THE VEIL

 

I stood at the veil

As You were about to leave

Sorrowing that not all would believe.

 

I prayed for Father’s power

To protect Your gentle heart

From the blow that might tear You apart.

 

I knew my soul You would save

And all Your promises You would fulfil.

I stood at the veil, unable to leave,

Holding Your crown for You to receive.

 

I stood and waited that fateful day

In awe of what You did to pave the way.

I could scarcely comprehend

Your godly enduring might

I stood at the veil and gave You my heart.

 

-      CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Artist Unknown)

SON OF THE MORNING 1

 

Get Thee Hence Satan by Carl Heinrich

Some years ago I wanted to know what the ‘Son of the Morning’ title meant so I elicited the meaning of it from a friend who is well versed in scripture. This was his understanding: “While there is not much written about Lucifer and his being ‘the son of the morning’, it is interesting that in the only two places in the scriptures (at least that I can think of; Isaiah 14:12-20 and D&C 76:25-27) where the name Lucifer is used there is also a reference to him being ‘a son of the morning’.

“My presumption is that the term ‘morning’ refers to the fact that he was born early on as a spirit offspring of the Father. Perhaps he might have even been second born vs his brother who was firstborn. We have so many fascinating stories among the great patriarchs of having two competing sons vying for the firstborn birthright and it almost seems as though these stories are a continuation of that which started in the pre-mortal life with the Saviour and Lucifer.

“You can even get that sense from a statement in D&C 88:115, about Lucifer having as his goal that of displacing of his brother from his throne. It seems likely from the two scriptures above and one in Luke 10:18 that Lucifer (whose name means ‘Light Bearer’ or perhaps a ‘Shining One’ and in the Hebrew Bible could be translated as ‘son of dawn’ or ‘son of morning’) had progressed greatly and was in fact a ruler and had authority of some kind (D&C 76:25-26; Isaiah 14:12-20).” (Larry Keeler, Feb 6, 2023)

The Latin word ‘lucifer’ comes from the Latin words luc-and-fer, which mean ‘light and ‘bearing’ respectively. Lucifer was a sprit son of Heavenly Father and led the rebellion in the pre-mortal life seeking to dethrone the Father and His Christ. He fell and was banished to this earth with his followers (Isaiah 14:12; Luke 10:18; 2 Nephi 24:12; D&C 76:25-29). After his fall, he became Satan and the devil (D&C 76:25-29; Moses 4:1-4).

He is the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). Jesus proclaimed him to be a liar and a murderer from the beginning (John 8:44). In his first epistle Peter warned that we should be sober and vigilant because our adversary the devil was a roaring lion who walks about seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). Paul warned that we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world and against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:12). This is the way he accomplishes his work:

HIS THREE DOCTRINES:

No punishment for sin

Nothing after death

He does not exist

HIS LIES THROUGH RATIONALISATION:

Just once won’t hurt

No one will know

Everybody is doing it

HIS VALUE SYSTEM:

Selfishness

Self-indulgence

Immediate gratification

HIS SALES TECHNIQUES:

Pacifying

Flattering

Lulling

HIS GOAL:

To steal our spiritual identity

To kill our faith in God

To destroy our commitment to Christ

HIS WORLDLY ENTICEMENTS:

Power

Popularity

Praise

Lucifer, or Perdition as he was also called in pre-mortal life, where he was so mighty he was in authority amongst us, would have to be the biggest tragedy known to man. Such a great tragedy that we wept over him when he was lost. Not only him but also one third of the host of heaven, no doubt siblings we loved and were close to who were overcome with the charm and persuasion of one such powerful liar of influence (D&C 29:36,37; Revelation 12:4,9).

 

He was the Son of the Morning,

His pride yielded irreversible cost

In the beginning we sorely wept

When his soul was forever lost.

 

Like a thief in the night,

He now seeks to steal, kill and destroy.

He is the collector of ruined lives,

The Master of ravaged souls.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

THE LOVE OF GOD PART 1

 

“God’s love, understood as His desire for a relationship with us, is unconditional. In fact, God commands all men and women everywhere to repent and come to Him (3 Nephi 11:32). He desires to redeem us, to glorify and exalt us equally and unconditionally. Does God desire to have an eternal relationship with all His children? Yes, and in this sense God’s love is unconditional. ‘All are invited, none is excluded.’ But it takes two people to have a relationship.

“A relationship by definition, requires two points of reference, and only some of God’s children love Him back and agree to enter into the desired relationship. He does not initially love them any more than others, but in time the relationship of love that is possible with them is much, much greater than it is with those who reject Him. They ‘abide in His love’ (John 15:10)

“Many of God’s children will not love Him. They will not accept the proposal of the Bridegroom, though He loves them dearly. They will never experience the joy the gospel marriage brings. However, that is not because God is unwilling or because they failed to meet conditions that would have rendered Him willing. It is because they will not accept His proposal; they will not come to the wedding. Though He loved them first, they did not love Him back, and by their choice the relationship will not be as great as it might have been – they refuse to ‘abide in His love’.”  (Stepehen R. Robinson, Following Christ, 149-150)

A few years ago I wrote a post on Facebook saying that God the Father loves His Son the most out of all His children. One reader was enraged. He claimed that God is perfect and has the ability to love all his children equally. He said he would be devastated if his children thought he had a favourite. I was, on the other hand, astounded that he would consider himself on equal grounds in Father’s esteem with the Saviour of the world and was in his sinful state deserving of the same love. In my view, the Saviour deserves that and even more.

Through my study of the scriptures I have come to understand why the Saviour would be loved the most:

-          He saved all the rest of the Father’s children through His Atoning sacrifice and paved the way to eternal life for those who accept Him (D&C 19:16-19).

-          His perfect and complete obedience: During His visit to the Americas, The Saviour made 15 references of His obedience to the Father (3 Nephi 15: 14-16,18-19, 16:3,10,16; 17:2; 18:14,27; 20:10,14,46), including the reference to the greatest act of obedience ever, that of being sent by the Father to the cross (3 Nephi 27:13-14). In the meridian of time, He told his disciples: “I do always those things that please Him” (John 8:29). How many of us can say this?

-          Nobody loves the Father more than Christ. This He showed very clearly in pre-earth life when He volunteered to preserve His glory and opposed Satan who sought to take it away (Moses 4:1-4). I don’t recall any of us stepping up volunteering for this…….

-          Jesus was not only Father’s spirit child but His ONLY mortal child hence the Father calls Him ‘The Only Begotten’ and ‘The Beloved Son’….the references of which are too numerous to list.

-          Christ was and is the most righteous of all Father’s children and ‘he that is righteous is FAVOURED of God’ (1 Nephi 17:35).

-          And finally…..Mormon called the Son of the Father ‘His MOST beloved’ (Mormon 5:14).

A female reader attempted to support the man who challenged my Facebook post and said that the Father loves ALL His children.  I asked her if He loves Satan too considering that God cannot love evil which Satan has become and through his evil has destroyed many of Father’s children as opposed to Christ who has saved us all. She answered ‘yes’. Some of us are deluded beyond recognition…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Father and Son by Danny Hahlbohm)

Diana Hahlbohm - Official Website

TO KNOW THE ENEMY

 

There is great insight into the adversary, and how he operates, from his interaction with the children of Adam and Eve, and Cain in particular.

Firstly, to draw Cain into his web, Satan observed him closely. When Cain showed openly he was not interested in knowing God and aligned himself with his older brethren who loved Satan more than God, the adversary knew he had the right man (Moses 5:16). He needed someone as arrogant and prideful as himself but who knew the snares of mortality that could defeat God’s plan for humanity. And he was even prepared to sacrifice his position of leadership for such an opportunity. In time Cain became ‘the father of Satan’s lies’ and assumed his name of Perdition (5:24) and this is how it happened.

From his observation of Cain’s relationship with his righteous brother Abel , he knew just how to push the buttons to ignite jealousy and from there to initiate him into secret combinations of gain and murder (Moses 5:18-21). But to bind Cain into his oath, Satan first commanded him to implicate his apostate brothers in the same oath so that they would not reveal the plan to their father (Moses 5:29). Interesting, isn’t it? Why would he worry that Adam would find out?

This is why. Satan knew who Adam was and the coward that he is, he feared him. John the Beloved was shown the war in heaven and he described Satan as the dragon who fought with his angels and the leader who opposed him with his angels and prevailed against him was Michael the Archangel (Revelation 12:7-10)…… the name by which Adam was known in the pre-mortal life (Guide to the Scriptures, Gospel Library). Satan feared Adam who cast him and his followers down to this earth (v 11.

Secondly, he made Cain swear ‘by the living God’ that he would not reveal the secret oath by which he was bound. This was a plain admission on his part that there is none greater than God, and that he harbours secret respect for the very enemy he tries to deny and whose kingdom he tries to destroy. Not a very smart move for someone with self- aggrandizing bravado.

This is the most important part of this intriguing story: “During the ‘war in heaven’ shown to John the Beloved on the Isle of Patmos, it does not appear that Elohim interfered in any way even though He was greatly concerned with the outcome. The scripture says that when Satan was ultimately cast out it was Michael and his angels who did it. It even describes HOW they did it: ‘by the word of their testimony’ (Rev 12:11).”  (W. Cleon Skousen, “The First 2,000 Years”, p 101)

The adversary knows us from pre-earth life but he has no power here but what we give him. We have the biggest advantage that he will never have, a body. That in and of itself makes us greater than him, and he knows it. The second biggest advantage is our testimony of ‘the blood of the Lamb’, even the same that we defeated him with in pre-mortal life (v 11). The third biggest advantage is our righteousness. He quivers before it. He kneels before it. It is like an open flame that threatens to destroy.

Satan has no power on his best day to destroy you on your worst day…….fear not. You are one of the angels who fought the greatest war in our history and you prevailed against the greatest enemy….and you still have your sword.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: I Am A Warrior of Light by Greg Collins)

DIVINE INTEGRITY

 

“Over long eons of time in the premortal realm he [Christ] proved faithful and dependable and honorable 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 honored their first estate knew it.

“In the premortal council the Saviour covenanted with the Father to perform the Atonement. John Taylor wrote, “A covenant was entered into between Him and His Father, in which He agreed to atone for the sins of the world,” and hence he became known as “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8; see also Moses 7:47). The Gospel of Philip, one of the Nag Hammadi books, suggests similarly:

“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 80-81

 

When You stood in Heaven’s Council,

Did You know we would not heed?

That we would fail to see

You could meet our every need?

Yes, You knew, and still….

Long before creation be,

You climbed Your way to Calvary.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Divine Redeemer by Simon Dewey)

THE ELECT AND THE CHOSEN

 

“To be called to be a member of the Church and kingdom of God on earth; it is to be numbered with the saints; it is to accept the gospel and receive the everlasting covenant; it is to have part and lot in the earthly Zion; it is to be born again, to be a son or a daughter of the Lord Jesus Christ; to have membership in the household of faith; it is to be on the path leading to eternal life and to have the hope of eternal glory; it is to have a conditional promise of eternal life, it is to be an inheritor of all the blessings of the gospel, provided there is continued obedience to the laws and ordinances thereof.” (Bruce R. McConkie, “Doctrinal New Testament Commentary”  3:326; see also D&C Student Manual p 298, commentary for 121:34)

I look back on the time I felt driven to join the Church. My motivation back then was very simple but today, after all the knowledge I have gained through the Church, I believe I was called.  I think of only one thing: “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Being called means to have been elected in pre-mortal life to have the privilege of being a member of Christ’s kingdom on earth.

Both Elder McConkie and President Harold B Lee claimed that the lives we lived in pre-mortal life very much determined the privileges we would have in this life, especially that we would be granted opportunities to accept the truth; that it is “reasonable to believe that what we have received here in this earth life was given to each of us according to the merits of our conduct before we came here” (President Harold B. Lee, in CR October 1973, Ensign January 1974; see also “A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p 512 by Bruce R. McConkie)

We read in Doctrine and Covenants that “many are called but few are chosen” and it is so because their hearts are set on the things of the world (121:34-5). Somehow the glare of this earthly life blinds so many of us and in that glare we sell our birthright for a mass of pottage.

The membership number of the Church for 2025 is a little over 17.5 million. Compare that to the world population of 8.25 billion.  When you put that into perspective, you can see how privileged, valued, and special you are to be in the sheepfold of the Saviour’s flock. If you ever get tempted to leave, just remember: “I am the door of the sheep…..I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:7,11).

How dear to the heart of the Shepherd

Is the flock of His sheep;

With tenderness and love

He watches over those in His keep.

How much do they love their Shepherd!

How closely they stay by His side!

With every footstep they follow,

To forever with Him abide,

In all eternity wide.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Comforter by Yongsung Kim)

OF GREAT WORTH

 

“I remember once a seven or eight year old son of ours jumping on his bed hard enough that I thought it might break. I felt a flash of frustration, and I moved quickly to set my house in order. I grabbed my son by his little shoulders and lifted him up to where our eyes met.

“The Spirit put words into my mind. It seemed a quite voice, but it pierced my heart: “You are holding a great person.” I gently set him back on the bed and apologized. Now he has become the great man the Holy Ghost let me see 40 years ago. I am eternally grateful that the Lord rescued me from my unkind feelings by sending the Holy Ghost to let me see a child of God as He saw him.”

-        President Henry B. Eyring, “My Peace I Leave with You”, GC April 2017

Wouldn’t it be something if we could see the spiritual stature of babies, children and adults we do not know? I wager there would be no contention, hate, mistreatment, abuse, crime or war. If we could see each other as God the Father sees us, we would understand who we truly are. Abraham gave us a glimpse of our eternal greatness when he spoke about all the great and noble intelligences that were organized before the world was (Abraham 3:22-23).

We are told we are here to progress and improve upon ourselves. This progression began before we were even born: “In the prior life, we developed various capacities and talents. Some developed them in one field and some in another. The most important of all fields was the field of spirituality, the ability, the talent, the capacity to recognise truth” (Bruce R. McConkie, When Thou Art Converted, Strengthen Thy Brethren, A Study Guide for the Priesthood Quorums of the Church, 1974-75, pp 8-9).

Our individual efforts were not all, however. God told Enoch that man was the ‘workmanship of His hands’ (Moses 7:32). The dictionary defines ‘workmanship’ as ‘the product or result of labour and skill, or work executed’.

To arrive at the estimate of what we are worth, consider all the possible ‘work’ that went into the making of YOU: 1. Your spiritual creation which depended on the Father’s rise to Godhood; 2. Your spiritual tutoring for eons of time; 3. The creation of the earth for your mortality; 4. Overseeing of your earthly progress and protection; 5. Preparation of kingdoms for your eternal destination.

Now think of the scale of guidance, protection, care, overseeing, anguish and sorrow of your Heavenly Parents, the Holy Ghost, your guardian angels, your ancestors, your departed loved ones and all the hosts of heaven who know you. This is true for each one of us who grace this earth.

Obviously, we achieved a lot before we were even born into mortality. What price would you put to all the work that you put into you and the investment of others into you??? I know three things:  the price would be higher than we can possibly imagine; I know who paid it and I know why.

Surely Christ’s supreme sacrifice for all mankind is the crescendo of all the work invested into each soul ever born on this earth, of every creed, of every colour, of every nation. The Atonement is the crowning glory of the work that has gone into you and me. It is the ultimate proof that the worth of a soul is great in the sight of God (D&C 18:10).

All the prior work that had been put into us would be in vain if there was no Atonement, and even more importantly, there would be no future for any of us, and the future is what counts, because it ensures our rightful place in the eternal scheme of things. It completes the Plan, it ensures the success of the Plan, it validates the ‘workmanship’ and preserves its value.

Next time we confront somebody, may we remember we are at eye level with ‘a great person’………

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: I Am A Child of God by Howard Lyon)

THE WORTH OF A SOUL

 

When God the Father showed Enoch His corrupted children that would be swept away in the flood, He wept at the loss (Moses 7:28). Enoch was beyond perplexed when he considered that God would sorrow over a ‘handful’ of His children compared to the immensity of His creations (v 29-31). The Father simply answered that these His children were ‘the workmanship” of His own hands (v 32). The dictionary defines ‘workmanship’ as ‘the product or result of labour and skill, or work executed’.

We are told the worth of a soul is great in the eyes of God (D&C 17:10). What does that exactly mean? Does it mean our worth is great simply because we are the offspring of Deity who loves us? Well, it would seem there is more to it than that. If ‘workmanship’ insinuates investment of labour and skill, the worth cannot be purely in the birth alone. To arrive at the estimate of the worth, consider all the ‘work’ that went into the making of YOU: 1. Your spiritual creation which depended on the Father’s rise to Godhood; 2. Your spiritual tutoring for eons of time; 3. The creation of the earth for your mortality; 4. Overseeing of your earthly tutoring; 5. Preparation of kingdoms for your eternal destination; 6. The redemption of your soul through sacrifice of another. Now think of the scale of guidance, protection, care, overseeing, anguish and sorrow of your Heavenly Parents, the Holy Ghost, your guardian angels, your ancestors, your departed loved ones and all the hosts of heaven who know you….and not just what others have put into you but what you have put into yourself….and not just in this life but before you even came here. Consider the following:

“During the ages in which we dwelt 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…..The heavenly beings were living in a perfectly arranged society. Every person knew his place…..Ordinances pertaining to that pre-existence were required and the love of God prevailed. Under such conditions 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” (Joseph Fielding Smith, The Way to Perfection, pp 50-51)

“In the prior life, we developed various capacities and talents. Some developed them in one field and some in another. The most important of all fields was the field of spirituality, the ability, the talent, the capacity to recognise truth” (Bruce R. McConkie, When Thou Art Converted, Strengthen Thy Brethren, A Study Guide for the Priesthood Quorums of the Church, 1974-75, pp 8-9). This spiritual development was not only important for our own salvation but for others. Abraham confirmed this when he spoke about all the great and noble intelligences that were organised before the world was (Abraham 3:22-23). Joseph F. Smith spoke of the many others besides the prophets who received their first lessons in the world of spirits to prepare them for the work of salvation in this life (D&C 138:55,56).

Obviously, we achieved a lot before we were even born into mortality. What price would you put to all the work that you put into you and the investment of others into you??? I know two things:  the price would be higher than we can possibly imagine; and I know who paid it.

Surely Christ’s supreme sacrifice for all mankind is the crescendo of all the work invested into each soul ever born on this earth, of every creed, of every colour, of every nation. The Atonement is the crowning glory of the work that has gone into you and me. All the prior work that had been put into us would be in vain if there was no Atonement, and even more importantly, there would be no future for any of us, and the future is what counts, because it ensures our rightful place in the eternal scheme of things. It completes the Plan, it ensures the success of the Plan, it validates the ‘workmanship’ and preserves its value. So with all the labour, material, and struggle that has gone into your creation and development, how much do you think your soul is worth?

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Worth Of A Soul by Liz Lemon Swindle)

A THIEF OF GLORY

 

The similitude that comes to mind when we think of Satan is a snake but John the Revelator describes Satan more aptly from his vision. What could be more deadly and more powerful than a snake? A dragon. The dragon that John saw was red, a colour that represents fury. And how well he painted the scene of the dragon who drew with ‘his tail the third part of the stars of heaven’! (Revelation 12:4).

The Book of Revelation calls Satan ‘an accuser’ who accused us of our sins to the Father, day and night (Revelation 12:10). I can only imagine the glee with which he relentlessly and craftily complained about us, claiming that we were beyond redemption and would all be lost if the Father did not accept his plan. No mercy and no genuine concern for our welfare. But then the Saviour stepped forward and offered both and hope was born. But ‘the accuser’ picked up another tactic and sought to destroy our faith in Christ without ceasing. A war ensued….”the same kind that prevails on earth; the only kind Satan and spirit beings can wage – a war of words, a tumult of opinions, a conflict of ideologies; a war between truth and error, between light and darkness…”(Elder Bruce R. McConkie, Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:518).

This is how we won the war in heaven. When the Saviour stepped forward to take responsibility for us He sealed His fate as our Redeemer. So sure was the foundation of His commitment that the Atonement in mortality was really just a formality. So iron clad was His destiny as our Saviour that it became our reality long before the earth was made. The scriptures confirm that ‘the Lamb was slain from the foundation of the world’ meaning the power of the Atonement was already in place in pre-mortal world enabling all God’s children, from the beginning, to be born innocent (Revelation 13:8, 1 Peter 1:18-20; Mosiah 3:13; 4:7; D&C 93:38). Because the Atonement was such a surety, it was as if it had already happened and consequently we could draw upon its’ blessings and power before we were even born. It is this power and our testimonies by which we defeated Lucifer and his followers in the war in heaven (see the New Testament Institute Manual commentary on Revelation 12:11; 13:8, By Blood and Testimony)

The name ‘Lucifer’ means ‘light bearer’. He was so great once, ‘he was in authority in the presence of God’ (D&C 76:25). So great was he that we wept when he was lost (76:26). We too are great with enormous potential but we can find ourselves lost too under his influence. His fury will not spare one soul. He will use every tactic and every tool to steal our spiritual identity, to kill our faith in God and to destroy our commitment to Christ (John 10:10) . We of the last days cannot allow this to happen. We will not allow the red dragon to win. We already know the outcome. The only question remaining is who will be among the survivors. The war has not ended. In the words of Elder McConkie: “……..the battle lines are still drawn. It is now on earth as it was then in heaven; every man must choose which general he will follow” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3:518).

These are the tools Satan uses that are so prevalent in our society:

HIS THREE DOCTRINES:

No punishment for sin

Nothing after death

He does not exist

HIS LIES THROUGH RATIONALISATION:

Just once won't hurt

No one will know

Everybody is doing it

HIS VALUE SYSTEM:

Selifshness

Self-indulgence

Immediate gratification

HIS SALES TECHNIQUES:

Pacifying

Flattering 

Lulling 

Like a thief in the night,

He seeks to steal, kill and destroy.

He is the collector of ruined lives,

The Master of ravaged souls.

 

He is the Son of the Morning,

His pride yielded irreversible cost

In the beginning we sorely wept

When his soul was forever lost.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: AI generated by NightCafe Creator)