A WORLD OF HUSKS

 

From the forgiving heart of Joseph Smith:

"At one point Oliver Cowdery had disassociated himself from the Church. Joseph was anxious that he repent and return. He instructed his clerk: 'I wish you would write to Oliver Cowdery and ask him if he hasn't eaten husks long enough'."

(Joseph Fielding Smith, "Doctrines of Salvation", 1:227)

 

I had this quote by Joseph on my mind while I was reading Alma 22 yesterday and recognised the husks so clearly in the story of King Lamoni’s father, the king of all Lamanites, who was preached to by Aaron, the son of Mosiah. This king a good example of someone who has everything the world has to offer but yet not inner joy. As a king, Lamoni had prestige, power and riches but they were in reality just husks of the world. Despite the cushy life he had, King Lamoni’s encounter with Aaron’s brother Ammon led this king to some serious contemplation because of the ‘greatness of the words’ of God which Ammon spoke to him (Alma 20:17-18; 22:3).

 

So great was the King’s contemplation that he was well and truly ready to hear more of God’s word by the time Aaron was led to the land of Nephi (Alma 22:1). Upon hearing Aaron’s message, Lamoni recognised in reality he had nothing if he didn’t have the joy that comes from knowing God. He was so converted that for this knowledge, he wanted to give up all his ‘husks’ in the form of all that he possessed, even his kingdom (Alma 22:15). And then the infamous offering of the greatest husks which satisfy only in fleeting moments: “I will give away all my sins to know thee….” (v 18).

 

How cleverly Satan disguises the husks of this world! He would have us sleeping with pigs and eating their husks not only in this life but for eternity. Elder Oaks spoke of the vain things of this world (Alma 39:14) which form the ‘worldly quartet of property, pride, prominence and power’ (In CR April 2001, or Ensign May 2001, 84). Is this not a reflection of everything that the adversary stands for? Yet this is an attraction for so many of us and so we wander off seeking greener pastures like the Prodigal Son and end up eating husks.

 

Some years ago I came to see someone different in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. That someone was Christ. I saw Him in the figure of the older, faithful son, but with a huge difference. Whereas the parable's good son was reluctant and fearful he would have to share his inheritance with his repentant brother, the Saviour, from the beginning, propagated and promoted His willingness to share the inheritance with his erring younger siblings and to bring them back to the Father. The parable's good son never sought him who was lost, despite the kinship, despite the brotherhood, despite the Father's sorrow over his loss. Such a contrast in the character of the Son who selflessly proclaimed: “I will not only make it possible for them to come back, I will also share with them all that I have”.

 

Oliver Cowdery didn’t find contentment and joy outside the Church and he came back. King Lamoni recognised the sacred opportunity to repent and embrace the joy that only comes from Christ’s saving grace. The Saviour agonises over us while we are eating husks when we could be feasting at Father’s banquet table for all eternity. He has the power to bring us out of the world and alter the outcome of our destiny. All we have to do is be willing.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Book of Life by Chris Brazelton) 

THE HUMBLE GOD

 

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

 

This is the scripture which made me reflect on the extraordinary nature of His character as a God: “Therefore, I command you to build a house unto me, for the gathering together of my saints, that they may WORSHIP ME” (D&C 115:8). Can you imagine the amount of humility it would require to say such a thing for a God of perfect attributes and devoid of pride? It would have to be someone who knows perfectly who he is, is confident in that knowledge and most of all, has a purity of spirit and heart. Compare this to Lucifer’s desire to be worshipped (Moses 4:1-4).

 

It amazes me that someone so powerful who calls himself ‘the king of heaven’ (2 N 10:14), who can create worlds and annihilate them by the power of His word (Helaman 12:9-17; D&C 63:4) can be so humble. Until now I have only seen Christ’s power in His self-declarations but have overlooked the humility. 

 

This is why this is important for us: Christ’s humility made it possible for Him to condescend to be born to a lowly life: in a stable, a carpenter, willing to be subjected to ridicule and unacceptance. You might say he experienced mortal life at ‘ground zero’. And in doing so he ‘descended below all things that he might comprehend all things’ (D&C 88:6). What things? Our difficulties, our sorrows, our sins, our imperfections, our sufferings, our inabilities, our mortal weakness. The added bonus was access to our individual lives through the Atonement where He learnt what it was like to be you and me.

 

Imagine a God leaving His exalted throne and all that comes with it, to be rejected, spat upon, scourged, reviled and crucified. Imagine the humility it would take to subject yourself to all that, despite the power within your grasp. Embrace the beating of your cherished heart, you were worth it. 

 

Did your angels miss You

When you left Your glorious throne?

Did their voices echo in the lowly stable

When you were so humbly born?

Did they weep for you

When you had to suffer alone?

Will they rejoice at Your return

And sound their trumps

To herald their joy?

And will they praise You forever

As you reclaim Your exalted throne?

- Cathryne Allen