THE PROTOTYPE

 

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that all prophets are types of Christ (“The Promised Messiah, p 448).  A prophet is one who has the testimony of Jesus and knows by the power of the Holy Ghost that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Who can forget the promises God made to Joseph of Egypt and his prophecies as quoted by Lehi in the Book of Mormon? (2 Nephi 3) I was amazed to read how his life and mission also typifies the life and mission of Jesus:

1.       Joseph was the favoured son of his father; so was Jesus (see Genesis 37:3; Matthew 3:17; Mormon 5:14)

2.       Joseph was rejected by his brothers, the Israelites, as was Jesus (see Genesis37:4; John 1:11; Isaiah 53:3; 1 Nephi 19:13-14)

3.       Joseph was sold by his brothers into the hands of the Gentiles, just as Jesus was (see Genesis 37:25-27; Matthew 20:19)

4.       Judah, the head of the tribe of Judah, proposed the sale of Joseph. Certain leaders of the Jews in Jesus’ day turned Jesus over to the Romans. Judas (the Greek spelling of Judah) was the one who actually sold Jesus (see Genesis 37:26; Matthew 27:3)

5.       Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver, the price of a slave his age. Christ was sold for thirty pieces of silver, the price of a slave of His age (see Genesis 37:28; Matthew 27:3; Exodus 21:32; Leviticus 27:5)

6.       In their attempt to destroy Joseph, his brothers actually set up the conditions that would bring about their eventual temporal salvation. By being sold, Joseph became the deliverer. Jesus, by being given into the hands of the Gentiles, was crucified and became the Deliverer for all mankind.

7.       Joseph began his mission of preparing salvation for Israel at age thirty, just as Jesus began His ministry of preparing salvation for the world at age thirty (see Genesis 41:46; Luke 3:23)

8.       When Joseph was finally raised to his exalted position in Egypt, all bowed the knee to him. All will eventually bow the knee to Jesus (see Genesis 41:43; D&C 88:104)

9.       Joseph provided bread for Israel and saved them from death, all without cost. Jesus, the Bread of Life, did the same for all men (see Genesis 42;35; John 6:48-57; 2 Nephi 9:50)

-          Old Testament Student Manual Gensis – 2 Samuel, p 97

How much You must love those

Who bear witness of Thy holy name.

Thy prophets, Thine everlasting friends,

Thine angels who herald

Thy gospel and Thy name;

To the ends of the earth they speak

And their words forever remain.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Jesus by Land of Dreams)

TO SEE THE FACE OF GOD

 

Imagine sitting on a family feud for 20 years. Imagine having to face the person who sought to take away your life because of this feud after all the time you were estranged from them. This was the situation Jacob found himself in when God commanded him to return to Canaan. He knew he would come across his brother Esau and dread took possession of him. So much so that he prayed to God for protection.

Consider his humility in approaching God: “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant…deliver me I pray thee from the hand of my brother…..” (Genesis 32:10) Then he evoked God’s promise of the Abrahamic covenant through which he would be blessed with posterity ‘as the sand of the sea which cannot be numbered for multitude’ (vs 11,12)

Imagine Jacob’s joy when Esau “ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him”…..and instead of animosity, hatred and vengeance, they wept….(Genesis 33:4). And this is the reward of forgiveness in Jacob’s words: “I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God….” (v 10)

This reminds me of that famous quote from the finale of Victor Hugo’s novel “Les Miserables”, “To love another person is to see the face of God”, emphasizing that selfless love breaks all the barriers of contention, hatred and discord and represents the highest, divine and sacred experience.  

I could not imagine life without forgiveness. Living in such immense opposition and weakness, we simply could not survive spiritually without it because the imperfection of this life would canker our souls beyond saving. Forgiveness rescued me from the greatest trial of my life. This forgiveness was what made me ‘see the face of God’ because it came as His gift.

Now in this later stage of my life, I am learning more about self-forgiveness of my humanity. I erroneously and arrogantly expected I was going to be perfect in this life…..my weaknesses taught me otherwise. Self-forgiveness, like forgiveness of others, is a freeing tool that makes something wonderful of us. Consider Alma the Younger who suffered the godly sorrow asked of every repentant sinner (Alma36:18). 

Obviously’, the Saviour didn't require more than that of Alma.  He did not require him to live in the past or the future beating himself up for what he did.  What He did require of Alma was for Alma to become a great man.  A man who would be an instrument in His hands to convince others of His great power to save. 

Alma, who once went about with the intent to destroy the Church became Alma who led the Nephite armies in battle, who sat naked with Amulek in dungeons, who was spat upon by the unrepentant, who dumbfounded an anti-Christ, who baptised thousands of souls unto repentance (Alma 4:4,5), who the Lord in the end took up unto himself (Alma 45:19).  Alma certainly did become that great man that the Lord needed…because of forgiveness.

I am in awe of the ‘Man of Sorrows’……of His mercy and His love. The older I get the more I feel the overwhelming reliance I have on His salvation. He has made my earthly life possible and my eternal life a surety because of His forgiveness of my humanity. I am in awe of His ability to liberate the beauty in me.

 

If I had the might to plant Thee in each heart

Of all that breathes,

In pursuit of such a quest I would walk the earth

With apparent ease.

As I can do so little this desire to meet,

I lay my loyal love at Thy holy feet.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Gentle Saviour by Jay Bryant Ward)

THE CASE OF THE SPECKLED COWS

 

There is an interesting story in the Bible that has given me much reflection. It is the story of speckled cows. You will recall that upon arriving in Haran, Jacob committed himself to serve his uncle Laban for 14 years for his wives Leah and Rachael but after twenty long years of service the Lord instructed him to return to Canaan (31:13).

Laban was reluctant to let him go admitting that the Lord had prospered him because of Jacob, nevertheless, he asked him what wages he can give him for his service (Genesis 30:27). Anticipating this question, Jacob devised a marvellous plan, one that would recompense him for years of Laban's treachery (Genesis 31:6,7).

He told Laban that all he wanted were the speckled and spotted cows out of the flocks of cattle that he tended for Laban. And here unfolds Jacob's clever and miraculous plan. The plan was to make rods out of the green branches of hazel and chestnut trees and carve them randomly so that they appeared speckled. Jacob then placed the rods in the watering troughs so when the cows came to drink, the speckles would be constantly before their eyes (Genesis 30:37-42).

He did this especially with stronger cows. When the cows conceived, they conceived and delivered speckled calves. When Jacob's time came to leave, he was far richer than Laban had ever been. I don't know anyone who would think of such a clever plan or have the foresight and faith that this would work. Some have speculated that this was common superstition of the day and that there is no explanation of it by modern science. It is clear however, that divine intervention played the part since Jacob gave God the credit for this plan and since God instructed him to return to his ‘country’ and promised to ‘deal well with him’.(Genesis 31:7-9; 32:9; see Old Testament Student Manual Part 1 p 88)  

But yes, I do have an opinion on this….Jacob knew we become what we consistently focus on….

I am reminded here of the ‘speckled water’ we drink on regular basis. This water has a far greater image in it. Mirrored in the sacramental emblems is "the bread of life" (John 6:35) and "the fountain of living waters" (Isaiah 12:3; Jeremiah 2:13; John 4:6-15; John 7:37; 1 Nephi 11:25; D&C 10:66; 63:23).  Like the cows who came to drink of the "speckled" water, we drink the sacramental water in which is the image of Christ.

We come to the sacramental table to figuratively eat Christ's body and drink His blood. The Saviour confirmed this when He said: "He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me and I in him...he that eateth me, even he shall live by me...he that eateth of this bread shall live forever." (John 6:51-58).

Like the speckled calves that were products of speckled water, may we drink the living water that we may receive the image of Christ in our countenance.  

 

To my lips I take the cup

With bitter taste I drink it up;

In remembrance of blood spilt

My sins increase the bitter still.

 

The sorrow rends my weeping heart

The contrite spirit hope imparts.

You reach for me with tender touch;

“Weep not, I wept for you so much,

The price was paid, your soul was won

Our hearts now beat as we are one.

 

The price was paid, your soul is mine

Two hearts united in love divine.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Fill My Cup Lord by Danny Hahlbohm)

THE OPENING OF HEAVENS

 

In my 50 years of Church membership, I have never read the account of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood by Oliver Cowdery. It was a text in small print at the end of Joseph Smith History that I didn’t bother with….until yesterday…when it created such a flutter in my heart I wanted the ends of the earth to read it…….

The date was May 15, 1829. Joseph and Oliver had just prayed to inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins that they found mentioned in the translation of the Book of Mormon. What unfolded had an impact on Oliver such as he had never had before:

“The Lord, who is rich in mercy, and ever willing to answer the consistent prayer of the humble, after we had called upon Him in fervent manner….condescended to manifest to us His will. On a sudden, as from the midst of eternity, the voice of the Redeemer spake peace to us, while the veil was parted and the angel of God came down clothed with glory, and delivered the anxiously looked for message, and the keys of the Gospel of repentance.

“What joy! What wonder! What amazement! While the world was racked and distracted….and while all men were resting upon uncertainty…our eyes beheld, our ears heard…. his voice, though mild, pierced to the center, and his words, ‘I am thy fellow-servant’, dispelled every fear. We listened, we gazed, we admired! ‘Twas the voice of an angel from glory, ‘twas a message from the Most High! And as we heard we rejoiced, while His love enkindled upon our souls, and we were wrapped in the vision of the Almighty!

“….what joy filled our hearts, and with what surprise we must have bowed….when we received under his hand the Holy Priesthood as he said, ‘Upon you my fellow-servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood and this authority, which shall remain upon earth, that the Sons of Levi may yet offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness!

“The assurance that we were in the presence of an angel, the certainty that we heard the voice of Jesus, and the truth unsullied as it flowed from a pure personage, dictated by the will of God, is to me past description, and I shall ever look upon this expression of the Saviour’s goodness with wonder and thanksgiving while I am permitted to tarry; and in those mansions where perfection dwells and sin never comes, I hope to adore in that day which shall never cease.”

-          Oliver Cowdery, “Messenger and Advocate” vol 1 (October 1834), pp 14-16

 

How can I contain You

In the chambers of my overflowing heart?

Your greatness, Your mercy, Your love,

Are far too vast.

 

All that I am, I give to You:

My heart, my soul, my all,

I lay at Your feet forever more.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Knock and It Shall Be Opened by B. Laura Wilson)

GLORY OF THE PRIESTHOOD

 

Studying about the patriarchs this year has given me a greater understanding of the priesthood. I am developing a reverence for it I have never felt before.

I was reading the other day about the power of godliness through the priesthood ordinances without which no man can see the face of God, ‘even the Father, and live’ (D&C 84:19-22). Then something else caught my attention I hadn’t noticed before.

Verse 19 tell us that the greater priesthood administers the gospel and holds the key of the mysteries of the kingdom , “even the key of the knowledge of God”. I understood then that it was through the priesthood that all the revelations pertaining to the human family are given.  

I remembered Adam, the Ancient of Days, who bestowed his last blessing upon the patriarchs and his righteous posterity three years prior to his death at Adam-Ondi-Ahman at which time he ‘predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation’  (D&C 107:53-56) (see also “Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith” p 158). It was the priesthood keys he held that entitled him to the knowledge he received regarding his posterity.

I also remembered Abraham and the knowledge he was given of the universe, our pre-mortal life, the eternal nature of spirits, foreordination, the creation, the choosing of the Redeemer and the second estate of man, all of which we have at our disposal in the Pearl of Great Price. If it wasn’t for Abraham’s overwhelming desire to have the rights of the priesthood, he could never have been given this information relative to the covenant he made with God.

This is what confirmed to me that the priesthood is ‘the portal’ to the knowledge of God. Joseph records in his history the time that he and Oliver went into the woods to pray in May of 1829 to inquire about baptism for the remission of sins that they found mentioned in the translation of the plates. While they were praying John the Baptist appeared and conferred on them the Aaronic Priesthood.

He recounts this: “No sooner had I baptized Oliver Cowdery, than the Holy Ghost fell upon him, and he stood up and prophesied many things which should shortly come to pass. And again, as soon as I had been baptised by him, I also had the spirit of prophecy, when standing up, I prophesied concerning the rise of this Church, and many other things connected with the Church, and this generation of the children of men.” (JSH vs 72,73)

And then this: “Our minds being now enlightened, we began to have the scriptures laid open to our understandings, and the true meaning and intention of their more mysterious passages revealed unto us in a manner which we never could attain to previously, nor ever before had thought of.” (v 74). It is important to note that at this time they did not have the gift of the Holy Ghost. John the Baptist promised that was yet to come (v 70).

I think of all of Joseph’s revelations that are contained in the Doctrine and Covenants which give us pure knowledge about the Gospel and the mysteries of God’s kingdom. I also think of revelations of the living prophets since Joseph, the greatest of all being the revelation of 1978 making the priesthood available to all the males in the Church. What other Church has what we have? No other.

At last my mind was taken to the One who possesses all the keys of the priesthood and all knowledge of the mysteries of God, the Saviour of all mankind who is our High Priest forever (Hebrews 3:1; 4:14). When He returns He shall reveal all knowledge:

“Things which have passed, and hidden things which no man knew, things of the earth, by which it was made, the purpose and the end thereof – things most precious, things that are above, and things that are beneath, things that are in the earth, and upon the earth, and in heaven.” (D&C 101:32-34)

Last thought….Application of the priesthood pertaining to our lives is worth the personal pursuit….

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Joseph and Oliver Pray by Del Parson)

A TRAGEDY

 

I don’t know of anyone in the Old Testament whose life was as interesting, eventful and difficult as that of Jacob.

Destined from birth to carry forth the patriarchal line and obtain the rights of the priesthood, no doubt he was groomed to be the next patriarch by his visionary mother through whom this revelation came (see Genesis 25:22-23). The way the birthright fell into his hands marks the beginning of his extraordinary life.

In reality, Jacob did not cheat his brother of his birthright. Esau gave it away and Jacob took it, and only for one reason….he did not value it. In fact, he despised it (Genesis 25:34). This he confirmed by marrying the daughters of Canaanites who were descendants of Cain hence their children could not have the rights to the priesthood (Genesis 26:34,35). Thus Esau broke the covenant line and was not entitled to his birthright.

Esau started marrying the Canaanite women at 40 years of age, before the birthright blessing was given (Genesis 26:34). Forty years gave him plenty of time to prove himself worthy. Isaac could see this, I am sure, because he would not revoke the blessing once he realised it was given to Jacob, which he could have done as priesthood holders are given the keys to bind and loose on earth and have that action validated in heaven (see Matthew 16:19).

Esau felt bitterly sorry for losing his birthright and begged his father to correct the deception perpetrated on his father (Genesis 27:38). But not sorry enough….when he realised that the damage was irreversible his rebellious character showed itself even more. He made his way to his uncle Ishmael and married his daughter Mahalath to spite his father (Genesis 28:8,9). And so the priesthood covenant was in the right hands with Jacob.

From this point on Jacob’s life takes an interesting turn. He is sent by his parents to Rachel’s brother in Haran to seek a wife from the right lineage. There he not only gains one wife but four and consequently 13 children in total, 12 sons and 1 daughter. And so began the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

I can see Esau in many men who have rejected their rights to the priesthood and have left the Church. I have wondered how they will feel when one day they realise what they have lost. What bitter tears will be shed when they are told that there is no forgiveness of sins in this world nor in the world to come if they have turned away from the covenant of the priesthood once they have received it (D&C 84:41).

On the positive side, the oath and covenant of the priesthood entitles those who honour it, to all that the Father has. This oath and covenant the Father cannot break, ‘neither can it be moved’ (v 40). Is there a greater blessing and a greater promise than this??? I think not….

The Holy Priesthood after the Order of the Son of God was restored through Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery that the power of godliness might be manifest to men of this dispensation (D&C 110:11-16). The promise everlasting, the blessings assured. I bow my knee before such power…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Restoration of the Melchizedek Priesthood by Walter Rane)

A FAMILY COVENANT

 

The scriptures often refer to Jehovah as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob (Exodus 3:6; 4:5; 1 Nephi 6:4; Acts 3:13; 7:32). The Saviour referred to these men  separately and with a reason.

To be an inheritor of something is one thing but to be an inheritor with the responsibility of that inheritance is another. For this reason, the Lord renewed the Abrahamic covenant with both Isaac and Jacob and personalized to them not only the covenant but also himself as their God. That renewal came at a difficult crossroads for each of these men.

When Isaac was facing a famine in Canaan, the Lord appeared to him and told him not to go to Egypt but to remain in the land which He has sworn by oath to give to Abraham (Genesis 26:2-4). Isaac moved around the land digging wells until he came to Beersheeba where the Lord appeared to him again, introduced himself as the God of Abraham, his father, and repeated the promises of the covenant (Genesis 26:23-25).

When Jacob was fleeing to his mother’s family to escape the wrath of his brother Esau, he met Jehovah in a dream one night who introduced himself as the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and recited the promises and then he reiterated the responsibility of the covenant, that in his seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed (Genesis 28:12-14).

The Saviour’s appearance to both men went beyond the renewal of the covenant.  He gave them both tender assurances such as: I am with thee….I will not leave thee….I will be with thee, and will bless thee….(Genesis 26:3; 28:15). In other words, I am not just Abraham’s God, I am your God too.

In both instances God affirmed that they had Abraham to thank for the blessings of the covenant, because “Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes and my laws…..and I will multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake (Genesis 26:5,24).

And here is a clear picture of family loyalty. Both Isaac and Jacob understood the need to honour Abraham’s covenant with God and that the fulfilment of such would come through them. Neither of them backed down and said, “no, this is not my responsibility, I didn’t enter into any covenant”. I imagine that neither of these men would ever even think of dishonouring their father and grandfather.

This kind of commitment is a family tie that cannot be broken. This is family unity at its finest.

I know some families in the Church who are sealed together and claim how essential temple attendance is to them yet they are not on speaking terms with each other.  I don’t know how valid those sealings will be in the absence of some needed forgiveness that never happened or absence of honour some children needed to pay to their parents or missing amends that some parents needed to make to their children for damaging mistreatment.

The signs of the times are upon us. Friends have come to be cherished more than family units. The adversary is creating division in many families to the point of devastating detriment. Joseph Smith saw a horrifying vision of the last days involving families: “I saw men hunting the lives of their own sons, and brother murdering brother, women killing their own daughters, and daughters seeking the lives of their mother…..” (History of the Church, 3:391). This is happening in our day. We can see it on our televisions.

The Saviour gave us His Gospel to unite us as families. Is there a greater example than He who has honoured His Father through the life of obedience and submission? Each Sunday, as we sit in our family pews, we partake of the emblems that remind us to be like Him and to remind us of the covenant ties that bind us. Let us remember we are ‘a family Church’…..

- CATHRYNE ALLEN