WE ARE WITNESSES

 

Feed My Lambs by Eva Koleva Timothy

Some years ago when I studied Isaiah 43 for the first time, I was very touched with the Saviour’s impassioned  testimony of himself. Over and over He impressed upon the House of Israel the role He played in their salvation:

“O Israel…I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine” (v 1)

“For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour” (v 3)

“….before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me” (v 10)

“I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour” (v 11)

“I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King” (v 15)

Two chapters later I came across the same theme: “I am the Lord and there is none else” (Isaiah 45: 5,6,14,18,22: 46:9). This basically is Isaiah’s message. His testimony is that Jesus Christ is the only true source of hope for salvation: “Out of 425 separate verses of Isaiah which are quoted in the BOM, 391 say something about the attributes or mission of Jesus Christ (Monte S. Nyman, Great Are The Words of Isaiah, p 7)

Isaiah impressed me so much by his testimony of Christ that I made it my mission to search the same in other scriptures and this is what I found:

There is none else beside Him, not in heaven above, or earth beneath or waters beneath the earth, nothing, nobody, nowhere: Deuteronomy 4:35, 39; 5:8; 1 Kings 8:60.

There is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits and mercy and grace of the Holy Messiah: 2 Nephi 2:8.

There is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ whereby man can be saved: 2 Nephi 25:20; 31:21; Moses 6:52.

Beside Him there is no saviour: D&C 76:1.

There is something else that caught my attention in chapter 43 of Isaiah besides this testimony  of the Saviour’s salvation. Twice in this chapter we are told: “Ye are my witnesses” (vs 10,12). This is the crux of the matter, the reason for the testimony is to bear witness. The witness of His divinity can only be borne by those who possess such a testimony. This is the responsibility of the House of Israel first and foremost but it extends to all who have felt the burning witness of His love and salvation. There are many Christians throughout the world today who have spread the influence needed to help someone believe.  

I offer here an inspiration from the life of one man, composer George Frideric Handel, who became such a witness. Recovering from a stroke and tired from a largely flagging career as a composer at age 52, he returned from a long and tiring walk one late August in 1741 and found that a poet and previous collaborator, Charles Jennens, had left him a manuscript littered with words of Isaiah foretelling the birth, ministry, crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. From this, Handel’s most famous work Messiah was composed in just three weeks. At the completion of the composition he simply said: “God has visited me….I am cured and have been set free”. He became a power witness of the Saviour to the physically and spiritually captive as he donated all profits from performances of Messiah to prisoners, orphans and the sick. (see (Elder Spencer J. Condie , “Handel and the Gift of Messiah”, Ensign 2010)

Every Christmas I listen to Handel’s Messiah. Each note ‘mounts me up with wings as eagles’ and reminds me of Isaiah. I want to write like him……..

You flowed like a river through my heart

Revealing the wonder of You;

And lifted my eyes higher to see the majestic view.

You ploughed the sacred ground of my heart

And tenderly sowed your seeds of love;

In gratitude, I scatter them in the hearts of others.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

THE WORLD OF ISAIAH 3

 

Holy One of Israel by LDS Bookstore

ISAIAH: “Jehovah Saves” or “The Lord Is Salvation”; a statesman, poet, psalmist, prophet, the mighty seer, Israel’s greatest prophet.  Son of Amoz, a prophet in Jerusalem during 40 years, 740-701 B.C. He had great religious and political influence during the reign of Hezekiah, whose chief advisor he was. Tradition states that he was “sawn asunder” during the reign of the most hated Israel’s king, Manasseh; for that reason he is often represented in art holding a saw (see Bible Dictionary: Isaiah).

QUOTED:  The most quoted of all prophets - Book of Mormon, over 20 chapters; New Testament – Jesus quoted him 7 times, the apostles 40 times more, plus 90 partial quotes or paraphrases; Doctrine and Covenants – 66 quotations from 31 chapters.

DUAL PROPHECIES: his time; the meridian of time after Christ’s crucifixion and 70 A.D. when Jerusalem was destroyed; the Second Coming; Christ’s first advent as the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53) and the second advent as The King of Glory of the Millenial Day (Isaiah 9:6,7)

CHAPTERS 1-39:  Ministry of Isaiah;

CHAPTERS 13-23: “Burden” chapters – messages of doom for sister states of Israel;

CHAPTERS 40-66: Visions of future;

CHAPTERS 12, 26, 27: Psalms and Hymns of Praise.

 

Among all the important prophecies of this one man, what shines the most is his testimony of Jehovah whom he called “The Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 1:4; 47:4):

 “This sacred title of the Saviour appears about thirty times in the writings of Isaiah but only twice in Jeremiah, once in Ezekiel, and three times in Psalms. It is not used elsewhere in the Old Testament, except in 2 Kings 19:22, which is Isaiah speaking. The Book of Mormon prophets Lehi, Nephi, and Jacob used this expression thirty-nine times, only four of which are passages from Isaiah.” (The Old Testament Student Manual 1 Kings-Malachi, p 137).

Consider these verses that clearly express Isaiah’s testimony of the Holy One of Israel:

“ Behold, God is my salvation: I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song: he also is become my salvation (Isaiah 12:2);

“O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things…..thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat…..(Isaiah 25:1,4);

“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. 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 40:28-31)

He, in whose hand is the scepter of kings

Who spanned the heavens above

And laid the foundations of the earth below

Upon whose surface He once achingly trod

Is The Holy One of God.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

THE WORLD OF ISAIAH 2

 

Feast Upon the Word by Liz Lemon Swindle

I have had the “Ten Keys to Understanding Isaiah” by Elder Bruce R. McConkie in my possession for many years. Even though it is an excellent guide to understanding Isaiah, it is rather comprehensive and daunting for most people who find reading Isaiah a struggle.

One of Elder McConkie’s simple suggestions is to study Isaiah’s works employing the Book of Mormon which he claims is the world’s greatest commentary on the book of Isaiah. Besides being the greatest commentary, it offers three important keys for understanding Isaiah which is a more manageable guideline for such intense study, especially for a beginner.  These three guidelines come from Nephi who recognized the complexities of Isaiah’s writing. Nephi acknowledged that Isaiah was hard for many of his own people to understand (2 Nephi 25:1). Nephi loved the teachings of Isaiah and quoted him frequently. His formula for comprehending Isaiah's writings is found in 2 Nephi 25:1,4,7:

1.      Understand 'the manner of prophesying among the Jews’. This manner of prophecy can best be learnt through scriptures and their commentaries: "The Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and the New Testament - provide quotations and commentaries from 42 of the 66 chapters in the current text of Isaiah. There are also allusions and paragraphs from eight of the other 24 chapters. Thus Isaiah is broadly commented upon by these three sources. No more reliable or enlightening sources are available, and Latter-Day Saints would do well to search these scriptural commentaries along with the book of Isaiah itself to obtain a deeper and fuller understanding of the great words of Isaiah."(Monte S. Nyman, Great Are The Words of Isaiah, Gospel Link 2001). Historical background of the place and time is crucial to understanding Isaiah as he wrote to people of his day using metaphors relative to their way of life and referring to places they were familiar with not explaining in detail what he meant by each word or phrase.

2.      Have the “Spirit of Prophecy”: “Nephi taught that the words of Isaiah “are plain unto all those that are filled with the spirit of prophecy” (2 Nephi 25:4). The testimony of Jesus [which comes by the power of the Holy Ghost] is the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). The spirit of prophecy, however, is far more than just a belief that Jesus lives. It includes an understanding that Jesus is the literal Son of God. It includes a correct knowledge of His purpose in coming into mortality and of the significance and nature of His mission. It includes an understanding of the gospel plan for His children, particularly those who spiritually become His sons and daughters through the covenant of baptism. All of this comes through the power of the Holy Ghost. The prophet Isaiah wrote under the influence of the spirit of prophecy. His writings must be interpreted under the influence of that same spirit. Those who desire to understand Isaiah should learn of Christ and seek the companionship of the Holy Ghost.” (Understanding Isaiah, Enrichment E, Old Testament Student Manual). It is true that knowing the historical background and the manner of prophesying amongst the Jews is most helpful but in the end, the depth of our understanding of Isaiah comes from the depth of our own testimony.

3.     Recognise when the prophecies of Isaiah are fulfilled. This is probably the most important one but yet the most overlooked. This is our advantage because we live in the times that have been prophesied of. It is of great importance that we recognise fulfillment of these prophecies to gain proper appreciation and testimony of them. Nephi declared that "in the days that the prophecies of Isaiah shall be fulfilled men shall know of a surety, at the times when they shall come to pass" (2 Nephi 25:7). One evidence of this is the fulfillment of a prophecy in chapter 29 of Isaiah concerning a sealed book being taken to a learned man. As Latter-day Saints we know that this fulfillment came through Joseph Smith. Non-LDS scholars, however, are still pondering the meaning of this chapter. Personally, it astounds me to read of events of our day that have been written about so long ago and this particular one about the Book of Mormon is a classic.

One cannot read and study Isaiah without feeling his passionate plea to the House of Israel to come unto their God. Isaiah wrote to Israel about the God of Israel. We cannot help but see the admonition to repent and turn to Him who longs to forgive us and to encircle us in the arms of His love. How can we not know Him when we read: "He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows; yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed" (Isaiah 53:3-5).

And how can we not trust Him when we hear Him say: "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 54:10). When scriptures such as these help us find the Saviour of the world, we will come to proclaim with Him, "Great are the words of Isaiah" (3 Nephi 23:1)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

 

MY EVERYTHING

 

Gentle Is the Lamb of God by Greg Collins

I looked up to You

When in my beginning.

I saw Your strength,

Your care, Your undying love,

And I knew only You

Could make up for what

I alone could not do.

 

You are my Shepherd,

You are my King,

You are my Holy Grail,

You are my everything.

 

-      CATHRYNE ALLEN 

TO REMEMBER

I wrote yesterday about God’s admonition to ancient Israel to remember their deliverance from ‘the house of bondage’. This practice was so ingrained in them that they took it to the new promised land in ancient America. Some notable references to this important part of their history in the Book of Mormon are: 1 Nephi 4:2,3; 17:23-42; Mosiah 7:19; Alma 36:28-29.  

Remembering became a legacy amongst God’s people. King Benjamin spoke of ‘remembering’ 15 times in his farewell speech to motivate his people to obedience to God (Mosiah 1:3,4,6,7,17; 2:40 twice, 41 twice; 4:11,28,30; 5:11,12; 6:3).

As I was reading Alma’s instructions to Helaman one day, I expected to come across this familiar scripture:   “O remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation….…” I was convinced it was the advice that Alma gave to his sons. However, this scripture was nowhere to be found in the book of Alma.

I eventually found it in Helaman 5:12, and to my surprise I discovered this advice was given by Helaman to his sons Nephi and Lehi and not Alma to his sons. I then realized why I got that wrong. When Alma spoke to Helaman he also, at one time, began with, “O remember, remember…..” (Alma 37:13). Like father, like son…… The legacy of remembrance passed on from Alma to Helaman was so strong that Helaman named his sons Nephi and Lehi for this very purpose (Helaman 5:6).

Alma used the verb ‘remember’ 6 times in speaking to his sons (Alma 37:13,14,32,35; 42:11). Helaman used it 11 times in speaking to his sons in Helaman 5. Why did Alma put such importance on remembering? This is why:  As he lay unconscious he ‘remembered’ his father’s prophecy concerning the coming of Jesus Christ and when he pleaded with Christ to have mercy on him, he could not ‘remember’ his pains anymore (Alma 36:17, 19). Remembrance played a crucial part in his conversion. I guess you could say he too was delivered from ‘the house of bondage’…..

When we pass on from this life, we hope we will be remembered for ‘something’. None of us want to be forgotten. Nephi is remembered for his obedience, Alma for his repentance, Helaman for his strategic warfare, Captain Moroni for his passionate patriotism, Mormon for his discipleship, Moroni for his endurance, but one thing they all had in common was a firm foundation in Christ.

Our testimony of Him and what we accomplish because of it is the greatest legacy we can leave to our posterity and to the world…..because the memories we leave behind of ourselves help others to ‘remember’ and that remembrance will lead them to courage, good works, endurance and ultimately to eternal life. This is the power of the Book of Mormon and all holy writ…..it makes us remember Christ.  

The testimony we bear, as His disciples, can ensure the world remembers Him…and now more than ever, to prepare to meet Him. Because He remembers us, and He will never forget…” Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands; thy walls are continually before me….” (Isaiah 49:15-16)

 - CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Walk by Faith by Chris Brazelton)

THE SCHOOL OF SPIRITS

 

I love the fact that the scriptures are a bridge across time and testify of the one and only truth in different dispensations. What Abraham was given to know almost 2,000 years B.C. about “the intelligences that were organised before the world was”, President Joseph Fielding Smith was also told in the year 1918 A.D. during his vision of the spirit world where he witnessed the presence of the ‘noble and great intelligences’ who were chosen as leaders in Christ’s Church (Abraham 3:22,23). After seeing the early leaders of this dispensation, his vision was expanded to others:

“I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God. Even before they were born, they, with MANY OTHERS, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.” (D&C 138:55,56)

It is worthy to notice that the noble and great ones were not only the leaders but ‘many others’ who have been called to labour for the salvation of God’s children, whether in this life or the spirit world. Many of these spirits were faithful daughters of Mother Eve ‘who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God’ (D&C 138:39). This is us.

No doubt our preparation was based on our commitment, our intelligence, our talents and the growth we had already acquired. Of this preparation, President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “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.

“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”. (“The Way to Perfection” [1970], 50-51).

If you ever feel that you have nothing to offer to the Church, your circle of family and friends or even the world, don’t. We are a chain of humanity. Each of us contributes in different ways. Even if it is just to increase light in the world of darkness, by our goodness, our testimony, our service, our love. The Father places each one of His children in time and place where they can be of advantage and where their spirit can shine to be ‘the light of the world’ in whatever capacity is theirs (Matthew 5:14-16).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that “the greatest and most important talent or capacity that any of the spirit children of the Father could gain is the talent of spirituality” (“A New Witness for the Articles of Faith” [1985] p 512). Why is this talent the most important? Because we need it to testify of God the Father and His Son and to labour for the salvation of souls.

If you love God and accept His Beloved Son as your Saviour, you are one of the noble and great ones…..your love for Him will spread throughout the world and touch people you might never even get to know.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Christ by Farid Fadel)

BE PREPARED

 

Section 133 of the Doctrine and Covenants was received by revelation on 3^rd November 1831 and called the Appendix (“History of the Church”, 1:229). Elder John A. Widtsoe explained that this section was named such because it supplements the introduction to the Doctrine and Covenants in Section 1 identifying the book as a voice of warning to the world.

This Section affirms the Second Coming of the Lord who “shall come to recompense unto every man according to his work, and measure to every man according to the measure which he has measured to his fellow man” (D&C 1:10).

The Appendix reiterates the warning to ready ourselves in three parts: prepare, sanctify, and gather.

PREPARATION: President Harold B. Lee defined preparation as coming to know the Saviour Jesus Christ first and foremost: “…How can one meet a person whose identity is unknown? How can one be prepared to meet a person about whom he has no knowledge? How can one be prepared to meet a being whose personality he cannot comprehend?....to receive the Lord at the beginning of the Millenium reign demands that the people be taught to accept the divinity of the mission of Jesus as the Saviour of the world (see Alma 11:37,40).” (In Conference Report, Oct. 1956)

Recognising the Saviour as He appears in the clouds of heaven will, I believe, be an automatic thing for everyone when He comes. To me it seems that the whole world has heard of Him in some way but mostly I believe it will be a thing of intuition that will cause everyone to recognise Him as every ‘knee shall bend and every tongue confess’ that He is the Christ (D&C 88:104).

There is, however, for us, members of His Church, more to ‘knowing’ Him. Accepting the divinity of His mission as the Saviour of the world depends also on our testimony of its process:  

“We must accept the divine mission of the Prophet Joseph Smith as the instrumentality through which the restoration of the gospel and the organisation of the Church of Jesus Christ was accomplished. Each member of the Church, to be prepared for the millennial reign, must receive a testimony, each for himself, of the divinity of the work established by Joseph Smith.”  (Harold B. Lee, in CR Oct 1956)

If we cannot accept Joseph as the Prophet of this Dispensation, we cannot accept the priesthood ordinances and the organisation of the Church which will be the administrative force of the theocratic government of the Millenium.

This made me reflect on those who have left the Church because they have been sidetracked by false accusations to consider Joseph a fallen prophet. I know a few members who do so. I agonise over them when I read the consequences of their rejection of someone the Saviour himself had chosen to bring the world His truth (see D&C 121-16-22).

I believe each one of us who belongs to the Church will meet Joseph one day and we will see for ourselves the goodness of his heart and we will be grateful.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Bridegroom by LDS Book Store)

GRATITUDE BEYOND MEASURE

 

 

I imagined this morning during my reverie, how I would feel seeing the Saviour at the completion of my earthly life. I saw myself bowing before Him in my mind and an immense magnitude of His Atonement flooded my soul. I wept with gratitude at the understanding that I did not really know the impact this life would have on me before I was born, even though I was so supportive of The Plan…..but now I understand.

I have been what you would call a ‘good girl’ my whole life. I have never committed a ‘big’ sin of any kind but I am very aware of my ‘lesser’ sins, of every unworthy thought, feeling and action that might have been offensive to God. In other words, the natural man I am experiencing here.

Whilst bowing before the Saviour in my mind, all the earthly scars of my experience flooded me and I really and truly understood the impact the Atonement will have on my life on Judgment Day….how it will cover all my un-godlike behaviours and wipe away all my embarrassments and godly sorrow I have because of them.

I understood so well the blessing of the sanctification process I will go through. And all because of the suffering of one man who will step before me on Judgment Day to answer for my sins. This is the power of mediation, the power of intercession, the power of advocacy of a God who volunteered to save my soul.

I bow now and will bow always before the magnitude of such power and love…..all glory be His now and forever and ever…..

 

With what heavy steps

You approached the garden’s gate!

You suffered, You atoned,

You hung lifeless on the cross,

As you met Your appointed fate.

 

I waited for my turn on earth

And watched with angels

Your rise from the darkened tomb

That could not contain

The magnitude of You.

 

I saw Your glory that shone so bright

Defeating death and making all anew

And I wept for the greatness of hope

That rose with You.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Encircled In The Arms of His Love by Eva Koleva Timothy)

A WITNESS OF HIS NAME

 

“It will be observed that the testimonies concerning the birth of the Messiah are from two extremes, the lowly shepherds in the Judean field, and the learned magi from the far east. We cannot think this is the result of mere chance, but that in it may be discerned the purpose and wisdom of God.” (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 108)

And so to the populace of Israel that was looking forward to the coming of the Messiah, as prophesied, God sent the witness of shepherds who watched over their flock when the hope of Israel entered the world.

“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass….and when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning the child” (Luke 2:15,17)

“But there were classes of people among the Jews whom these lowly shepherd witnesses could not reach….and had they been able to reach them, the story of the angel’s visit, and the concourse of angels singing…would doubtless have been accounted as an idle tale of superstitious folk….Hence God raised up another class of witnesses – the wise men from the east – witnesses that could enter the royal palace of proud King Herod and proud priests of Judea (Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 109).

When apostle Paul defended his testimony of Christ, he said to King Agrippa that he only witnessed to ‘both small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come’. And then he reiterated that these things that were prophesied of Christ were not ‘done in a corner’. In other words, all that was prophesied of Him came true and are known because they were not hidden (Acts 26:22-26).

Such is the importance of witnesses. God does not do anything in secret. Neither is He oblivious to the fact that mere mortals cannot exercise such exceeding faith that prophecies, warnings and witnesses would not be needed and so he provides it all and we fail to believe often even with all three. Such has been the disbelief in the resurrection of Christ despite many witnesses who were resurrected after Him (Matthew 27:51-53).

When Jesus prayed for His apostles during the intercessory prayer, He said: “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word….that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (John 17:20,21). This is us, we are those who believe through the testimony of the prophets, old and new.

“And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His name” (John 20:30,31). And so the scriptures become the greatest witness to the world of the reality of Christ.

Every act of faith, every moment of trust, every revelation, every answer to prayer, every knowledge of truth we acquire, every good thing that builds our testimony in Christ is propelled into the world to open the eyes of some unbeliever. 

We too are witnesses…..

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Tender Shepherd by Eva Koleva Timothy)

SAVED IN THE KINGDOM

 

 

There are two prophets in the Book of Mormon who I admire for one specific thing: they valued being saved in the kingdom of God more than they valued their lives.

As you will recall, Abinadi, was a prophet sent to the descendants of Zeniff with a grim prediction of bondage and destruction if they did not turn away from their sins. The king who sat on the throne governing this people was Zeniff's son Noah. Unlike his father before him who led the people in righteousness, Noah was the opposite.

Abinadi's message was not well received to say the least. In fact, King Noah sought to put him to death. Abinadi escaped only to resurface two years later not caring much for his life. This time King Noah succeeded in turning Abinadi into one of the great Christian martyrs. 

The scriptures say Abinadi 'suffered death by fire' (Mosiah 17:20). Our modern-day supposition of this would be being burned at stake, however, the description of his death never mentions that this was the case. Instead, it states that Abinadi was 'scourged with faggots'...'until the flames began to scorch him' (Mosiah 17:13,14).

Such a death is almost too much for our modern sensibilities to contemplate because history speaks of the ancient method of burning bundles of sticks (faggots) with which they poked and burnt the victim's skin until he died. Sometimes this process was dragged out for days or weeks to maximise the extent of the agony. This is most likely the death that Abinadi suffered.

Abinadi testified of Christ, spoke at length about resurrection and expounded on Isaiah but the greatest words he uttered were these: "....I finish my message; and then it matters not whither I go, if it so be that I am saved." (Mosiah 13:9)

Ether was banished by the Jaredites who rejected his ‘great and marvellous prophecies’ and ‘esteemed him as naught, and cast him out’ (Ether 13:13). He was reduced to living in a cavity of a rock where he lived during the day recording the sad tale of the destruction of his people, the results of which he viewed by night (v 14).

Ether spent six years in the cavity of the rock because people sought to kill him (Ether 13:22;14:3;15:14). There was no mention of any friends or family. He lived in such a manner for this long to bear witness of the total destruction of the Jaredites. After their last and fatal battle, the Lord instructed Ether to view the carnage and record that all the words of the Lord had been fulfilled (Ether 15:33).

 

We don’t know what happened to Ether, whether he was translated or whether he died but he didn’t much care according to the very last words he wrote : ‘it mattereth not, if it so be that I am saved in the kingdom of God’ (Ether 15:33,34).

An iron-clad testimony of Christ would mean that you would not only live for the truth but die for it too. When I read Nephi’s vision of us and the persecution that awaits us before the Saviour comes (1 Nephi 14:12-14), I wonder how many of us would say that it doesn’t matter what happens to us if we are saved in the kingdom of God. I only hope that I am one of them.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Ether by James H. Fullmer)

THE SEED, THE TREE, THE FRUIT

 

Alma delivered an amazing discourse on faith when teaching the Zoromites, which is found in Alma 32. Most of us are familiar with this chapter as it is always referred to when we talk about faith. However, this discourse is not just about the principle of faith. This chapter is about faith in Christ.

Alma compared faith to a seed, which, when nourished, grows into a tree and eventually produces fruit. And not just faith in anything but in the word of God (v 28). Elder Jeffrey R. Holland explains what that word really is: “In the brilliant discourse of Alma 32, Alma moves the reader from a general commentary on faith in the seedlike word of God to a focused discourse on faith in Christ as the Word of God, grown to a fruit-bearing tree, a tree whose fruit is exactly that of Lehi’s earlier perception of Christ’s love….” (Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 169). See John 1:1 for clarification of the Word of God being Christ.

Alma compares faith to a seed because in the beginning it is something small, and really only just a belief, but this seed has the ability to produce something great, a fruit that becomes knowledge. Alma identifies this fruit as ‘most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet’ and those who have nourished the tree will eat of it and they shall not ‘hunger’ and also not ‘thirst’ (Alma 32:42). This is clear reference to Christ being ‘the fruit’ because Jesus is ‘the bread of life’ (John 6:31,51) which takes away hunger and He is ‘the living water’ which takes away the thirst (John 4:6-15; 7:37).

Again, in the words of Elder Holland: “Christ is the bread of life, the living water, the true vine. Christ is the seed, the tree, and the fruit of eternal life”. Elder Holland continues to say that “the profound and central Tree of Life imagery in this discourse is lost, or at least greatly diminished, if the reader does not follow it on into the next two chapters of the Book of Mormon” (Christ and the New Covenant [1997], 169). Alma mentions the Son of God 7 times in chapter 33 and Amulek speaks of Him 11 times in chapter 34, which makes it plain to see that Alma 32 is a discourse on faith in Christ. 

When our faith bears fruit, our belief in Christ becomes knowledge through the power of the Holy Ghost. We then have a sure witness of the spirit and not tangible proof of His existence. How many of us ‘know’ that He lives? Everyone in the Church who has a testimony. I hear it across the pulpit on Fast Sundays. This ‘knowing’ is acknowledged because of the spiritual witness of those who bear testimony. I have never heard anyone say, ‘I know Jesus Christ lives because I’ve seen Him’. That is not to say that nobody has, but we bear testimony because of the spiritual witness we have received.  This is knowledge that Alma spoke of.

We can have faith in many things but the ultimate faith is in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the very first principle of the gospel. Why? Because He is the foundation of this Church, of the Gospel, of mortality, of eternal life, of all. Without Him we would not be. At what stage is your faith? Is it a seed, a tree or are you feasting on the fruit that is most desirable and delicious above all?

 

The fruit, so precious and sweet,

The Father laid at our feet.

No greater gift He had to offer

The broken, the lost and the weary

Than the tree springing into life,

Yielding fruit with endless supply.

He gathers the fruit spilt on the ground

That multiplies with each harvest of

penitent hearts.

The fruit, so precious and sweet,

Grows on the cross at Father’s feet.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: The Tree of Life by Annie Henrie Nader)

COURAGEOUS ABINADI

 

 

Herein is Christ’s mercy to the descendants of Zeniff who had become idolatrous people under the reign of his son Noah (Mosiah 11:7). Whenever God needs to call people to repentance He sends a prophet. Noah got one of the most valiant ones that ever lived: Abinadi.

This is what will forever be recorded in the annals of history about this man:  His unwavering testimony of Christ. When questioned by the priests of Noah, Abinadi recited Isaiah 53 in its perfection and entirety. I am sure he didn’t carry scriptures around and most certainly didn’t have them handy when handcuffed standing in front of his accusers. How many of us could memorise Isaiah, recite it word for word and then explain it? This is chapter 53: “….surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows….he was wounded for our transgressions…he was oppressed and afflicted….”. the prophecy of Messiah and the foundation of Abinadi’s testimony. There is something else very interesting about Chapter 53. Abinadi quoted that Christ would, because of His death, divide His eternal reward ‘with the strong’ (Mosiah 14:12).  Well, you can’t get stronger than Abinadi who knew he was going to meet his death but who wouldn’t abstain from finishing his message. Take note why: “I finish my message; and then it matters not whither I go, if it so be that I am saved.” (Mosiah 13:9). Never a more poignant statement has been made…..in the end, all that mattered was that he fulfilled his purpose.

Abinadi's call to repentance was not well received to say the least. In fact, King Noah sought to put him to death (Mosiah 11:28). Abinadi escaped only to resurface two years later. The interesting thing about his return is that he did not reappear at just any time.  Abinadi's discourse with Noah's priests on the law of Moses, and his jail confinement of three days suggests that Abinadi came back during the Israelite festival of Pentecost (John W Welch, "Abinadi and Pentecost", ScripturePlus). Pentecost was a three-day festival which celebrated Israel's deliverance from Egypt and the receipt of the Mosaic Law.  So Abinadi reappeared during a busy time hoping to find a larger audience, not caring that there is a warrant out for his arrest. In fact, he ensured that he would be arrested because the first thing he did was speak against King Noah pronouncing a death sentence on his life, which he said would be 'valued even as a garment in a hot furnace' (Mosiah 12:3). This, he was sure, would bring him to King Noah himself because one thing he knew for sure, he had to deliver the words which God had commanded him to deliver (Mosiah 13:4), even at the peril of his life.

Abinadi did get to see King Noah and as a result he became one of the great Christian martyrs.  The scriptures say Abinadi 'suffered death by fire' (Mosiah 17:20). Our modern day supposition of this would be being burned at the stake, however, the description of his death never mentions that this was the case. Instead, it states that Abinadi was 'scourged with faggots'...'until the flames began to scorch him' (Mosiah 17:13,14). Such a death is almost too much for our modern-day sensibilities to contemplate, however, history speaks of the ancient method of burning bundles of sticks (faggots) with which they poked and burnt the victim's skin until he died. Sometimes this process was dragged out for days or weeks to maximise the extent of the agony (see Ethnohistorical Sources and the Death of Abinadi, BYU Religious Studies Center). This is most likely the death that Abinadi suffered. The amazing thing is that he anticipated he would meet such a death when he proclaimed without fear that King Noah would also meet a death by fire, which he did (Mosiah 19:20). Have you ever heard of such courage?

ODE TO ABINADI: 

How beautiful were your feet

As you published peace

And brought Christ as an offering

To the proud and the unbelieving.

You stood without flinching

As the flames licked your body

And defiant spirit without yielding.

With courage you proclaimed His Sonship

And His godly might;

With righteous devotion

You earned entrance to His holy heart.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Abinadi by Briana Shawcroft)

THE GREATEST GIFT

 

 

The never ending lessons of Nephi, the man whose soul delighted in prophesying about Christ (2 Nephi 13)….who delighted in teaching people in plainness that they may learn (2 Nephi 25:5)…..who had the spirit with him constantly (2 Nephi 28:1; 1 Nephi 4:6; 2 Nephi 25:5; 1 Nephi 11:1,11; 1 Nephi 15:1), but most of all this: “And we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that OUR CHILDREN may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins” (2 Nephi 25:26).

Nephi mentioned several times in his record that he wanted to teach his children about Christ (2 Nephi 11:2,3; 25:6,23,26). This I think was the dearest task to his heart because no doubt ‘his children’ would have included his entire posterity. His faith in Christ would have been his greatest legacy to them who came after him.

I think of many influential fathers from the Book of Mormon and the way they taught their children and passed onto them their testimonies of Christ. I think of Enos and his remembrance of the teachings of his father concerning eternal life which enlarged his soul to yearn for the salvation of the Lamanites (Enos 1:2, 13-16). I think of Alma the Younger who remembered his father's preaching of Jesus Christ who would atone for the sins of the world, and because of which he called upon Christ's mercy during his crucible of repentance (Alma 36:17,18).  I think of him becoming a good parent who taught his son Shiblon that Christ is ‘the life and the light of the world’ (Alma 38:9) and who taught his son Corianton the seriousness of sexual sin which led to his son’s repentance (Alma 39). I think of Alma’s son Helaman who affirmed to his father that he believed in Jesus Christ who should come and promised his father he will keep the commandments with ‘all his heart’ (Alma 45:3-7). Helaman passed his testimony of Christ onto his son, 2^nd Nephi, who passed it onto his son, 3^rd Nephi, who passed it onto his son, 4^th Nephi. And who could forget Moroni whose father’s teachings permeate most of his record, namely chapters 7, 8 and 9 of his book.

Our children will not forget our examples and our testimonies of Christ and they will one day seek salvation at His hand. This is our greatest legacy. This is our greatest joy. This is our greatest responsibility. This is our greatest gift.

I will spread the word

Your gift of salvation to honour

And satisfy my children’s hidden hunger.

I will help them know

Your arms are their shelter,

Your heart is their home,

Their only hope

For protection from the storm.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Forever by David Bowman)

THE IMPERATIVE BOOK OF MORMON

 

 

A friend who was distancing herself from the Church  asked me: "why would Moroni lug around heavy gold plates for 20 years, hide them in the earth and have them discovered when they were hardly necessary?" I was shocked by this question because I presumed that everyone in the Church understood just how necessary the gold plates were that Joseph translated into the Book of Mormon.                                                                  

One has only to read the book of Enos to understand the 'why'. Enos prayed earnestly for preservation of the records that were handed down to him by his father Jacob (Jacob 7:27). So much did he cry to God about it that God COVENANTED with him that He would bring them forth in His own due time (Enos 1:16). Not only did Enos ask this of the Lord but his fathers also (Enos 1:18). So it goes without saying that everyone who wrote on the plates was desperate to have them preserved. Now this is the interesting bit. The Lamanites knew of these records and swore that they would destroy them and "all the traditions of the fathers" (Enos 1:14). And what were these traditions? In Nephi's words: "...we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ.."(2 Nephi 25:26). So what then was the purpose of the preservation? Jacob says so that their posterity would know that they believed in Christ (Jacob 4:1-5). Enos went one step further and pleaded with the Lord to preserve the records so that the Lamanites would one day, because of them, be brought unto salvation (Enos 1:13). Why? Because they testify of Christ.

Mormon was 10 years old when he was told of the plates by Ammaron (Mormon 1:1-3). Imagine being 10 years old and given such a charge to preserve the second testament of Christ that would prepare the world for the Second Coming. I am thinking that both Mormon and Moroni understood Jacob's admonition that all who reject Christ and the power of His redemption would one day 'stand with shame and awful guilt before the bar of God' (Jacob 6:8-10). I am convinced both of these men read this and took it to heart.  Being men of God who themselves testified of Christ and having seen our day in visions, it was imperative to them that the Book of Mormon saw the light of day, at all cost. And I'm thinking this is why Moroni lugged the gold plates around for 20 years. Did he care how heavy they were? Did he care how long he had to do it? I am convinced his testimony of Christ far outweighed the gold that was in his hands:

"Behold.....I am alone. My father hath been slain in battle, and all my kinsfolk, and I have no friends nor whither to go...therefore I will write and hide up the records in the earth; and whither I go it mattereth not." (Mormon 8:4,5)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Moroni Travels by Katie Payne)

AS I LIVE

 

 

There is a certain phrase I have noticed in the scriptures where the Lord bears witness of His existence. This phrase is: “AS I LIVE”. It is mostly used in conjunction with His promises to carry out judgment on rebellious Israel, or blessings in time of gathering. To me, the Lord is simply bearing witness of Himself. This phrase can be found in Ezekiel 11 times: 5:11; 14:16; 16:6,48; 17:16,19; 18:3; 20:3; 33:11; 34:8; 35:6.

 

There is another phrase in Ezekiel that the Saviour uses often that He will affirm His existence to us either through His just punishment or His saving grace and that phrase is: “YE SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD”. It can be found in Ezekiel 21 times: 6:7,14; 7:4,9; 11:10,12; 12:20; 13:9,14,21,23; 14:8; 15:7; 16:62; 17:21; 24:24,27; 25:5,7; 36:11; 37:6. This phrase is also used in conjunction with His promise to carry out His judgment upon the inhabitants of the earth where He proclaims: “and they shall know that I am the Lord” (6:14; 30:19,26; 32:15; 35:4,9,15; 38:23; 39:6) thus flooding the earth with knowledge and proof of His existence. 

 

I can bear witness to the ‘saving grace’ nature of the second phrase. Some time ago, I took a certain petition to God in prayer and, as is my custom, I retreated to the scriptures afterwards to see if He would give me an answer through His written word. The scriptures opened to a page with only one phrase highlighted: “Ye shall know that I am the Lord”……I knew in that instant that the Saviour lived, that He had heard my prayer, and that He would grant me my heart’s desire. I knew that I was kneeling in front of Him who has all power, might, mercy, wisdom and love. I knew the Lord that day because He bore witness to me of His reality. 

 

How great Thy wisdom,

How great Thy mercy,

How great Thy love

That fills my joyful heart;

How very great Thou art!

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Artist Unknown)