THE SHIELD OF CHRIST

 

Christ Shields Me by Greg Collins

“Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free….is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house?

“Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health hall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the Lord shall be thy rereward. “ (Isaiah 58:6-8)

“Rereward is an older word meaning “rear guard”. The Hebrew word asaph has the root meaning of  “to gather” and, as used in Isaiah 58:8, “it is applied to the gathering up of the scattered rear of an army, or the keeping it from straggling, and defending it from the attacks of an enemy” (William Wilson, Old Testament Word Studies, s.v. “rereward”.)

“A better translation would be “the glory of Jehovah will gather thee, or keep thee together, i.e. be thy rear-guard” (C.F. Keil and F. Delitzsch, Commentary on the Old Testament, 7:2:390)

“When Israel is diligent in the performance of works of compassionate love, it is like an army on the march or travelling caravan, for which righteousness clears and shows the way as being the most appropriate gift of God, and whose rear is closed by the glory of God, which so conducts it to its goal that not one is left behind” (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 7:2:390)

PROMISES OF FASTING (Isaiah 58:8-12):

·         You shall have light within, physical health, righteousness and the Lord will answer you and His glory will gather you;

·         God’s providence in time of lack (satisfy thy soul in draught);

·         Physical health (Make fat thy bones – as in marrow in the bones that manufactures blood);

·         Inspiration and wisdom (like a spring of water whose waters fail not);

·         Strength and foundation for posterity and restoration of others (raise up the foundations of many generations and be a restorer of paths to dwell in)

When fasting has genuine spiritual purpose, its power breaks the bands of wickedness, sets free the spiritually oppressed, and provides bread for the hungry and covering for the naked Isaiah 58:6,7).  Fasting without spiritual motivation only engenders discomfort and irritability (Isaiah 58:4b – footnote)

“Fasting cures disease, dries up bodily tumours, puts demons to flight, gets rid of impure thoughts, makes the mind clearer, the heart purer, and the body sanctified, and raises man to the throne of God.”  (Athenaeus, Greek Physician)

Jesus fasted 40 days: Matthew 4:2

Moses fasted 40 days twice: Deuteronomy 9:9,18,25

Elijah fasted 40 days: 1 Kings 19:8

Esther fasted 3 days: Esther 4:16

Paul fasted 3 days: Acts 9:9

Alma Senior fasted 2 days and two nights: Mosiah 27:23

Alma the Son of Alma fasted 3 days: Alma 36:16

“Mortals can never attain the unity with Deity that it is their privilege to gain without fasting and prayer.” ( Bruce R. McConkie, Mortal Messiah Book 2, p 59)

“Then shalt thou call, and the Lord shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am….” (Isaiah 58:6-8)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

THE GIFT OF MERCY

 

(Art: The Mockery of Christ by Karl Heinrich Bloch 1880)

Some years ago I read a book by Hugh Nibley titled “Approaching Zion” where he talked at length about the gifts of God that have been given us. It helped me see how the Atonement of Jesus Christ is a gift that cannot be earned. A gift is something that has already been bought with a price, therefore it cannot be re-purchased. A gift is something that is given from the good will of a giver.

The gift of the Atonement is given through grace and even though grace asks for devotion and a broken heart and a contrite spirit of the recipient, it does not ask for perfection. This concept is very transparent on Christmas morning when we give gifts to our children who are not perfect. Their misdemeanours live on but the love and the good will from the giver casts a shadow called a forgiveness by the gift that is given.

I learnt recently that mercy, born of the Atonement, is a gift too. We often read scriptures and take for granted all that is promised us and fail to see that these gifts are not given merely for the asking.

I have for a while now been praying for mercy regarding my illness. I have wanted a healing. There have been days when I felt the absence of it acutely and I am ashamed to admit with that absence came disbelief of God’s love. I could simply not understand it. I thought I qualified even just for a fraction of the ample mercy we are told is ever at the Saviour’s disposal to give. And this is a mistake. If something is there and it is promised, we tend to think we are entitled to it.

It was given to me to see clearly that mercy cannot be given on demand, otherwise it is not mercy. Mercy comes from the one who is merciful to give. It cannot be manipulated, demanded, expected, or even earned. It comes from the Saviour’s merciful heart and therefore it comes on His terms. Saviour’s mercy is a gift that should be trusted in but when and how it is offered is up to Him. 

Because mercy is usually given as a form of relief, if that relief was given us prematurely, it could jeopardize our growth and learning. In my reflection, I asked myself what it is that I am supposed to learn through my suffering. I could see clearly how suffering has not yet produced in me the tolerance that I lacked. Some days I have been highly reactionary to my pain to the point of causing offence to those who try to help me. As I realized this, the Saviour’s example of forbearance and self-control flooded my mind and I knew this suffering was my opportunity to become more Christ-like.

I recalled how He hung on the cross with all the power at His fingertips to get down from the cross but He stayed there listening to those who passed by railing on him, wagging their heads, and saying: “Thou that destroyest the temple and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross…..He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God. The thieves also, which were crucified with him, cast the same in his teeth.” (see Matthew 27:39-44; Mark 15:29-32; Luke 23:34-39).

It has puzzled me why John never did not speak of this in his written record.  His only comment was that the importance of the scriptures regarding Christ should be fulfilled that we might believe (John 19:35,36). Perhaps He understood the Saviour more than all the others. Perhaps he understood His mercy as promised through Isaiah, which was to come for the branch of Israel who would crucify Him and revile Him and forsake Him to worship other gods:

“For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

“For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee.”    (Isaiah 54:7,8,10)

This mercy has been over 2,000 years in coming but it is coming…..when the Giver comes and sees fit to deliver it. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

THE KING OF GLORY

Behold He Comes by Danny Hahlbohm

“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.

“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:6,7)

The second part of the Messianic Hope promises the “King of Glory”, the prophecy of which foretells the Second Coming of Christ when He will subdue all enemies under His feet; put down all kingdoms, will sit on the throne of David, and ‘the government shall be upon his shoulder’ (Isaiah 9:6). His second advent will bring in one thousand years of His Millennial reign.  

The period of the Millenium will be so glorious it will overshadow the previous six thousand years of the history of this earth. There will be no sorrow, sickness, crime or death; all things will become new, the enmity between man and beast will cease, the knowledge of the Lord shall flood the earth and all will be revealed, even how the earth was made (D&C 101:23-34), Satan will be bound so he can tempt no man (D&C 101:28) and the pure language of Adam will be restored so that we can all serve Him ‘with one consent’ (Zephaniah 3:9).

And here is something brilliant. When we think of the ‘Messianic prophecies’, we usually think of the prophets and the scriptures, but in truth, every believer in Christ has a part in these prophecies.

“Every proper and perfect prayer uttered by a righteous man, woman, or child, from the day Adam stepped through Eden’s portals into his lone and dreary habitation, to the day the angelic hosts acclaimed the birth of God’s own Son, was in fact a Messianic prophecy.

“The mere saying, with sincerity and understanding, of the words of the prayer itself constituted a Messianic affirmation…..thus witnessing that they knew that salvation came through Him and His atoning blood.

“Similarly, every true prayer today is a reaffirmation that Jesus is the Lord and that through His blood the believing saints are redeemed.

“And so with every baptism, every priesthood ordination, every patriarchal blessing, every act of administering to the sick, every divine ordinance or performance ordained of God, every sacrifice, symbolism, and similitude; all that God ever gave to His people – all was ordained and established in such a way as to testify of His Son and center the faith of believing people in Him and in the redemption He was foreordained to make.

“The words of those who have spoken of Christ since He lived upon this earth, and believed in His coming, are ‘Messianic testimonies’……in fulfilment of the prophecies of His birth and His Second Coming..”  (Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah, 26,27

And so every testimony we bear of Christ, every prayer we utter, and every act done in His name, affirms that Christ lived and that He will return. Each time we do so, we confirm the fulfilment of the Messianic Prophecy of His birth and the Messianic Hope of His Second Coming. Every man, woman and child who believes and lives with expectation of salvation through His name, has the power of this prophecy. If you are a believer, this is Christ’s promise to you:

“In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee….No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.” (see Isaiah 54:12-17)

One day when You return

from your glorious throne

In Millenial splendour

Your power to display;

I will kneel and confess Your greatness;

I will join the heavenly throng in song,

And I will sorrow for the lost

For whom You suffered for so long.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

 

A CALL TO ZION

 

Millenium The Long Awaited Hour by Charlotte Noelle Pedersen

I call Chapter 51 of Isaiah ‘a call to Zion’. This chapter is specifically directed to ‘the redeemed’ of the last days as is thus addressed:

“Hearken unto me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the Lord… (v 1);

“Hearken unto me, my people…..(v 4);

“Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my law.. (v 7)

The ‘redeemed of the Lord’ are those who are of the Abrahamic covenant ‘as in the ancient days, in the generations of old’ (v 1,9). They are called to ‘look unto Abraham your father and unto Sarah that bare you, the rock from whence you are hewn” (v 1,2). Not only is this a reference to our ancient parents of the covenant because they were righteous and had set the path of example but because they provided the path to the seeking of Zion which they themselves were devoted to :

“Abraham’s diligence in seeking God is mentioned in the book of Abraham at the very point of his departure from Haran when he will, a Hebrews say, go looking for the city with foundations (Abraham 2:12). It is the same city, as scholars point out, that is also referred to in the next chapter of Hebrews: “But ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn” (Heb 12:22-23).

“When similar language is used in latter-day scripture, it describes the people of Enoch. Those attaining celestial glory are said to “come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all. These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn” (D&C 76:66-67). Clearly Abraham was seeking Enoch’s city of Zion.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 805)

That we are to prepare to live a terrestrial life of the Millenial reign is evident by Isaiah 51:11 where he says that ‘sorrow and mourning shall flee away and everlasting joy shall be upon our heads’ (Isaiah 51:11). These are the conditions of the Millenium. Right now we are in a telestial world. The Millenium will be a terrestrial existence. It will be a lifestyle that will prepare the most righteous for a celestial life, a life with God the Father. I am more convinced of it when I look at the City of Enoch and its ascension to God.

There is a pattern that we will follow during the Millenium to prepare us for the celestial life with the Father,  Eternal God, and this is it. The golden age of the City of Enoch is the blueprint of New Jerusalem, the modern day Millenial Zion upon the American continent. Enoch’s city had another name: the City of Holiness (Moses 7:19). There is only one reason why this city was called the City of Holiness and that’s because ‘the Lord came and dwelt with his people’ and ‘dwelt in the midst of Zion  (Moses 7:16;69). It was He who was the embodiment of holiness and not its people. Much like He will be in New Jerusalem during the Millenium.

When the Saviour comes and resides in New Jerusalem, “the need will disappear for the sun and the moon to give light to God’s covenant people. The Lord Himself will be an everlasting light…and all the city will be lighted up by the glory of His presence….” (Orson Pratt, in “Journal of Discourses”, 14:355-56; see also D&C 133:57-58)

Because the Saviour was there with the people of Enoch, they ‘were of one heart and one mind and dwelt in righteousness and there was no poor among them’ (v 18). This description tells us one thing: because the citizens of Zion were true followers of Christ, they were endowed with His pure love.

Without the pure love of Christ we can never become citizens of Celestial Kingdom. A Zion life-style prepares us for this eventuality. And here is something we need to know. This pure love is unique only to Christ. It is solely His kind of love. We do not possess it and neither are we capable of developing it. His pure love is an endowment to those who love Him and follow Him (Moroni 7:48). That’s the good news.

It took Enoch’s city 365 years of ‘walking with the Saviour’ to reach the state of holiness which ‘lifted them up, even into the bosom of the Father and of the Son of Man’ (Moses 7:24,69). Much like 1,000 Millenial years will prepare us for the same.

When the Saviour returns, those who are spared will be those who are only ‘more’ righteous than those who will not be spared, like the Nephites of old when he appeared to them after His resurrection (3 Nephi 9:13). There will be no perfect people on earth when He comes. Perfection only comes in and through Him. The Saviour will live with His saints upon this earth for a thousand years to perfect them through His grace and endow them with His pure love in preparation for the celestial realm.

When the Saviour returns, Enoch’s city will return with Him to live with Zion, the New Jerusalem (Moses 7:62). This is us. They will meet us there and “we will fall upon their necks, and they shall fall upon our necks, and we will kiss each other” (Moses 7:63)….it will be a meeting of hearts knit together with the pure love of Christ. The Saviour is at the door….the Millennium imminent. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW

Second Coming by Jon McNaughton

I am often enthralled with the way the Saviour proclaims His godhood in the scriptures with such confidence and self-assurance. Imagine if He was less than sure of His attributes and was reluctant to tell us just how perfect He is for fear of sounding proud…He could never say: “there is no God beside me; a just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me. (Isaiah 44:21)

How could we possibly exercise faith in a God who wasn’t sure of himself and that we did not know? How could we ever put to a test His promises and become recipients of His grace and salvation in such ignorance?  

Through my study of the scriptures I have counted 18 of Christ’s characteristics, the most prominent of which for me, have been ones of power and mercy. One year whilst studying the Doctrine and Covenants, I came to understand one of His virtues which I had not paid much attention to before. It was the virtue of humility.

This is the scripture which made me reflect on the extraordinary nature of His character as a God: “Therefore, I command you to build a house unto me, for the gathering together of my saints, that they may worship me” (D&C 115:8). Can you imagine the amount of humility it would require saying such a thing for a God of perfect attributes and completely devoid of pride? It would have to be someone who knows exactly who he is, is confident in that knowledge and most of all, has a purity of spirit and heart. Compare this to Lucifer’s pride when he demanded to be worshipped by Moses and his tantrum and melt-down when he couldn’t get his way (Moses 4:1-4; 1:16-22).

It amazes me that someone so powerful who calls himself “the king of heaven”, who can create worlds and annihilate them by the power of His word can be so humble (2 Nephi 10:14; Helaman 12:9-17; D&C 63:4; Isaiah 11:4). This is Christ, the Beloved Son, the Saviour of the world. This quality of humility is what made it possible for Him to divest himself of His glory, leave His throne and condescend to be born to a lowly life: in a stable, a carpenter, willing to be subjected to ridicule and unacceptance. I cannot imagine Lucifer, as proud as he is, lowering himself to such a life.

You might say the Saviour experienced mortal life at ‘ground zero’. And in doing so he ‘descended below all things that he might comprehend all things’ (D&C 88:6). What things? Our difficulties, our sorrows, our sins, our imperfections, our sufferings, our inabilities, our mortal weakness; the ultimate comprehension coming through the Atonement where He came to understand what it is like to be you and me.

Imagine a God leaving His exalted throne and all that comes with it, to be rejected, spat upon, scourged, reviled and crucified. Imagine the humility it would take to subject yourself to all that, despite the power within your grasp....and all this for the sake of someone else and not yourself. Is this not a God to reckon with?? One who could in all honesty say: “To whom will ye liken me, and make me equal and compare me, that we may be like?” (Isaiah  46;5). There is no comparison to anything or anyone within the realm of idolatry for such an attempt because there is no other power, goodness, perfection and ultimate love and mercy but in Christ.

And this is the greatest surety of His being as our God and our Redeemer: “I have sworn by myself, the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall swear. Surely, shall one say, in the Lord have I righteousness and strength; even to him shall men come; and all that are incensed against him shall be ashamed.” (Isaiah 45:23).

There will come a day when all the earth shall kneel before Him and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is the Lord, that there is no one beside Him and that His judgements are just because of His mercy, love, long suffering, patience, humility, meekness, wisdom, tolerance, forgiveness and power (Romans 14:11; Mosiah 27:31; D&C 76:110; 88:104). In the words of Elder Neal A. Maxwell:

“Everyone needs to accept the reality of Christ’s return in majesty and power before that event occurs; for, as C.S. Lewis put it, it will do men little good to kneel down when it is no longer possible to stand up, for when the “Author of the play comes on stage, the play is over!”

 

 When amidst the clouds of glory

You appear on Your trusted steed,

Our heads will bow,

Our knees will bend,

Our tongues be loosed to confess,

Your Sonship and Your Kingship,

Worlds without end.

 

-     Cathryne Allen 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

STEWARDSHIP

Worlds Without Number by Greg Olsen

I was born and raised in Croatia. I come from generations of poor peasants who lived under the feudal system and socialism. They never owned the land that they worked and produced on. Under both regimes, the land belonged to either the local aristocracy or the government. They worked for their survival and not for riches. They were not owners but stewards.

Today we, in the free world, get possessive of everything we produce through the workmanship of our hands and the sweat of our brows and we fail to recognise that we do so on borrowed land and borrowed time. In doing this we fail to acknowledge a greater power than us and pride fills us with misguided self-importance and wrongful ownership.  Isaiah put this in proper perspective when he reminded us who the real owner is of everything we produce here:

“I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded.” (Isaiah 45:12).

When we recognise and acknowledge the Creator of this earth, what we once considered ownership becomes our ‘stewardship’. We come to see the rightful owner. Consider the confirmation of this truth through modern day revelation:

“For it is expedient that I, the Lord, should make every man accountable, as a steward over earthly blessings, which I have made and prepared for my creatures. I, the Lord, stretched out the heavens, and built the earth, my very handiwork; and all things therein are mine.” (D&C 104:13,14). And then the warning: “And let not any among you say that it is his own; for it shall not be called his, nor any part of it.” (v 70)

It astounds me how much crime and fraud is rampant in our society because of selfishness, greed and obsession over property that is not even ours. Another crime being committed is the exploitation of the planet earth we live on. When one day we come to understand that all we have here belongs to God, these sins will cease. This will be the condition we will live in during the Millenium.

In April 1982, the LDS scholar and professor of BYU, Hugh Nibley, gave an excellent talk entitled “Work We Must, but the Lunch is Free”. It highlights perfectly how our attitude of ‘ownership’ as opposed to ‘stewardship’ derails us from our true purpose for which we have been sent here:

“We have been permitted to come here to go to school, to acquire certain knowledge and take a number of tests to prepare us for greater things hereafter. This whole life, in fact, is a “state of probation” (2 Nephi 2:21). While we are at school our generous patron has provided us with all the necessities of living that we will need to carry us through. Imagine, then, that at the end of the first school year your kind benefactor pays the school a visit. He meets you and asks you how you are doing. “Oh,” you say, “I am doing very well, thanks to your bounty.”

“Are you studying a lot?” “Yes, I am making good progress.” “What subjects are you studying?” “Oh, I am studying courses in how to get more lunch.” “You study that? All the time?” “Yes. I thought of studying some other subjects. Indeed I would love to study them – some of them are so fascinating! – but after all it’s the bread-and-butter courses that count. This is the real world, you know. There is no free lunch.” “But my dear boy, I’m providing you with that right now.” “Yes, for the time being, and I am grateful – but my purpose in life is to get more and better lunches; I want to go right to the top – the executive suite, the Marriott lunch.” (Hugh Nibley, Approaching Zion, p 211)

Now consider the imposter who derails us from our purpose and convinces us that the toil of our hands to procure more lunch is our primary purpose. This imposter has been playing at being an employer since the days of Adam and Eve and in turn us, their posterity, by trying to convince us to work for him:

“The first employer offers us lunch, and since lunch is something everybody must have, he is in a powerful position to bargain. He explains [to Adam and Eve] that this glorious earth is his private estate, that it all belongs to him to the ends thereof, in particular he owns the mineral rights and the media of exchange, by the control of which he enjoys the willing co-operation of the military, ecclesiastical, and political establishments, and rules with magnificent uproar.

“He keeps everything under tight control, though, for all the blood and horror – nobody makes any trouble in his world from the rivers to the ends thereof….. for he claims to be the God of this world, and the Lord himself grants him the title of Prince of this World. All who are not working for him on his estate he charges with trespassing…..

“To have merely sufficient for your needs, however, is not what he has in mind – that would be the equivalent of the free lunch, lamely ignoring the endless possibilities for acquiring power and gain that the place offers; this developer has a vision of unlimited sweep and power – “You can have anything in this world for money!” Beginning, of course, with lunch. Because money is the only thing that will get you lunch – and since everybody must have lunch, that is the secret of his control.”  (ibid p 209)

If we do not allow the God of heaven and earth to direct our course in this life, His enemy will. The adversary will do anything he can to convince us that this is his world and while we are in it, we belong to him and his values. He is not the creator, nor the owner, he is the steward of deception.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

 

 

TRUSTING HIM

 

Portrait of Christ by Walter Rane

Besides His repeated declaration to Israel that He is God and that there is ‘none else’, the Saviour spoke a lot about himself and what He is like. The scriptures are replete with statements like: “I the Lord speak righteousness, I declare things that are right” (Isaiah 45:19). He also often speaks, throughout the scriptures, of His power, and the wonderful works He has done such as: “I have made the earth, and crated man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded” (Isaiah 45:12).

When He came to earth, He proclaimed Himself as the ‘seven I AM’s, as in the Gospel of John: I am the bread of life (6:31,51); I am the light of the world (8:12); I am the door of the sheep (10:7,9); I am the good shepherd (10:11,14); I am the resurrection and life (11:25); I am the way, the truth and the life (14:6); I am the true vine (15:1-5).

And there is more. He is: THE CREATOR (Helaman 14:12; Moses 1:33; 2:1); THE MEDIATOR (2 Nephi 2:9; D&C 76:69; JST 1 Timothy 2:4; 1 Timothy 2:5); THE ADVOCATE (1 John 2:1; D&C 45:3; 110:4); THE REDEEMER (2 Nephi 2:26); THE GATEKEEPER (2 Nephi 9:41; Mormon 6:17); THE AUTHOR AND FINISHER OF OUR FAITH (Moroni 6:4); MESSENGER OF THE COVENANT (3 Nephi 15:23); THE SAVIOUR (Isaiah 45:15, 20);  THE JUDGE (John 5:22, 30).

Sometimes I think we get rather indifferent by repeatedly reading the scriptures without giving a thought to their deeper meaning and we miss the almost frantic way He is trying to teach us who He is and why we should have no other gods beside Him. Do we really understand His character by these definitions and the bigger question is, do we trust Him?

I once had an experience where, despite all my diligent study of the scriptures for many years,  I was finding it difficult to trust the Saviour concerning a particular matter. I revised all the particulars I had collected over the years about His character as cited above but what stood out to me was one very basic truth….I remembered that He being a God, could not lie. Being a God of truth, it is not in Him to ever utter a lie. I went searching for scriptures that said this directly and had some results: Titus 1:2 says, “God that cannot lie”; Hebrews 6:18 says, “it was impossible for God to lie”; Ether 3:12 says, “Thou art a God of truth, and canst not lie”; and Enos 1:6 says, “God could not lie”.

Why is His integrity important for us to know? Because God cannot lie, He can make promises that challenge our trust in Him:  “who am I saith the Lord, that have promised and have not fulfilled (D&C 58:31). This means, if a promise was made and not fulfilled, we should be very careful when we assess the reason why.

I often hear members of the Church who pay tithing casually say: “there is never enough money, we can’t afford it, we are just scraping by.” When we say things like this, we are affirming that tithing is just another bill. Our negative talk negates the faith and trust that we should be expressing first and foremost in the principle which brings returns.

Another common saying I have noticed among faithful saints is this:  ’I’ll never make it. I am just not good enough.”  This is, in my opinion, a sin. It denies the power of the Atonement and the Saviour’ s ability to redeem us and forgive us of our humanity. If we are faithful and devoted to Him and His laws, doing our best and striving for repentance, we are good enough to qualify for His saving grace. The Lord looks at the total and complete person including the desires and goodness of our hearts as well as our deeds. There is no sin bigger than the Atonement except the denial of the Holy Ghost (Matthew 12:31,32)

One last thing. The biggest proof we have that Christ the Saviour, our God, is a man of infallible integrity and can be trusted beyond reason, is His Atonement. The Atonement performed in mortality was in actuality just a formality. We could draw upon its blessings and power in pre-existence as if it had already happened. Hence, we could be born innocent as it covered our pre-mortal sins:

“Over long eons of time in the premortal realm he proved faithful and dependable and honourable in every commitment, every responsibility, and every charge. The scriptures tell us that “from eternity to eternity he is the same (D&C 76:4). He never deviated from the mark, never slacked in his performance, never shrank from his word. He kept every command with exactness; he discharged every duty with precision; he was “not slack concerning his promise” (2 Peter 3:9).

“His promises were “immutable and unchangeable” (D&C 104:2). As a result, his spiritual credit was rapidly escalating until it was pure gold, even infinite in value. That is why the laws of justice could recognize the benefits of the Atonement before the purchase price was ever paid, because his promise, his pledge, his credit was “good for it”, and everyone who honoured their first estate knew it.

“It was not only when he appeared that he voluntarily laid down his life, but he voluntarily laid down his life from the very day the world came into being. Then he came forth in order to take it, since it had been given as a pledge. Based on that pledge or covenant we had faith in him. Based on that covenant the Father could promise remission of sins prior to the atoning sacrifice because he ‘knew’ his Son would not fail. The issue was not that he could not break his covenant, but rather, that he would not.”   

(Tad. R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p 80) 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

SPIRITUAL ALIGNMENT

 

Brigham City Temple by Brent Borup

There would have to be no greater sorrow for Jehovah, the God of Israel, than to see His people whom He had chosen turn to idolatry and this after He had delivered them from bondage, cared for them, watched over them, blessed them with a land of their own and given them the grandeur of Jerusalem. To replace the one and only true God who could do all that with gods of metal and wood was unconscionable.

“With great irony, Isaiah brought out the inconsistency of those who work wood and metal, use it for firewood and other mundane things, but fashion idols from the same material and then expect those idols to show forth great power and answer their prayers. Such idolatry precipitates in man “a deceived heart” that has turned him aside” (Isaiah 44:20), or in other words, that has such a negative effect as to cause him to lose his soul.” (Old Testament Student Manual 1 Kings – Malachi, 185)

Yet despite such ludicrous practice and departure from worship of the one true God, Jehovah showed utmost mercy to the undeserving people He called ‘his witnesses’:

“Fear not, O Jacob, my servant whom I have chosen….I will pour my spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine offspring….Thus saith the Lord the King of Israel: I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God….Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? Ye are even my witnesses. Is there a God beside me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any”  (Isaiah 44:2-8)

It makes you want to weep, does it not???? And then, even forgiveness:

“Remember O Jacob and Israel; for thou art my servant: I have formed thee; thou art my servant: O Israel, thou shalt not be forgotten of me. I have blotted out, as a thick cloud, thy transgressions; and, as a cloud, thy sins; return unto me; for I have redeemed thee.” (Isaiah 44: 21, 22)

And then redemption and spiritual re-alignment….in the name of Cyrus, the Great…. Who Isaiah prophesied of 140 years before his birth, and whose coming to release the Jews from Babylon after 70 years of bondage that was  prophesied by Jeremiah (Jeremiah 25:11,12; 29:10,14).

Cyrus, the King of Persia, conquered Babylon in 539 B.C., and inherited the exiled Jews. He was raised for such a purpose by Jehovah himself, who called him ‘my shepherd’ and ‘my anointed’ (Isaiah 44:28; 45:1-4).

The military conquests of Cyrus were nothing short of remarkable. Empires virtually fell into his hands and by the time he reached Babylon, he was considered a liberator and not a conqueror. The citizens of Babylon welcomed him with open arms because of his intended reforms that would make life better and easier for the common man. Babylon that was a fortress to be reckoned with was overthrown in one night as the city opened its gates to him without a battle and this is why:

“Cyrus was a born ruler of men. He inaugurated a new policy in the treatment of conquered peoples. Instead of tyrannizing over them and holding them in subjection by brute force, he treated his subjects with consideration and won them as his friends. He was particularly considerate of the religions of conquered peoples. The effect of this policy was to weld his subjects to him in a loyalty which made his reign an era of peace.” (Elmer W.K. Mould, Essentials of Bible History, pp 348-49)

Numerous commentators have denied that Isaiah named Cyrus as the liberator of the Jews so many years before he appeared. They have argued that his name was added to Isaiah’s prophecy after his conquest of Babylon and the help he gave to the Jewish nation. Josephus, the Jewish historian, recognized Isaiah’s prophecy to be valid by quoting letters from Cyrus confirming the prophet’s predictions (see Josephus, Antiquities, XI, 1,2).

Cyrus not only had respect for the people he governed but he had respect for God whom he acknowledged as the fountain of his success declaring, HE IS THE GOD (Ezra 1:2,3). Rather sobering isn’t it, for a non-Israelite to acknowledge the God of Israel as the God of heaven and earth.  

The God of Israel worked with this man to ensure he fulfilled his purpose and this was it….not to free the captive Israel for the sake of freedom but to send them back to Jerusalem to build His temple (Isaiah 44:28).  Jehovah was calling His people to return to Him….it is in the temple that they would once again raise their right hand to the covenant they had forsaken (Isaiah 44:20). It is in the temple they would find their God again and forsake their idolatry. It is in the temple they would be re-aligned spiritually with the God they had forsaken. It is in the temple they would receive a second chance.

Today latter-day temples dot the earth. There are 214 dedicated operational temples and a total of 383 including announced temples, temples in planning and under construction. We, the House of Israel, are a favoured people and blessed above all the nations of the earth. It is in the temple we are re-aligned with our covenants, convictions and our God to give us strength to forsake modern day idolatry of materialism, technology, prestige, power, entertainment, career, status, or “whatever thing a man sets his heart and his trust in most is his god…” (President Spencer W. Kimball, “The False Gods We Worship”, Ensign June 1976).

O Israel, I saw your sins

that you tried in vain to hide,

And the years you lived in futile pride.

I bore your life with crimson drops

And sought forgiveness on your behalf;

To pay the price of justice

And mend your broken heart.

 

I wait for you to come

Into the shadow of my wings;

I have paid the price: come unto Me,

Your God and Your King.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

KNOWING GOD

 

The Fireworks of Faith by Eva Koleva Timothy

28. Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding.

29.He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall;

31.But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

The first time I heard these verses of Isaiah 40 was whilst watching a highly moving movie called “Chariots of Fire” back in 1981. I was enthralled. Nothing speaks better to a soulful person like me than beautiful words. They embolden, inspire, elevate, enlighten…you name it, words do it for me.

The above-mentioned verses were Isaiah’s attempt to accentuate God’s ability to empower His people Israel, and in turn, all of us. Preceding these scriptures is his almost frantic attempt to help Israel understand who God is in verses 22-27. It is obvious Isaiah knew God and had not failed to see His obvious power and is amazed that others fail to, by asking: “Have ye not known? Have ye not heard? Hath it not been told you from the beginning? Have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? “ (v21).

There is an interesting word in verse 28 that tells us it is virtually impossible for us to grasp the grandeur of God. Isaiah says: “there is no searching of his understanding.” That word ‘searching’ is clarified in Romans 11:33 which says: “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out.” In other words, you cannot fathom God.

I had an experience some months ago where I came to understand just how much we do not understand and know God. I was reflecting upon my life one day wondering how I would feel on judgment day when I found myself in my mind standing in front of God himself and hearing Him ask me three questions: How did you enjoy your mortal probation? What do you think you learnt from it? How do you think you did overall?

And this is what amazed me. I could not answer. Whenever I opened my mouth nothing would come out. I realised in that moment that I could not say anything that He did not already know. I could not lie, I could not tell half lies, I could not even tell the truth. I understood that He already knew everything about me: my deeds, my thoughts, my desires, my attitudes, my good moments, my resentments, my rebellious moments, my likes, my dislikes. As I stood there I felt like I was transparent before Him and He was looking right through me as if He was almost inside me, so well aware was He of all that made up what is me. I could see that we do not understand how inter-connected He is with His children and mostly, how incredibly powerful He is, which is beyond our understanding. He truly is ‘unsearchable’ to mere mortals.

If the concept of God and His existence is this difficult to understand, how do we come to the ability to have faith that He gives power to the faint, that he increases our strength and mounts us up with wings as eagles?

When I used to post on Facebook, I had one lady accuse me of encouraging people to put their trust in someone whom they cannot even see. She claimed she doesn’t rely on anyone to help her achieve anything but herself. She saw trust in invisible power as something dangerous that would surely bring about failure. It is difficult to explain God to someone. How do you explain the feelings of the spirit, or the breath that you breathe or revelations you have, or anything of spiritual nature? Even Isaiah asked on Lord’s behalf: “To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One.” (Isaiah 40:21)

We can look at all of God’s creations and come to the conclusion that the big bang theory is ridiculous, that a greater power must have created everything. Some people explain God in those terms. I look at myself and ask, how did all that God saw in me come to be? The body perishes and returns to mother earth but the earth cannot contain this soulful spirit that is in my mortal heart. It came from someone great who had the power to create it. It flies on wings like eagles ‘trailing clouds of glory’ to the one who created it. This to me is who God is.

The winds of tribulation

Bend down and lift me to the sky

To see the tapestry of my life.

I understand the hows and whys, Father,

But the pains of mortality drag me to the ground

To forget your perfect design.

 

In my moments of darkness

Lift me to higher ground

That I might bow

in praise of Thy wisdom divine.

 

 - CATHRYNE ALLEN 

A MESSAGE OF COMFORT

 

Jerusalem O Jerusalem by Greg Olsen

“Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” (Isaiah 40:1,2)

Imagine having in your family a history of suffering and humanity’s hatred. The Jewish nation has been hated and persecuted from the time of their dispersion into the world. Isaiah prophesied all the calamities that would befall them from the time of their scattering to the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah who would come at the end of time.

Judah was to be sent through the ‘furnace of affliction’ (Isaiah 48:10) for rejecting her King when He came among them. A look at Jewish history and present-day circumstances tells us that this nation is still going through that furnace but one day soon her sentence will be served and her penalty will be paid. Think for a minute of the furnace of the Holocaust. Imagine having that in your family history. However, the most extreme heat of the furnace is yet to be felt when the nations of the earth join against the nation of Israel:

“The bankrupt nations, envying the wealth of the sons of Judah, will seek a pretext to make war upon the, and will invade the ‘holy land’ to ‘take a prey and a spoil’……At the crisis of their fate, when the hostile troops of several nations are ravaging the city and all the horrors of war are overwhelming the people of Jerusalem, He [the Christ] will set his feet upon the Mount of Olives, which will cleave and part asunder at his touch.

“Attended by a host from heaven, he will overthrow and destroy the combined armies of the Gentiles, and appear to the worshipping Jews as the mighty Deliverer and Conqueror so long expected by their race; and while love, gratitude, awe, and admiration swell their bosoms, the Deliverer will show them the tokens of his crucifixion and disclose himself as Jesus of Nazareth, whom they had reviled and whom their fathers put to death. Then will unbelief depart from their souls, and ‘the blindness in part which has happened unto Israel’ be removed”. (Elder Charles W. Penrose, “The Second Advent”, Millenial Star, 10 Sept 1859, pp 582-83).

Then will the warfare be over and her iniquity pardoned but the immediately preceding devastation of Judah will be colossal. One-tenth of Jerusalem will be destroyed, and 7000 men will be slain (Revelation 11:13). We are talking here about fathers and brothers and husbands…..and families left destitute without male protection.

“So great will be the devastation that for seven years Israel will be able to live off the spoils of war left behind (see Ezekiel 39:8-10). It will take seven months to bury the dead, and thereafter burial teams will search out the remaining bodies in an attempt to cleanse the land. Isaiah said that the Lord “hath delivered them to the slaughter…and the mountains shall be melted with their blood (Isaiah 34:2-3).”  (Old Testament Student Manual Book 2, Enrichment I, p 295)

Of equal interest to the scripture of comfort and promise of deliverance is the third verse in Isaiah 40 which speaks of “the voice of him that crieth in the wilderness”. This is a dual prophecy which speaks of John the Baptist who prepared the way for the Saviour’s first advent and who has had a role in such like preparation for the second advent.

Luke quoted Isaiah 40:3-5 which are clearly millennial in application. When Joseph Smith revised Luke’s passage, he added five verses that also apply to the Second Coming which clearly identify the Saviour for whom the forerunner would again prepare the way (see JST Luke 3:5-9).

This forerunner of the last days was to make possible the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles and to gather together those who are lost, who are of the sheepfold of Israel. John the Baptist came to this forerunner, Joseph Smith, on May 15, 1829, to restore the Aaronic Priesthood in preparation for the preaching of the gospel and the gathering of Israel:

“The Lord declared, through one of his prophets, that before his second coming a messenger should be sent to prepare the way and make it straight…..John, the messenger who came to prepare the way before the Lord in the former dispensation, also came in this dispensation as a messenger to Joseph Smith….I maintain that Joseph Smith was the messenger whom the Lord sent to prepare the way before him. He came, and under direction of holy messengers laid the foundation for the kingdom of God and of this marvelous work and a wonder that the world might be prepared for the coming of the Lord.” (President Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, 1:193-95)

 

When in the clouds of glory You appear

To save Judah distressed and all alone

Your mercy will flow from the dreaded hill

Where in times past they crucified their own.

When on the Mount of Olives suddenly you meet

They will know You

And accept salvation at Your feet.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN