in their state of ignorance; therefore the Lord will be merciful unto them…..and they will be brought to believe in his word….and many will be saved for the Lord will be merciful unto all who call on his name” (Alma 9:16)

I see the Saviour so clearly in the concept of the House of Israel. His mercy and forgiveness is undeniable towards this group of people whom He has chosen as His despite their mortal imperfections and inadequacies. And the promises of gathering of all the tribes from the four quarters of the earth will never cease until He fulfils ‘the covenant which the Father hath made unto all the people of the House of Israel’ (3 Nephi 16:5)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Christ in the Land of Bountiful by Simon Dewey)

 

 

THE GLORIOUS GOD OF ISRAEL

 

 

It is estimated by historians that the total number of the children of Israel who left Egypt would have been close to 2 million. That number would have increased over the 40 years of journeying. Just imagine people’s struggle with this ongoing travel and its associated frustrations, fears and doubts for 40 years. It’s like a camping trip from hell!

Imagine setting up tents and then tearing them down to continue from one point of distance to another and doing that for 40 years. Now imagine running out of food and water along the way and having to fight off the people who saw you as a threat to their land.

We who live in an age of sophisticated transportation could never relate to reaching any destination on foot. Jehovah instructed Moses the congregation should march in groups of 4, with each group consisting of 3 tribes, on the west, south, east and north surrounding the tabernacle with Levites who were consecrated to the service of caring for the tabernacle and priesthood ordinances within, to be in the middle.

The places of honour, at the head and immediately following the tabernacle and the Levites were held by Judah and Ephraim (Numbers 2). These were the choice tribes who presided over the two kingdoms in the promised land. Judah, because Christ was to come from that line and Ephraim, because He is God’s firstborn:”…for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn” (Jeremiah 31:9).

It was an eleven-day journey from Mt Sinai to the promised land but because of their rebellions that journey became 40 years of wandering (Clarke, “Bible Commentary” 1:737). Years ago when I was studying this, I came to the conclusion that the children of Israel were very spiritually immature. Their constant complaining and murmurings seemed like unnecessary faith defeating melt downs. Now that I have lived a life-time experiencing hardship, I have compassion for what they went through. I who abhor camping would not have lasted two days in such a situation.

Imagine being in charge of this whole operation.  No wonder Moses exclaimed: I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me!” (Numbers 11:14). But Moses did bear it because the God of Israel sent him Jethro, his father-in-law who taught him about delegation (Exodus 18:13-27). And that was not the only help He gave.

Jehovah also travelled with His chosen people (Numbers 9;21-23; 10:34; Psalm 78:14); sustained them with provisions; preserved their health and even the clothes upon their backs (Deuteronomy 8:4). He was there throughout the whole difficult experience refining them to become after 430 years in slavery, ‘a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people’ who could ‘show forth the praises of him who hath called them out of darkness into his marvellous light’ (1 Peter 2:9)

This life is like a wilderness through which we must pass to get home. I have often asked myself why it has to be this hard. The answer is the same for us as it was for the children of Israel: “…and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God” (Exodus 16:12)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Artist Unknown)

 

 

 

TO THE END

 

“Before you joined this Church you stood on neutral ground. When the gospel was preached, good and evil were set before you. You could choose either or neither. There were two opposite masters inviting you to serve them. When you joined this Church you enlisted to serve God. When you did that, you left the neutral ground, and you never can go back on to it. Should you forsake the Master you enlisted to serve, it will be by the instigation of the evil one, and you will follow his dictation and be his servant.”

-          “Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith” [2007], 324)

“The Lord has made it clear that all who wish to be saved must endure to the end in righteousness (see Ezekiel 18:24,27; Matthew 10:22; Mosiah 4:30; 3 Nephi 15:9, 27:17; D&C 18:22; 53:7; 82:7)

“President Spencer W. Kimball taught: “having received the necessary saving ordinances – baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, temple ordinances and sealings – one must live the covenants made. He must endure in faith. No matter how brilliant was the service rendered by the bishop of stake president or other person, if he falters later in his life and fails to live righteously ‘to the end’ the good works he did all stand in jeopardy.”  (“Miracle of Forgiveness” p 121)

How deep He buried the truth in my soul

Long before this body of clay

Began the journey below!

 

He has watered the seed of my faith

And cleared my garden of weeds of gloom

He is the Gardener

Who tenderly watches my soul’s

everlasting bloom.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Garden Portrait by LDS Art) 

SONGS OF EVERLASTING JOY

 

Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, and spake saying, I will sing unto the Lord; for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

The Lord is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation: my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

The Lord is a man of war: the Lord is his name.

Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.

Thy right hand, O Lord is become glorious in power, thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.

Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?

Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them.

Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.

-          Exodus 15:1-18

“Regardless of where the Ten Tribes are, it will require a miracle to bring them forth. It will be of greater magnitude than the dividing of the Red Sea in the days of Israel’s Exodus. Mountains, ice and a continent of water will stand between the Ten Tribes and the land of Zion when they first appear, but they will ‘smite the rocks, and the ice shall flow down at their presence’ (D&C 133:26). As they come to the great body of water, dry land will be cast up in the midst of it so that a mighty highway will spread before them (ibid v 27; Isaiah 11:16).” (Cleaon Skousen, “Prophecy and Modern Times” p 56)

And the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence.

And there shall they fall down and be crowned with glory, even in Zion, by the hands of the servants of the Lord, even the children of Ephraim.

And they shall be filled with songs of everlasting joy.

(D&C 133:31-33

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)

HE WHO RESCUES

 

“So the Hebrews went out of Egypt, while the Egyptians wept, and repented that they had treated them so harshly…..but the Egyptians didn’t weep for long and…’soon repented that the Hebrews were gone; and the king also was mightily concerned that this had been procured by the magic arts of Moses; so they resolved to go after them.”

-           (Josephus, “Jewish Antiquities” 15:1, The New Complete Works of Josephus p 107)

The number of Egyptians that pursued the children of Israel was overwhelming and terrifying:six

hundred chariots, fifty thousand horsemen, and two hundred thousand footmen, all armed (ibid page 107; Exodus 14:7).

The terrifying appearance of the Egyptian army when they found the Hebrews encamping by the Red Sea, triggered their often-repeated accusations against Moses during their travels to the promised land (Exodus 14:12. Josephus claims they attempted to stone him several times.

Moses, however, would not be deterred by the threat of his life and reasoned with people that God would not lead them out of Egypt to abandon them and if He so please He can make plain ground out of the mountains that were behind them and dry land out of the sea that was before them. He therefore prayed to God for their deliverance:

“You are not ignorant, O Lord, that it is beyond human strength and human contrivance to avoid the difficulties we are now under….and we have recourse only to that hope we have in you….therefore manifest your power to us….the sea is yours, the mountains also…..these mountains will open themselves if you command them, and the sea also, if you command it, will become dry land.” (Josephus, “Jewish Antiquities” 16:1, p 109)

Moses closed his supplication to God by saying that they can even escape by ‘flight through the air, if He should determine that they should have that way of salvation’. Can you imagine God not acting upon such a prayer of faith? It is unthinkable. I’ve learnt something from Moses….without faith, prayer becomes just words.

Jehovah responded to Moses’ faith and “caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided…and the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground….and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses.” (Exodus 14:21,22,31)

If you are in bondage to the adversary, in any way, know this. He will not let you go easily and when you try to escape he will come after you. But there is one mightier than he. He will ensure your escape and honour your faith. Hope, trust, believe…..He is the deliverer of your soul, may glory be His forever more.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: I Was There by Danny Hahlbohm)