HEAVENLY DELIVERANCE

 

There existed in ancient America a secret society which proved to be the cause of affliction to the Nephites and the Lamanites alike. The founder of this society was a man called Gadianton but the principles that upheld his society were of a far more ancient date (3 Nephi 3:9, Moses 5:29-31). Indeed the mastermind behind the whole operation was far more clever, apt and evil than Gadianton could ever hope to be. We know this personage as Lucifer, Satan and the Devil. We see him in the obviously destructive paths but also in more subtle ways as he moves in respectable circles and hides behind deceptive and seemingly good elements that form the fabric of a society.

Just eight years prior to Christ's visit to the ancient America, this band of Gadianton robbers, under the leadership of Giddianhi, sought to annihilate the Nephite nation. Under the guise of politeness and goodwill, and using flattery, feigning concern and making false promises, he wrote to Lachoneus, the governor of the land and demanded the surrender of the Nephites and their lands. Lachoneus refused and proceeded to prepare his people for impending battle. Lachoneus was a man of God so even though he prepared his people physically, his wisest move was to prepare them spiritually (3 Nephi 3:15,16). The people obeyed and when Giddianhi descended upon them with his armies, their immediate reaction was to 'lift their cries to the Lord their God, that he would spare them and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies' (3 Nephi 4:8). 

When the battles were won and deliverance assured, Nephites' cries once again ascended to the heavens but this time in praise and gratitude knowing 'it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction' (3 Nephi 4:33).

This particular portion of Nephite history is important because it provides us with the perfect formula for deliverance from the enemy who seeks to destroy our peace. This formula runs in this sequence: humility - repentance - supplication - deliverance - gratitude.

We live in a world ruled by the Prince of Darkness.  Like Nephites of old, we should know that there is only one sure place where we can find salvation from his destructive forces robbing us of peace and his intended eventual destruction. The recognition of the Lord's power to deliver and our dependence on Him, should be the precursor of putting our lives into order sufficiently enough to qualify for the powers of heaven to be released on our behalf.

Sometimes we may wonder how we can repent of the very thing that is beyond our capability to forsake and that we are supplicating the Lord for. Repentance might not always mean discontinuance of the wrong things we are doing but the right things we are omitting to do, such as more regular and fervent prayer, seeking the spirit, having faith, regular scripture study, or more committed Church attendance. In other words, we must be found doing what we can to qualify for heavenly help. There has to be effort and exertion towards righteousness and yielding our hearts to God…..the omittance of which, by the way, can also be classed as sin. How? Because it is in violation of the first and greatest commandment to love God with all our heart, mind and strength (D&C 59:5).

The times are dark but we are brighter still……

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Jesus In The Midst of Serenity by Ivan Guaderrama)

IN ALIGNMENT

 

When I was baptized at 18 years of age, I said to the missionaries who baptized me: “I will never give a talk and I will never go on a mission”. Three months later I was giving my first talk and when I turned 21 I knew I had to go on a mission. My resistance was hard to overcome. I simply did not want to go. As my obstinacy grew, it began to nurture criticism of the Church. I became troubled to the point where I was driven to my knees. Shortly after my prayer, the confirmation was given of what I already knew and was resisting so hard and I was reborn. My attitude about everything changed and all my fears and concerns went away. I fulfilled an honourable mission which strengthened my convert’s heart. That was 45 years ago. I did the right thing but I missed a very big lesson which is this: when you are not in alignment with God, you are swimming against the tide.

Like a lot of people, I like to ride on a roller coaster of worrying over my life to the point where I would periodically hit rock bottom in my mental health. Then God would lift me up and give me clarity, and then I would walk on air until the next wave of my cycle hit. The last wave was affecting me far too much until I was enlightened to understand that I needed to step up on my ladder of faith. I understood in that moment that this would solve everything I had concerns about. As soon as I came to this understanding, my spirits rose and I understood the path that was God’s purpose for me. I knew the direction I was to take and I was stunned at the instant turn-around in my emotional well-being. I also realized that I experienced this quick turn around every time God lifted me up and I chose to follow His counsel.

Whatever it is that is preventing you from being in alignment with God, it will always produce fears, doubts, concerns, worries, and a myriad of other negative emotions that tear us down. If you are in the grip of an addiction and sin, you will feel a dislike of self and a barrier between you and God. When you are in alignment, all this goes away. This is called peace. We had sufficient faith in this earth life before we were born. We had faith that it could give us the desired end and we had faith in ourselves that we would allow God to guide us to that end. Now that we are here, it is time to allow Him to travel that road with us and to save us from unnecessary turmoil that we inflict upon ourselves. He will give us wisdom, He will give us peace, He will give us life eternal.

I will look to Thee to lift me up

When into the depths of sorrow

I sink and comfort cannot find;

I will look to Thee to lift me up

When nothing makes sense

In my troubled finite mind.

I will look to Thee to lift me up

When forsaken I happen to be;

I will look to Thee to lift me up

When trials seek to swallow me.

I will look to Thee to lift me up

When farewell I have to say,

Lift me up with tender mercies

In thine arms to gently lay.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Rescue Me by Yongsung Kim)

VALIDATING GOD

 

 

Before Lehi died he said something highly profound to his children. He said: “I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love” (2 Nephi 1:15). Note that he did not say I ‘will be’, when I am judged and found worthy and will therefore be rewarded with eternal life with God. He said I ‘AM’, meaning he was already there, in His arms, with not an iota of the world between the two of them. How did Lehi end up in the Father’s arms while still in his probationary state? The answer lies in the rest of this scripture. Firstly, he says his soul was redeemed from hell. This sounds like an iron clad assurance that his sins were forgiven him.  Secondly, he says he has beheld his glory. The assurance of his forgiveness most likely came from a personal visitation from the Lord where his calling and election was made sure. This scripture says a great deal to me about Lehi and the life he lived. The lost 116 pages of the Book of Mormon would be an incredible read.

There is a distinction between the Church and the Gospel. The role of the Church is to bring us to Christ and the role of Christ is to bring us to the Father, and that means not just in the eternities, but also here. In every way, we are being trained and prepared here and now to live in the Father’s presence. This is the goal. The Saviour came not only to atone for us but also to reveal the Father to us (see “The Grandeur of God” by Jeffrey R. Holland, October 2003 conference talk).

Being a good member of the Church and being in God’s arms are two different things. You can be a good member by mechanically obeying the rules but being in God’s embrace means validating Him in your life. How do we do that? By making Him our partner in all our responsibilities, overcoming our downfalls, seeking His guidance and His will, turning to Him in all things and being aligned with His Spirit in righteousness. It is making Him a reality rather than a belief.

Some time ago I had a wonderful experience whilst I was praying. I had a vision in my mind of being in Father’s arms leaning against His ample chest. It made me weep uncontrollably. At the time I thought that was a memory from my pre-existence and it might very well have been but I know that our relationship with Him here and now can be described in those terms as well. If we feel the closeness, the love, the devotion, if we feel Him in our lives because we are aligned with Him and His will, we are in His arms…..we are being more than just good members of the Church and His offspring. We are being children of God.

I yearn to feel the closeness of

Your presence

And once again feel the warmth of

Your embrace.

I come to You, Father,

Through the gift of

Your Son’s benevolent grace.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Beloved Son by Danny Hahlbohm)

THE HOUR OF DEEPEST HUMILIATION

 

 

I have always been amazed at the humiliation that the Saviour must have suffered at the hands of His captors prior to the crucifixion. Mark records that after His arrest, Jesus was brought into the palace of the high priest (Mark 14:53,54) where a mockery of a trial was conducted condemning Him to death and where His accusers ‘began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him….and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands’ (v 65). Luke records that ‘the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him, and when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee? And many other things blasphemously spake they against him’ (Luke 22:63-65). Imagine a God who creates worlds, controls the elements, performs miracles, and has the power to subdue all enemies under His feet, allowing and enduring such humiliation at the hands of pathetic, weak and sinful humans. My dearest friend once told me that ‘meekness is strength turned tender’. There is no doubt in my mind that many of the Saviour’s sufferings during His earthly ministry were tolerated due to His meekness and His consistent focus on His mission. 

 

That His love for the Father and for us was the primary motivation for His focus cannot be disputed. This, however,  made me understand  further Christ’s tolerance of the unjust treatment He received in His final hour. The humiliation in question came immediately following the Saviour’s agony in Gethsemane which  James Talmage called ‘the hour of His DEEPEST humiliation’ (Jesus the Christ, p 611). But what could be deeper and more humiliating than being spit upon, smitten and stripped naked to be crucified on the side of a road? I reflected and then I understood the humiliation a God in His pure and sinless state would have suffered when He took upon Himself my sins, your sins, our families’ sins, our nation’s sins, the world’s sins and indeed the sins  of all mankind from Adam to the end of the world. In fact, ‘in that hour of anguish Christ met and overcame all the horrors that Satan, “the prince of this world”, could inflict’ (Jesus the Christ, p 613). Imagine a man who would NEVER do anything wrong, to any degree, taking upon himself all the existent sins as if He had committed them Himself. The spiritual anguish He suffered was no doubt due to all corroding feelings associated with sin and evil such as guilt, shame, embarrassment, lack of esteem, self-hatred, fear of God’s wrath….and indeed, deepest humiliation. Following the humiliation of Gethsemane, would any other be worse???

 

Will the sinner for whom you suffered, 

Who rejected and reviled Thee

Weep in the end for Thy pain and Thy sorrow?

Will his heart understand

When he kneels before Thee

The debt he owes for the existence

Of his merciful tomorrow?

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Christ by David Beraru)

JOY

 

 

“We were created to have joy. It is our intended destiny as children of a loving Heavenly Father. He wants to share His joy with us…..joy typically means much more than passing moments of contentment or even feelings of happiness. Joy in this context is a godly attribute, found in its fulness when we return to dwell in the presence of God (Psalm 16:11). It is more profound, elevating, enduring, and life-changing than any pleasure of comfort this world can offer.” (Elder Craig C. Christensen, “There Can Be Nothing So Exquisite and Sweet as Was My Joy”, General Conference April 2023)

 

Imagine being elated with consistent feelings of joy throughout eternity. But this is the destiny and blessed state of the faithful. In this world of sorrow and ups and downs it is hard to imagine this state of being. Maintaining expectancy of the fulness of joy whilst ploughing through the tears of mortality can be achieved through something we often hear about in the Church and that is, eternal perspective. Eternal perspective is the path of trust and faith that motivates us to repentance, but the greatest motivator should be this: When the Saviour taught the Nephites, He told them that the FATHER rejoiced because of them….because none of them were lost (3 Nephi 27:30-31).

 

In this too, our beloved Saviour was the perfect example who ‘for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross’ (Hebrews 12:1-2). For whose joy did the Saviour endure the cross? For ours, for His, for the Father’s. It takes the eternal perspective to the new level, does it not? If He could give so much for the eternal joy of us all, should we not be able to give so little that is asked of us in comparison? With so many of His children on the path to destruction in the world today, should we, who have the truth, not strive to bring joy to our beloved Father in every way and every day? Should we not ensure that none of us are lost? 

 

I yearn to feel the closeness of 

Thy presence

And once again feel the warmth of 

Thy embrace.

I come to You, Father,

Through the gift of 

Thy Son’s benevolent grace.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Arms of Faith by Yongsung Kim)

THE GREATNESS OF GOD

 

One cannot help but be enamoured with Enoch and his accomplishments when one reads Moses 7 in Pearl of Great Price: the man who founded ‘the City of Holiness, even Zion’ (v19); the man who spoke with such power that ‘the earth trembled, the mountains fled, and people could not stand to be in his presence’ (v13); the man who earned the right to see God face to face and conversed with Him ‘even as a man talks one with another’ (v4); the man who cried so bitterly because of his anguish over the people and the earth that ‘all eternity shook’ (v41).

 

Today as I re-read Moses 7, I became overwhelmed with someone far greater than Enoch. In the course of Enoch’s interaction with Him, Enoch summaries the greatness of the God: “Were it possible that man could number the particles of the earth, yea, millions of earths like this, it would be a BEGINNING to the number of Thy creations….” (v30). God then proceeds to tell Enoch that He can hold ALL the creations which He has made in His hands and His eye can ‘pierce’ them all (v36). My finite mind cannot grasp this on any level. The greatness of God touched upon in scripture is too vast to enumerate here yet alone to understand with our mortal finite minds.

 

Enoch was not only privileged to see God’s full glory but a side of His godship that astounded Him when He witnessed the God of heaven weeping over His children (v 28-31). Despite His omniscience and omnipotence, God revealed His most important role, that of a Father. In Mormon 7:7, we read that Jesus has brought to pass the redemption of the world which can bring us into the presence of God to enjoy ‘everlasting happiness’ (Mormon 7:7). I have always believed we would have everlasting happiness in next life but have at times wondered how that can be for those who become gods and continue to have children forever, knowing the mental anguish and sorrow children can cause. But there is hope: In Doctrine & Covenants 18:15, we are told if we bring even one soul to Christ, how great shall be our joy in the kingdom of the Father. If our joy will be great, imagine the Father’s joy to see the return of many of His children. Losing a third of your children is devastating but retaining two thirds means hope of great joy, suggesting perfect balance exists in His kingdom and in His noble character.

 

Let us not forget that the Father and the Son are one and the greatness of one is the greatness of the other in creation, power, glory and majesty (D&C 50:43; 93:3; 3 N 11:27; John 14:9-11). They are also one in their role of Father (Ether 4:7; Alma 11:38-9; Mosiah 15:4; 16:5). Whereas God the Father is the father of our spirits, The Son is our spiritually begotten Father. Through Him who willingly laid down His life so that we might live, we can, like the prodigal, return into the loving arms of the Father of all creation. May we honour the greatness of Him who holds us in the palm of His hand through the life that we live that we might be the source of His joy now and forever.

 

 

 

I cannot fathom

The greatness of Thy Godhood.

I cannot contain

Who Thou art,

Your immensity overflows my heart.

I am so small

And you are so vast;

Broaden my vision Father

And grant me proficient eyes,

Endow me to comprehend

Beyond the ages of the wise.

- CATHRYNE ALEN

(Artist Unknown)

THE DIVINE HOUSE OF ISRAEL - A FAVOURED PEOPLE

 

As I finished studying 3 Nephi this morning I was overwhelmed with gratitude for my believing heart. I have read the final chapter of this book many times before but not until today did I feel my heart swell with thankfulness for my ability to believe. 

 

Mormon ended this book with a clear view of our day when the Gentiles would disbelieve and even ‘spurn’ and ‘hiss’ at the Lord’s doing in bringing about the Book of Mormon and the restoration of His Church (3 Nephi 29:4,8). These are very strong yet adequately descriptive words of exactly what is happening in our day. To ‘spurn’ means to reject with disdain and to ‘hiss’ means to express contempt. I have had comments in this Group by non-members doing exactly this under the pretext of helping me ‘find my way back to God’. What is more disturbing for me is knowing Church members who have fallen away and are ‘spurning’ and ‘hissing’….

 

Mormon also ended 3 Nephi admonishing the Gentiles to come unto Christ and be numbered with His favoured people, the House of Israel (3 N 30:2).  Words cannot express to you my love for this special group of believers who have a divine destiny. Political correctness of today would accuse us of being elitists by saying we are favoured of God, but we are. To understand the scriptures is to know this. The Saviour so loved the House of Israel that He called it ‘the apple of His eye’ (Deuteronomy 32:9,10; Zechariah 2:8; Psalm 17:8). He went so far as to say that Israel is favoured above all nations of the earth (Deuteronomy 7:6); that He would sacrifice all  others for Israel;  and gather them from the ends of the earth (Isaiah 43:1-7). I testify that WE are the treasure at the center of His heart because He ‘loveth those who would have Him be their God’ (1 N 17:40)

 

My fellow Israelites, you are cherished, you are loved, you are special, you reside in the deepest caverns of His heart….you are His people…..

 

Thy love for Thy people is beyond compare,

Thy mercy affixed forever more.

Thy power delivered us and 

Thy loving kindness has gathered us;

We are restored to our rightful place

A servant in Thy might,

We are Israel, children of light.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

Art: Joy by Youngsung Kim

 

 

 

BE STILL MY SOUL

 

We are saturated with information. For every yay out there, there is a nay. I watched a movie recently set in 1867 where due to lack of literacy and availability of newspapers, the main character made it his profession to travel from town to town to read the news to American citizens who would gather in droves to hear it. Such news is available to us today instantly. We don't even have to wait for 6 o'clock News on our television sets. It is at our fingertips 24 hours a day and it lives in our pockets. Such is the blessing and a curse of technology.

Because there is so much information available to us, confusion is raging amongst us. This is creating a fertile ground for Satan to deceive us. Now more than ever we are in need of the spirit of discernment to guide us to the right voice we should be listening to. The spirit of discernment works spirit to spirit. It speaks to us through emotion. There are only two voices that constantly speak to us. I came across this list from an unknown source which proves this concept beautifully. Compare the difference in emotions:

GOD'S VOICE: SATAN'S VOICE:

• Stills you Rushes you
• Leads you Pushes you
• Reassures you Frightens you
• Enlightens you Confuses you
• Encourages you Discourages you
• Comforts you Worries you
• Calms you Obsesses you
• Convinces you Condemns you

The only peace we can have in the world today is to listen to God's voice. Conforming to the voices of the world will not afford us peace.

Be still my soul

And know that He leads you

By the voice of His heart;

He beckons and He calls

Your spirit to ignite

To truth and godly path.

His love will find you,

He will lead you and save your soul

He is the Shepherd

Who will answer your call.

• Cathryne Allen

(Art: He Leadeth Me by Yongsung Kim)

IF YE ARE NOT ONE, YE ARE NOT MINE

 

The Sunday School lesson for this Sunday teaches us that God gathers his people into one, if for no other reason but simply because we are stronger as a whole. This can be seen through a very interesting story in the Old Testament.

In his farewell address, Moses admonished the children of Israel, repeatedly, to worship the one true and living God and that they should have no other gods before Him. This farewell constitutes the entire book of Deuteronomy with strong emphasis on dangers of worshipping false gods. Because the inhabitants of Canaan were ripe in iniquity and idol worship (1 Nephi 17:32-35) they presented a very real threat to the covenant people. For this reason Israel was commanded to cleanse the entire land before they took possession, which they failed to do miserably because of their disobedience. As they conquered cities before them, however, lands were appropriated to them for their settlement. The first to receive land were the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Mannesah. They settled in the land of Gilead which divided them from the rest of Israel by river Jordan (Joshua 22:9). After these three tribes assisted in further conquest of the land, Joshua sent them back to Gilead to live peacefully in their newly appointed inheritance. Upon their return home, these tribes built an altar by river Jordan. When the rest of Israel heard of it they were outraged presuming the altar was built for idol worship. They sent Phineas, the son of Eleazor the priest, with the heads of the tribes, to call the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Mannesah to repentance. In their defence, these two and a half tribes explained that the altar was not made for any worship but was meant to stand as a witness to the rest of Israel, for generations to come, that the tribe of Reuben and Gad and Mannesah were united with the rest of Israel in the worship of one true and living God (Joshua 22:34); that even though they were divided geographically from the rest of the House of Israel, they were still a link in the chain and that they would not be the downfall of Israel. They knew that if they turned to the worship of other gods, the ripple effect would be detrimental to the whole House of Israel.

So it is with us. We of modern day Israel are individual links in a great chain which binds the covenant people. How we live our lives and how we worship God has great impact upon not only us personally but upon the body of Christ collectively because "no one sins in isolation. We cannot say that our actions influence only ourselves for even if we do something sinful that is completely personal, our individual loss of spiritual power means a lessening of power for all mankind and contributes to the withdrawal of the Lord's spirit, and that is damaging to all......". (Old Testament Student Manual Genesis-2 Samuel, p 243). We cannot afford to be the downfall of modern day Israel. We bear a grave responsibility for the gathering of God's people. Each link in the chain is important and contributes towards this goal through individual gifts, talents and personal power. When we worship the world instead of God we forfeit that power and cannot accomplish our collective purpose.

May each one of us erect personal altars in our lives as a witness to the rest that we will honour our commitment to the divine destiny of the House of Israel.

- Cathryne Allen

THE MISERY OF ISRAEL

 

Are you struggling with feelings of unworthiness, inadequacy, effects of abuse or struggle with unrelenting pull of weakness or sin? Do not despair, because for you, who are of the House of Israel and who love Him and want Him to be your God (1 Nephi 17:40), the Saviour’s grace and mercy is endless and ever possible. 

 

After the children of Israel settled into Canaan, they entered into a cycle of apostasy and repentance. When they served other gods, they fell into servitude to the heathen nations around them. Over and over they came to Jehovah to rescue them from their captivities and oppression and not to the altars of the heathen gods they worshipped. It says this for them, despite their state of weakness in apostasy, they believed that Jehovah was the true God and that only He had this power of deliverance. The astounding patience, tolerance and never ending mercy of the God of Israel was repeated over and over even though He knew the people would forsake Him and return to their sin after He delivered them. He did this because ‘his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel’….(Judges 10:16)

 

We are told The Atonement was performed for each person individually and not for God’s children collectively. I myself cannot fully comprehend that but I understand one thing. The Saviour is grieved for our misery and the healing effects of the Atonement are efficacious individually. These effects of the Atonement are already in your life, because they were put into place 2,000 years ago on the hill of Calvary. All that remains is for you to foster faith that it can heal you, empower you, and lift you out of our misery. Believe it, pray for it, and see it. He will come to those who believe He is the one true and living God who can sustain, empower and deliver. You have nothing to fear from the debilitating and crushing effects of mortality. You are meant for greater things. You are meant to be lifted and exalted. You are special. You are loved. You are counted on. You are the House of Israel. Be comforted and believe. 

- Cathryne Allen

TO OBEY UNTIL DEATH

I am constantly amazed at the way the Book of Mormon clarifies the doctrines of Christ and it amazes me equally how often we miss these clarifications. One ordinance in the Church that often gets misunderstood is baptism. I, like many others no doubt, have partaken the sacrament each Sunday with the idea that I if I do so I will walk away from the chapel 'clean' as on the day of my baptism. I don't know that this is entirely true or false but it is the idea I have lived with for the past 40 years.

The New Testament teaches us that baptism is important but the reasons why are quite vague. The idea of purification by baptism as suggested in Acts 22:15-16 stands more as a symbol than a reason, probably because we associate water with cleanliness. The act of baptismal cleanliness is not due to immersion but the purifying power of the Holy Ghost for the redemption of sins, which follows (2 Nephi 31:17). Paul also symbolises baptism with burial and resurrection in Romans 6:4. Whether Paul's references to baptism on these occasions were recorded accurately and in their entirety or whether they were references in passing is not clear. All we get from him however, is that it is important to be baptised. Jesus told John that He needed to be baptised "to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15, 2 Nephi 31:5). Where does righteousness spring from? From obedience. Book of Mormon is clear on this fact: baptism's first and foremost objective is to make a covenant of obedience with God.  If the act of baptising was to wash away sins, Jesus being without sin would not need to be baptised. The obvious reaction to this is: He was baptised to be an example to us. But an example of what? This is where the Book of Mormon excels in clarification. Nephi makes it clear that Jesus' willingness to 'fulfill all righteousness'  was not to exemplify washing away of sin but to make a covenant of obedience (2 Nephi 31:6,7). In other words, at the time of His baptism, Jesus was making a covenant with the Father that He would be obedient and in the process making the example for us to do the same. And indeed the renewal of this covenant is what we hear in our sacramental prayers every Sunday (Moroni 4,5).

When Alma who had fled from King Noah with a small band of followers preached to them the covenant of obedience by the waters of Mormon, the people were so overcome with joy that they comitted to baptism there and then (Mosiah 18:10,11). Alma's first baptism was a man called Helam. His words to him took the baptismal covenant to a new level. He said: Helam, I baptise thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead...." (Mosiah 18:13). This is serious stuff. Especially considering that anciently covenants were not broken even at the point of death. 

Nehi makes it clear that enduring to the end is an essential component of baptism, one on which the whole concept of salvation hangs (2 Nephi 31:16). But there is another reason. Nephi says we must endure "in following the example of the Son' (2 Nephi 31:16). The Saviour endured to the end in every sense of the word. Not just to the end of His life, but to the end of His 'death'. You will recall that His suffering began in the Garden of Gethsemane where His mental anguish caused Him to bleed 'at every pore' (D&C 19:18). This suffering returned to Him when He was upon the cross enduring the physical break down of His body. Did He have the power to come down from the cross? Absolutely. But He chose to endure to the end, when all the mankind was redeemed and every soul accounted for, when He could say "it is finished' (JST Matthew 27:54, John 19:30). His death was His moment of choice. All things endured, all things suffered. Obedience made possible. Until death.

NEPHI ON THE BANKS OF THE RED SEA

You will recall how Lehi had another one of his dreams, this time on the banks of the Red Sea, in which he was commanded to send his sons back to Jerusalem to obtain the brass plates from a man called Laban. After a failed attempt and losing all their precious things in the process thereof, Nephi's brothers were more than ready to abandon the mission. But not Nephi. In his final attempt to rustle up some enthusiasm, Nephi used a surprisingly high standard of achievement to motivate his brothers to press on. He reminded them of the children of Israel crossing the Red Sea, and asked them to 'be strong like unto Moses'. He then assured them that the Lord is able to deliver them as He did the Israelites of old and to destroy Laban like He destroyed the Egyptians (1 Nephi 4:1-3). But his brothers were not convinced, in fact, they were even more discouraged (1 Nephi 4:4). You can just hear them saying: "This is ridiculous! How can you compare Moses leading 2 million Israelites out of Egypt to this dinky, arduous task we have received from our father?" But it wasn't ridiculous to Nephi. For Nephi getting the plates from Laban was akin to Moses crossing the Red Sea with 2 million people. Why? Because it was beyond his capacity but not beyond God's. And he knew if he couldn't achieve it, that meant that God would. Unlike his brothers who believed that parting the Red Sea was possible for God to do but not possible to deliver into their hands Laban and his fifty (1 Nephi 3:31). Quite a paradox.  Nephi didn't know how he was going to get those plates but he went anyway. The rest of the story we know.

It is the start of a new year. Everyone is setting New Year Resolutions. The statistics to this end are bleak. One study revealed out of 159 people followed, 29% gave up just two weeks into the new year; at 1 month mark, 36%,  and six months into the year, 54% were no longer on course. Is there something dear to your heart that keeps popping up on your list, the achievement of which has eluded you thus far? Something that is crucial to your spiritual or temporal wellbeing? Something akin to some ancient brass plates?

When you are standing on some precipice of life facing something that is beyond your capacity to achieve, do not back down, only believe. Do not look to your left or to your right but forge straight ahead expecting the God of all might to intervene on your behalf. Nephi moved forward wading waist deep into his Red Sea until it parted. I am certain he never expected Laban to be dished up to him on a silver platter (1 Nephi 4:7,8). All he did was trust the spirit by which he was led (1 Nephi 4:6). The God of miracles did the rest. The God who cares, the God who wants to help us, at every turn, at every corner, on every bank of the Red Sea. To him no challenge is too big or too small. All that matters to you, matters to Him. He is at our front and at our back. When we call, shall He not answer and say, "Here I am" (Isaiah 58:9)? He is our forerunner who prepares the way and our rearward in case we should fall (D&C 49:27; Isaiah 52:12; 3 Nephi 21:29). Can you not rejoice and have hope when you hear:

"For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee....I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight...for I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.....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 fathoming of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary and the young men shall utterly fall; 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."
(Isaiah 41:13; 45:2; 54:10; 40:28-31).

- Cathryne Allen

THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

I saw a Christmas movie recently in which the main character opened a pop-up Christmas card which revealed a Christmas tree with myriad of Christmas presents underneath it. The caption said: "What will you get for Christmas?" Upon seeing this bounty of gifts the main character exclaimed: "Now that's the essence of Christmas!" Needless to say I was rather perturbed by this. It made me realise as never before that we have turned Christmas into a meaningless holiday based on a lie. That lie being a fat man in a red suit delivering presents he has made to children all over the world in one night. This lie has pushed us all into frenzied consumerism.

I had never heard of exchanging gifts at Christmas until I came to Australia at the age of 14. I was raised in a Catholic country where the only focus at Christmas was Christ. It has always baffled me that we give each other gifts at this time of the year because let's face it, it's not our birthday. It's someone else's. Even if it is celebrated at the wrong time of the year. They say Christmas is really for children. I have been a witness to this as a parent. Now that I'm older and my children are grown, Christmas doesn't hold as much appeal for me anymore, except this year it has made me reflect on one absolute truth: we are all children. Children of a Father of all fathers. Children of royal birth. Children temporarily distanced but never forgotten. Why is this knowledge important to remember at Christmas time? Because through remembering we cannot fail to see that the Father who always gives good gifts has given us one gift that surpasses them all: the gift of eternal life through His only begotten Son: Christ the Saviour, the Babe of Bethleham, the Hope of Israel. If we can have eternal life, what other gift could we possibly want or need?

The magnitude of such a gift reminds me of a story that tells of a wealthy man and his son who loved to collect rare works of art. The son tragically died in the Vietnam war. One day a fellow soldier he had saved came to the father’s door and presented him with a portrait of his son he had painted as a gift. This portrait became the most valuable work of art to the grieving father. When he died some months later his collection of art was auctioned to many influential people who had gathered eager to see many great paintings in hope to purchase them for their own collection. The first painting that was auctioned was the painting of the wealthy man’s son. Nobody was willing to buy it and they pressed the auctioneer to display the more prestigious works. The auctioneer persisted exclaiming: “The son! The son! Who will take the son?” Finally a humble gardener from the deceased man’s estate offered $10. When nobody raised the bid, the auctioneer proclaimed the painting sold and advised the eager audience that the auction was over. When asked about the paintings of the famous masters they had come to see the auctioneer replied: “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything.”

Much like the auctioneer, I imagine the Father would at Christmas time wish to ask us: “Who will take the son?” Because you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything.

THE WONDER OF SCRIPTURES

The most exhilarating part of the Saviour's earthly life would have to be post resurrection. I can only imagine the hope and speculation that would have circulated in the midst of His followers as the news spread that He lived again. My favourite of the events recorded of that time is his walk with two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32) because this seemingly unimportant event has a connection to something very dear to my heart. It is of great marvel to me that when the two men recounted the story of His crucifixion and resurrection with dubious narration, the Saviour did not reveal himself to them to prove the story was true. Instead He chose to expound all the scriptures concerning himself (Luke 24:27) because they are they which testify of Him and His personification as the Messiah and the Saviour of the world (John 5:39). It was not until after the scriptures were expounded to them that they understood who He was. I have often wondered what the lesson was in all this. What was the Saviour trying to teach them? Perhaps that having the scriptures is the same as having Him in their midst as with the scriptures comes the power of the Spirit to enable all to believe in His divinity. This is attested by the two disciples who proclaimed upon His departure from them, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he........opened to us the scriptures?" (Luke 24:32).

Who do you see when you study the scriptures? The brave Jeremiah, the poetic Isaiah, the obedient Nephi, the repentant Alma? It is hard not to see these prominent and prolific figures. The challenge is and always will be, however, to see Christ on every page; whether in prophecies, in doctrine, in His dealings with humanity or valuable lessons learnt through the characters enshrined in the holy writ. I will tell you what I see: in the Old Testament I see the merciful Jehovah; in the New Testament I see the loving Saviour; in the Book of Mormon, I see the promised Messiah; and in the Doctrine and Covenants I see the majestic Christ. I have mentioned Ahab before who was the most wicked king of the northern kingdom of Israel. So wicked was he that Elijah told him the Lord will annihilate his whole posterity. Ahab did not repent but it took just one episode of sorrow on Ahab's part to evoke Jehovah's mercy. Because his sorrow brought him to the depths of humility the Lord told Elijah that his punishment will not be meted out in his life time but in the life time of his son (1 Kings 21:29). And did not the Saviour prove that 'greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends' (John 15:13) as he willingly remained on the cross until the suffering was complete and finished (John 19:28-30)? And who could not feel the anguish of Nephi as he prayed all day for deliverance from persecution and what joy must have filled his soul as he heard the expected Messiah say: "Lift up your head and be of good cheer......for on the morrow come I into the world...(3 Nephi 1:13)?  And who can read Doctrine and Covenants and not be in awe of the majestic Christ who has overcome all, and risen above all '.....for the Lord is God, and beside him there is no Saviour....Great is His wisdom, marvelous are his ways, and the extent of his doings none can find out' (D&C 76:1,2)

There was a time in my life when I felt I had nothing to live for. This is when the scriptures became my saving grace. They who testified of Him gave me strength to endure and to hope for 'life eternal because of my faith in him according to the promise' (Moroni 7:41). They renewed me because I came to know Him who renews all things and makes all things possible; Him who brings life to all that is dead and recovers all that is lost. In Him alone is safe harbour. In Him alone is endurance. In Him alone is life everlasting.

May we all believe that there is a life beyond our worst moments and may we find this belief within the pages of a book that can give us this life as expressed in a story of a man whose business was failing terribly and who was so deep in trouble that he was contemplating suicide. As a last resort he went to a priest who advised him to take a beach chair and a Bible to the water's edge, put the Bible on his lap, to open it and let the wind rifle the pages and when it rests on a page he should read the first words he sees. He assured him this will be his answer that will tell him what to do. A year later this same businessman went back to the priest in apparent affluence and success. The priest asked him if he did what he instructed him to do. The man assured him he did.

"You sat on a beach chair with the Bible in your lap?"
"Absolutely"
"You let the pages rifle until they stopped?"
"Absolutely"
"And what were the first words you saw?"
"Chapter II"

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

For years now I have been gathering Saviour's titles as I study the scriptures. So far I have collected 59 but I am certain there are more. I cannot rightly decide which one I love most but The Hope of Israel comes very close to being number 1. In his last conference talk, Elder Gong of the Twelve, pointed out that of all His divine titles, there is no more tender or telling than The Good Shepherd. Some of us city folk of the 21st century might find it difficult to relate to this title because  the pastoral life that the Saviour lived in is not within our frame of reference.  What we know of the Saviour's role as The Good Shepherd comes to us through the scriptures. The Saviour often referred to Himself as such because the people of His day understood what a shepherd stood for.

In April 1988, Elder John R. Lasater gave a wonderful description of a true shepherd:
"Some years ago, it was my privilege to visit the country of Morocco as part of an official United States Government delegation. As part of that visit, we were invited to travel some distance into the desert to visit some ruins. Five large black limousines moved across the beautiful Moroccan countryside at considerable speed. I was riding in the third limousine, which had lagged some distance behind the second. As we topped the brow of a hill, we noticed that the limousine in front of us had pulled off to the side of the road. As we drew nearer, I sensed that an accident had occurred and suggested to my driver that we stop. The scene before us remained with me for these many years. An old shepherd, in the long, flowing robes of the Saviour's day, was standing near the limousine in conversation with the driver. Nearby, I noted a small flock of sheep numbering not more than fifteen or twenty. An accident had occurred. The king's vehicle had struck and injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd. The driver of the vehicle was explaining to him the law of the land. Because the king's vehicle had injured one of the sheep belonging to the old shepherd, he was now entitled to one hundred times its value at maturity. However, under the same law, the injured sheep must be slain and the meat divided among the people. My interpreter hastily added, "But the old shepherd will not accept the money. They never do." Startled I asked him why. And he added, "Because of the love he has for each of his sheep." It was then that I noticed the old shepherd reach down, lift the injured lamb in his arms, and place it in a large pouch on the front of his robe. He kept stroking its head, repeating the same word over and over again. When I asked the meaning of the word, I was infomred, "Oh, he is calling it by name. All of his sheep have a name, for he is their shepherd, and the good shepherds know each one of their sheep by name." It was as my driver predicted. The money was refused, and the old shepherd with his small flock of sheep, with the injured one tucked safely in the pouch of his robe, disappeared into the beautiful deserts of Morocco." (John R. Lasater, "Shepherds of Israel", Ensign, May 1988, p 74)

In the Saviour's discourse on The Good Shepherd He stated that a good shepherd was someone who loved his sheep, knew each of them by name and would do anything to protect them, even give his life for them (John 10:1-14). He would go to any lengths to recover them when they get lost. Who could not be touched by the Saviour's parable of a shepherd leaving the 99 in his care to find the one sheep that was lost (Matthew 18:11-14)? Which of the 99 would not feel safe in His care knowing that if THEY were lost He would also come looking for THEM? Such is the heart of a shepherd. It is a heart of love. When Jesus asked Simon Peter if he loved Him and Peter answered 'yes', Jesus' only reply was: "Feed my sheep" (John 21:15,16).

The closest I came to understanding the role of a shepherd was during my childhood in Croatia. Even though my family lived in the city, my school holidays always found me in our home village with my grandparents and other relatives where I came to understand the saying 'until the cows come home'. Each morning 'a shepherd' would come through the streets of the village sounding his horn and the villagers would open their gates and usher out their cows which would follow the shepherd who would lead them to pasture. At the closing of the day, the gates would be re-opened and the cows would each wander into their homes. It always amazed me that they knew where they lived. What amazed me more is that they would follow a man who was not their owner. Obviously, the cows knew one thing - this man  was going to feed them. So how do we as under-shepherds feed the injured sheep? What is the pasture we should lead them to? There is only one - the Saviour of the world. Had He not proclaimed himself to be the bread of life (John 6:33) and the fountain of living waters (Jeremiah 17:13, Rev 7:17)? He is the pasture, for do we not partake of his body and drink of his blood each Sunday at the sacramental table; the body that He has laid down in death that we might have life.

Have you ever felt lost? Dejected, misunderstood, diminished, uncertain or afraid?  Following my divorce I was hanging by a thread. For some reason neither my Bishop or my Relief Society President nor any member of my Ward reached out to me. I had one close friend who loved me into survival. I do not know why nobody in my Ward reached out to me. It is not my intention to criticise or judge anyone here. Maybe I was meant to experience the initial trial of my faith alone or maybe people just didn't know what to say or do.  I languished like this for months until I moved to another Ward and everything changed. I came under the care of a very loving Relief Society President who became my life long friend and a caring Bishop who kept close tabs on me. These two people were not just leaders, they were shepherds. Under their watchful eye I regained my trust in God and became stronger in the Church than I had ever been before. They not only carried me in the pocket of their robes but led me to pasture. Such is the fruit of a tireless shepherd. As expressed beautifully by a close friend of mine:

"Would the sheep have remained forever lost
Had the shepherd not searched for the sheep and carried it home?
Would the shepherd have stopped in his tracks and turned his back
On the one wandering aimlessly alone?
Or would he have continued to search
Through dark and mist, tiring with each step
Labouring onwards, heavy with grief
Until he found the wandering sheep and lifted it onto HIs shoulders
To carry it home???"

- Desley Innis
(condensed and revised)

He is our exampler. He is our Shepherd. He is the pasture. He is the staff of life. He is the sustanance of both body and mind. In Him is life, in Him is endurance, in Him is hope. As the Lamb of God has He not laid down His life in death that we might have life? In reference to His beloved sheep He has said:  "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep." (John 10:10-11)