THE SONG OF REDEEMING LOVE

 

“One Sunday morning our teenaged son stood with two other priests to administer the sacrament, as they had done on many prior occasions. They pulled back the white cloth, but to their dismay there was no bread. One of them slipped out to the preparation room in hopes some could be found. There was none. Finally our troubled son made his way to the bishop and shared the concern with him. A wise bishop then stood, explained the situation to the congregation, and asked, “How would it be if the sacrament table were empty today because there were no Atonement?”

-       Tad R. Callister, The Infinite Atonement, p 57

 

Doctrinally, if there was no Atonement: there would be no resurrection (2 Nephi 9:7); we would become subject to the devil forever and would even become ‘angels to the devil’ (2 Nephi 9:9); and we would ‘endure a never ending torment’ (Mosiah 2:39). A life with the devil for all eternity is a harrowing prospect none of us would rush to but there is one thing even worse and that is being shut out from God’s presence forever (2 Nephi 9:9).

 

When Adam fell, the Earth physically fell away from God and His habitation. In a way, we became lost. Have you ever felt lost? Either physically or spiritually? Have you ever felt the crushing absence of belonging? Have you ever felt that you were all alone in a world full of people, not belonging to anyone or anything? If so, try to imagine this feeling at its’ most intense level. Imagine feeling totally and utterly alone, and devoid of any human contact. If you can, you can comprehend the feeling of being lost. This is the fate that would be ours if the Atonement never took place. We would be lost forever.

 

After Alma tasted his exquisite pains and looked into the jaws of hell, he beheld God sitting on his throne surrounded by countless angels singing His praises and he longed to be in the presence of God again (Alma 36:22). Even Cain who chose to worship Satan rather than God considered his banishment from God’s presence ‘a punishment greater than he could bear’ (Genesis 4:13,14; Moses 5:38,39). 

 

How can we relate to a tragedy such as being cut off from God’s presence forever if we cannot remember what it was like to live with Him? Ours is a path of faith. When I studied the Fall one year, I came to understood the inexpressible horror of being endlessly lost and I wept as the comprehension of the Atonement flooded my heart feeling the witness of the Spirit in the very marrow of my bones. I think this is something I understood in my pre-existence, before this world was even made. This therefore is our key. We do not need to remember what it was like then. The Holy Ghost can give us understanding and can bear witness to our hearts here and now of the hope that the Atonement gives us; that we can be redeemed from the grasp of hell and the absence of a loving Father and be once again encircled in the arms of His love (2 Nephi 1:15). Does this not make you want to sing the song of redeeming love? (Alma 5:26)

 

This Easter as we contemplate, with gratitude, the absolution of our sins the Atonement affords, may we also consider the blessing of being at one with God again, the reality that only the sacrifice of Christ offers us. May we long for the reunion and the endless sense of belonging to a home we were once lovingly nurtured in. May we eagerly look forward to the time we can meet the Holy One of Israel as the keeper of the gate who ‘employs no servant there’ (2 Nephi 9:41); who waits for us with open arms (Mormon 6:17) to bring us back once again into the presence of our God. 

 

 - Cathryne Allen

(Art by David Bowman, King Print)

 

A TWO-EDGED SWORD

 

Those who read the scriptures will be very familiar with the expression of ‘the two-edged sword’. It is used as a metaphor for God’s word. To be precise, the Lord admonishes His people to give heed to His word, ‘which is quick and powerful, sharper than a two-edged sword’ as an opening to several chapters of the Doctrine & Covenants (6:2; 33:1; 14:2; 11:2).

 

For most of us in this day and age a sword is not within our frame of reference. Basically we can only relate to it by way of the movies we have seen. So what is a two-edged sword? Anciently, swords that were commonly used had only one edge. Obviously, someone with an acumen in warfare invented a two-edge sword which increased the effectiveness of the weapon. A two-edged sword could cut in any direction, no matter how the blow was struck. When you imagine the physical destruction such a sword can cause you can immediately understand what the Lord means when He says His word can ‘divide asunder both joints and marrow’. Bone marrow is crucial to physical life and I dare say, joints equally so. Thus we can assume that God’s word being like a two-edged sword, can bring about physical death. 

 

But there is more. Paul told the Hebrews that God’s word is ‘sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit’ because it is a ‘discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart’ (Hebrews 4:12). All this means that God’s word has the power to destroy both physical and spiritual life of man. This will be most evident when He returns as John the Revelator saw that our of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword (Revelation 1:16) symbolising the destruction of the wicked. 

 

What I want to focus mostly on is this. Besides being a symbol of destruction, the scriptures say the Lord’s word is also quick and powerful. In the King James Version of the Bible, the word ‘quick’ does not mean swift but rather ‘living’ or ‘alive’, as in ‘quickened by the Spirit’, which means to be given spiritual life. Thus, the word of God is quick and powerful because it is a source of life, energy, and power. It is also a part of the armour of God which dispels darkness (Ephesians 6:17; D&C 27:18). Thus the word of God not only destroys but also gives life. It all depends on the heed we give to it. 

 

When the Saviour was tempted to eat bread during his 40 day fast, He dismissed the temptation by proclaiming that ‘man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4)  Nephi and Alma spoke extensively about the word of God and what it can do for us (2 Nephi 32; Alma 32:28-43) and references to the eternal rewards are endless but I will tell you what it has done for me personally here and now.

 

From the time I was a teenager I used to suffer from periodical depression. At age 36 I became a serious student of the scriptures. Even as a single mother who was working full time, I would spend at least 1 hour a day studying the word of God. The time never seemed enough. Some months after I started, I noticed I was feeling incredibly good and I was no longer getting depressed. I was gaining spiritual life.  Every time I studied the scriptures I gained a portion of His Spirit, which healed my soul. I have not experienced depression for 25 years now. I am convinced that just as ‘the sword of His Spirit’ can destroy life, it can also destroy the maladies of both spirit and body and grant new life. When you consider that the Saviour created this world and gave us mortal life by the power of His word (John 1:1-4), this theory becomes a reality. It became mine.

- Cathryne Allen

(This post does not discredit medical attention deemed necessary by any individual for any physical or mental health issues)

EVEN SO, COME LORD JESUS

 

I have friends who are presently immersed in the Second Coming frenzy. They all believe that 2020 was the beginning of the end. And rightly so, considering that President Nelson advised in last General Conference that our 'new normal' should be preparing for the Saviour's coming. Some of my friends are frightened and some are very excited at the possibility that the Second Coming is at the door. The thing is, it has been at the door for a long time, only we have just now started to take notice.  Consider what President Kimball had to say about this in 1972:

"There will be no general warning to the membership of the Church that things will be shortly falling apart.  We have been commanded to follow the signs of the times and that is all the warning we need or will be given. But the membership is asleep. Like the ten virgins, we have been commanded to watch and prepare, but like the people in the days of Noah, many members have become lulled into a false sense of security. This 'lack of warning' is designed to weed out the tares; the 'all is well in Zion" crowd....when the cry sounds, there is no time for preparation." ("Faith Precedes the Miracle", Chapter 23)

1972 is a long time ago but the voice of warning did not start way back then, it started even earlier. In fact it started on 1 November, 1831, with the revelation given to Joseph Smith which is now known as the very first chapter of Doctrine and Covenants. We read in verse 3: "And the voice of warning shall be unto all people, by the mouths of my disciples, whom I have chosen in these last days." The whole restoration of the Church was accomplished for this very purpose, to be the voice of warning. 

I have often heard in Sunday School a very well intentioned but silly question asked by the teacher which goes like this: "If you knew the Saviour was coming tomorrow, what would you do to prepare?" Even sillier than this question are the answers I have heard, like: more missionary work. I am always amazed at this. Just how much missionary work could you do in one day to make up for years of not doing it??? What could you possibly accomplish in one day? My answer is, nothing. There is nothing we could do in one day to change ourselves for the better or to accomplish more good works. Nothing you could accomplish in one day would give you enough oil in your lamp. 

This is what scares me: When Jesus taught His disciples about the condition of the world preceding the Second Coming, He said that there shall arise false Christs who shall show great signs and wonders and they shall deceive even the very elect (Matthew 24:24). John spoke of one main anti-Christ who would assume the guise of Christ in the last days (1 John 2:18-22; 4:3-6; 2 John 1:7) Many of us who will not be endowed with the spirit of discernment and guidance of the Holy Ghost will be led away. The endowment of these two gifts is what the preparation in advance can do. When this anti-Christ comes, and we are prepared, we will be able to know him for who he is. I know some members of the Church who fall into the category of 'the very elect' and who have already been led away. It is scary to think that we can lose those we love. What should also scare us, is that it could happen to us too. 

John the Revelator was shown all the calamities and destruction before the Second Coming. We are living through these times, and the worst is yet to come. Nothing can alter what will be, except on thing....our preparedness. We can do today what will make the difference tomorrow. The more we prepare now, the greater our enthusiasm for His coming will be, until we arrive to the day when we can say: 'even so, come Lord Jesus' (Rev 22:20) 

- Cathryne Alen

IN SIMILITUDE OF HIS HEART

 

The greatest challenge in the world today is not surviving the pandemic, lack of entitled freedoms or even financial ruin. The greatest challenge in the world today is to love one another. The corroding sociologically programmed traits of self-centerdness, victim mentality, differing political convictions, and rampant sinful tendencies have come to undermine the neighbourly concerns we once had for each other and have hardened our hearts towards the tide of humanity. As the world has become less and less attractive, I have been failing of late not to be swept up in that tide. 

I am presently re-visiting the book of Exodus. Those of you who have studied this book will be familiar with the 'stiffnecked' children of Israel (Exodus 33:5). Over and over these people failed to respect the God who delivered them out of bondage. But who I want to talk about here is the person who 'led' them out of bondage, and this person is Moses. I cannot say enough about this man who has earned my ardent admiration....but I'll try to be brief. Moses was brought up knowing the Hebrews were his people (Exodus 2:11). He forsook Egypt when 40 years old, in faith, believing God would by his hand deliver the Hebrews (Acts 7:23-25), preferring God to the riches of Egypt (Hebrews 11:24-27). He went from the privilege of his Egyptian upbringing to slavery and then to being a shepherd for 40 years (Acts 7:23-30) before God deemed him ready for his pre-destined calling. 

What impresses me the most about Moses is this. When God appointed him to his calling on Mount Horeb, He told him:  'thou art in the similitude of my Son' (Moses 1:6). This, among other similarities between Moses' life and the Saviour's, has clear reference to Moses delivering the children of Israel out of physical bondage even as Christ would deliver us from spiritual bondage. This physical similitude however, is only a precursor to an even greater one. When the children of Israel committed their grave sin against Jehovah by worshipping the golden calf, Moses' reaction was not one of condemnation. Instead of considering them ripe for destruction and recommending them to Jehovah for extinction, he offered his own life in recompense (Exodus 32:32).  This is being in the true similitude of the Son. 

Moses led 2 million people out of Egypt and loved them through 40 years of unnecessary wandering putting up with their tedious murmuring, lack of faith and spiritual immaturity, even at the peril of his life (Exodus 17:4), yet he still loved them....even as the Saviour has loved us, with our tedious murmuring, lack of faith and spiritual immaturity.  Moses could withstand the frustration of loving imperfect people because he was in the similitude of the Saviour's heart. Could this be possible for us? Could we come to love the humanity that is being swept up in the tide of hate and wickedness and destruction? 

Moroni teaches us of a love without which we are nothing; a love that survives hatred, animosity, harm, racism, sin, abuse, racial difference and all the inhumanity we are capable of; a love that ensures salvation at the last day (Moroni 7:44,47). This love is a gift bestowed upon those who are true followers of Christ (Moroni 7:48) and not a love we are capable of on our own. This love ensures that we become the sons and daughters of God so that we will be like Him at His appearing (v 48). This love will ensure we endure the here and now and in the end it will bring us home. This love is the foundation of the glories of heaven and the cradle of eternity. This love is the pure love of Christ, a love that endures forever and ever.

- Cathryne Allen

(It is recorded in Numbers 1:45-46 that the children of Israel numbered 600,000 men; meaning only men over 20 years and over who were capable of going to war. When women and children are added to that number, the multitude could have been well over 2 million people. (LDS Institute Old Testament Student Manual, p 119)

- Cathryne Allen, Did Not Our Hearts Burn When He Opened To Us The Scriptures?

published 2021 by amazon.com

"THOU GOD, SEEST ME"

 

There is a woman spoken of in the Old Testament that is not highly considered or regarded. Her name is Hagar and her life story rends my heart.  The Genesis account of the Old Testament simply states that she was Egyptian and that she was Sarah's maid but one other source gives more insight into her life. It claims that Hagar was one of the daughters of  Pharaoh and that she was given to Sarah when she and Abraham left Egypt to continue their journey to Canaan (Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews, 1:223). Considering the riches that Pharaoh showered Abraham and Sarah with as they left Egypt (Genesis 12:16), this claim seems very plausible. In this context, Hagar's life of hardship begins at this point in history. 

Under Sarah's tutelage, Hagar grew into spiritual maturity as she forsook the religious idols of her home and came to know the God of Israel. Imagine, however, a young girl of royal birth, sent away from her home to be the property of total strangers, therefore a slave. But there was more. According to Bible scholars and modern day revelation (D&C 132:34), it was the law for a woman who could not provide children for her husband after ten years of marriage, to give him another wife to ensure continuation of his family line. Sarah decided that Abraham's next wife would be Hagar. I doubt if Hagar had much choice in the matter, being in the situation she was in. I imagine Hagar was fairly young since she fell pregnant straight away, whereas Abraham was 86 years old (Genesis 16:16).

The Old Testament records that Hagar became insolent towards Sarah once she knew she was pregnant (Genesis 16:4). Inexcusable I know, but maybe for once she felt she was worth something more than being a maid. She was now a wife of a rich man and she was going to be a mother, but not really....she was only a second wife with no rights and her child would by law belong to Sarah. She was a concubine. Imagine being of such lowly station for one of royal birth.  When she couldn't take Sarah's correction of her behaviour Sarah fled in search of freedom. And understandably so.

Sarah was the wife of the covenant and honoured by God for her righteousness but Jehovah is a protector of women and He knew Hagar and her life. When the angel of the Lord found her in the wilderness he told her, "the Lord hath heard thy affliction" (Genesis 16:11); that she will not be overlooked by Him and that her posterity will not be able to be numbered for multitude (Genesis 16:10). In other words, "I will make it up to you Hagar for the life you are required to live". Hagar was astonished and in response called the Lord, "Thou God seest me". What incredible difference that must have made to one woman who felt insignificant and 'unseen'. God who sees all, had regard for her and held her in the palm of His hand. This must have been what made her return to Sarah bearable.

What a triangle of trial this situation was for Sarah, Hagar and Abraham. We all know how things turned out for Sarah and Abraham but we don't know anything about Hagar's life once she parted company with Abraham. Did she spend the rest of her days alone and husbandless? One thing I do believe: Hagar was a good woman. Various ancient sources claim that Abraham provided well for Ishmael and his mother when it was time for them to leave and that he stayed in closed contact with them, visiting Ishmael often. Ishmael and Isaac also remained close as Genesis records they buried their father together (Genesis 25:9). This is how I know Hagar was a good woman. There was no hatred or animosity between Ishmael and Isaac. The credit for that must go to Hagar who didn't teach her son to hate but to love.

When Abraham was ninety nine years old and Ishmael thirteen, the Lord appeared to Abraham and told him Sarah will bear him a son of the covenant. Abraham's first thought was of his love for Ishmael. He fell on his face and asked the Lord to consider him to be the heir (Genesis 17:18). The Lord denied the request but replied, "I have heard thee" (v20). Once again, "I see you....I see the difficulties you have to live with....I will make it up to you". He said He would give Ishmael twelve sons and he would be part of the promise of endless posterity that He had made to Abraham (v20).

Are you a woman with what you think is an insignificant life? Or a man who is feeling the weight of incredibly difficult decisions? Is your heart torn by the vicissitudes of life? The God of heaven sees all. And He makes up for it all, to those who seek Him and would have Him be their God.  May you, who are in the waiting room, receive an increase of faith in the God of Abraham.....the God who fulfils His promises through grace and mercy, now and forever.   

- Cathryne Allen, Did Not Our Hearts Burn When He Opened To Us The Scriptures,

published 2021 by Amazon.com

SATAN'S COLD WAR

 

I recently watched a very inspiring interview with Jim Caviezel who was promoting his latest movie.  The  interview quickly progressed into his passionate speech about the importance of fighting a battle when one presents itself as opposed to shrinking back thinking fighting is not acceptable. He spoke of how the Christian pastors of our day are opting for appeasement and are not engaging in Satan's 'cold war'. I will not name the context of his interview because I do not want to be drawn into political debates. What I do want to do is talk about Satan's 'cold war'. 

We might ask ourselves what that exactly is. In my mind it is everything that is overtly taught today as 'good' but is covertly an opposition to Christian values and teachings. It is anything that is leading us away from God. It is: political correctness; cancel culture; racism madness; greed for power; human polarisation; governmental abuse of human rights; denial of truth; spreading of lies; secret combinations; oppression of others for personal gain; vilification and slander of others, and the list goes on. The structure of our society reflects all of this. The frightening part is that it is upheld and even perpetrated by governmental and bureaucratic men who seek only one thing, power. Why is this frightening? Because it is  leading to Christian persecution at large which will one day culminate in the persecution of the 'church of the Lamb of God' (1 Nephi 14:12-3). That means us. 

Satan is raging in the hearts of men and only for one reason. Because he has been allowed to do it. He has no power except what we give him. Fighting an enemy that one cannot see can be daunting. Nephi, however, gave us hope when he wrote that he saw the power of God descending on the saints of the Church of the Lamb (1 Nephi 14:14).  And even though Nephi saw that our numbers were few and that we were scattered upon the face of the earth, we were 'armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory' (v14)

In 166 BC, Judah Maccabee led the Maccabeean Revolt against the Seleucid Empire. When he and his men arrived at the temple and saw its neglected condition they rent their clothes and wept. Judah cleared the temple of all Greek statues and gods and restored it to its proper use. How could he not when the ensign he set up at the onset of the revolt was: "Who among the Gods is like unto thee O Jehovah?" (Exodus 15:11).  No one. What Greek gods could possibly rival the one true and living God? No god. Judah Maccabee fought for his God and he died fighting. His death stirred the Jews to renewed resistance and they achieved independence and the liberty to worship freely. 

We are the warriors from the front lines of heaven's battle sent to such a time as this to fight Satan's empire which spreads far and wide throughout the world today. To overcome the enemy of all righteousness (Moroni 9:6) we must first fortify ourselves against the powers of darkness that we might be endowed with the power of God. And secondly, we must stand up for righteous values by shunning the wrong and promoting the right. As we do so our efforts will reverberate throughout the earth. Even though small in number, we will 'come forth out of the wilderness of darkness, and shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners" (D&C 109:73; 105:31).

- Cathryne Allen, Did Not Our Hearts Burn When He Opened To Us The Scriptures?

published 2021 by amazon.com

THE CERTAINTY OF GOD

We can safely say that the signs of the times are upon us. Things will get worse and sufferings will intensify. Now, more than ever, we are in need of a beacon of hope and we all know who that should be for no man on earth could offer what He can.

In chapter 11 of Hebrews, Paul speaks extensively on faith of the ancients who did many marvelous things. He also speaks of many who had suffered insufferable things looking beyond this life to the eternal promise because 'God had provided better things for them through their sufferings' and for one reason: because without sufferings we cannot be made perfect (Hebrews 11:40a JST). I pondered why this would be so and came to understand that sufferings enhance our faith in God and who He is.

Abraham is the greatest example of coming to know God through faith, who 'against hope believed in hope' (Romans 4:18). We often say that Abraham's faith was counted by God as righteousness. And we often believe that it was his faith in the promise of a baby that makes it so. Inspecting Paul's take on the matter closely, however, clarifies this point to perfect understanding. It was not Abraham's faith in the promise that pleased God to such heights, but Abraham's faith in God's ability to fulfill the promise and integrity of His character which would bring the promise into fruition (Romans 4:21,22).  Likewise, Paul points out that it was Abraham's utter belief in God's ability to raise Isaac from the dead the instant he was sacrificed, so that He could fulfill the promise of a righteous posterity for his father, that enabled Abraham to commit to Isaac's sacrifice (Hebrews 11:17-19). 

What can we learn from all this? Mostly, that now more than ever we need to know and trust the God we worship or we will not be able to withstand the turmoil that is yet to come upon us prior to His coming. How will we contain the discouragement and fear at bay?  Where should our focus be so that we can have hope against hope?

Some years ago it was given to me to know that I was in the Saviour's inner circle in pre-existence and that I admired Him greatly. I could see this inner circle in my mind when I was given this understanding and I could see that He had a perfect balance of godly attributes. He was powerful yet meek; strong yet merciful; intelligent yet humble; strict yet compassionate; vengeful yet protective.

Elder Tad Callister in his book The Infinite Atonement says that we voted for Christ in pre-existence because we not only knew that He could save us but that He would.....that He would not fail us. We knew first hand the integrity of His character. I imagine many of us were in that inner circle and we knew Him intimately. But how well do we know Him now? Have we proved Him in our lives to the point where we can trust Him that He will see us through the calamities ahead and beyond? Do we see Him on the pages of the scriptures that we read? Do we feel Him in our hearts? So I say to you: Who is Christ?

- Cathryne Allen