I AM THE WAY

 

(Artist Unknown)

“How can we know the way? Asked Thomas, as he sat with his fellow apostles and their Lord at the table after the supper on the memorable night of the betrayal; and Christ’s divine answer was:

“I am the way, the truth and the life….(John 14:5-6). And so He is! He is the source of our comfort, the inspiration of our life, the author of our salvation. If we want to know our relationship to God, we go to Jesus Christ. If we would know the truth of the immortality of the soul, we have it exemplified in the Saviour’s resurrection.

“If we desire to learn the ideal life to lead among our fellowmen, we can find a perfect example in the life of Jesus. Whatsoever our noble desires, our lofty aspirations, our ideals in any phase of life, we can look to Christ and find perfection. So, in seeking a standard for moral manhood, we need only to go to the Man of Nazareth and in Him find embodied all virtues that go to make the perfect man.”

-          David O. MacKay, General Conference Report, April 1968, pp 6-7

 

You are my soul’s desire that I breathe in the morning light

That lays me to peaceful rest in day’s twilight of my mortal life.

You lift me on wings of faith above all my sorrow

And make clear the path I cannot alone follow.

I rejoice in Your goodness, in Your infinite sacrifice,

and Your everlasting love,

I struggle to contain You in the hollow of my heart.

The purpose of my existence I offer to You,

You are all I am,

my love, my devotion and my soul too.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

KAHLIL GIBRAN ON LOVE

 

Shades of Lavender by Alfred Gockel

When love beckons you, follow him, though his ways are hard and steep. And when his wings enfold you yield to him, though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.

And when he speaks to you believe in him, though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden. For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you.

Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning. Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun, so shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself. He threshes you to make you naked. He sifts you to free you from your husks. He grinds you to whiteness. He kneads you until you are pliant; and then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

But if in your fear you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure, then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor, into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.

Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself. Love possesses not nor would it be possessed; for love is sufficient unto love.

When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart”, but rather, “I am in the heart of God”. And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself. But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:

To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night. To know the pain of too much tenderness. To be wounded by your own understanding of love; and to bleed willingly and joyfully.

To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving; to rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy; to return home at eventide with gratitude; and then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

 - KAHLIL GIBRAN, The Prophet - A Timeless Masterpiece

THE VEIL

 

I stood at the veil

As You were about to leave

Sorrowing that not all would believe.

 

I prayed for Father’s power

To protect Your gentle heart

From the blow that might tear You apart.

 

I knew my soul You would save

And all Your promises You would fulfil.

I stood at the veil, unable to leave,

Holding Your crown for You to receive.

 

I stood and waited that fateful day

In awe of what You did to pave the way.

I could scarcely comprehend

Your godly enduring might

I stood at the veil and gave You my heart.

 

-      CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Artist Unknown)

A MARVELLOUS WORK AND A WONDER

 

Moroni Burying the Plates by Katie Payne

It should be exhilarating for every member of the Church to read of Isaiah’s prophecy of the gathering of the House of Israel in the last days. Chapter 29 of Isaiah in particular, because it authenticates the greatest treasure in our possession which is the key component of this gathering, the Book of Mormon.

Modern day historians are yet to discover the meaning of the ‘sealed’ book that Isaiah spoke of in verses 11-12 which was to begin a ‘marvellous work and a wonder’  (v 14) being the restoration of the priesthood, Christ’s Church, the ordinances and the gospel truths (see also The Old Testament Student Manual Book 2 p 165).

It is a wonder why the Lord used an uneducated man such as Joseph Smith to translate the Book of Mormon rather than an educated one who would no doubt have had more clout amongst the academia of the world and would successfully validate the translation of the plates as an authentic record of an American civilisation that once was.

I strongly suspect if this was the case, the world would not recognise the Lord as the one to who was responsible for this “marvellous work and a wonder” but would lay the credit to the intellect of man instead. Joseph’s education was very ordinary attained in the country schools in the vicinity in which he had lived. He could read and write a little yet he did not, like Professor Anthon of New York City, refuse to read a ‘sealed book’. When the book was delivered to him and he was requested to read it, he replied: “ I am not learned” yet that did not stop him from being a willing instrument in God’s hands to translate the record.

I am astounded that anyone could read the Book of Mormon that was translated by an uneducated man and not believe in its authenticity and the power of God that made it so.

Isaiah spoke of the spiritual blindness being lifted from the people who will come to ‘hear’ the words of ‘a sacred book’ before Lebanon shall be turned into a ‘fruitful field’ (vs 17-19):

“Where is that book? It is one of the signs of the times. Not only did the prophets predict its appearance, but Isaiah set a limit on the time of its publication. That time limit was related to the period when fertility would return to Palestine. Isaiah said that the book would come forth first, and then added that in ‘a very little while….Lebanon shall be turned into a fruitful field, and the fruitful field shall be esteemed as a forest’ (v 17).

“The time has expired. This new volume of scripture must have come forth before now or Isaiah was not a true prophet, for Palestine is fruitful again.” (Elder Mark E. Petersen, in Conference Report, Oct. 1965, p 61)

And here is the proof that the Book of Mormon is indeed the book Isaiah spoke of. Isaiah did not only see the destruction of Jerusalem (vs 1-3), he also saw the destruction of a people on the American continent whose speech ‘shall be low out of the dust’  through the words of the book that was brought forth ‘out of the ground’ (v 4).

American prophet Nephi spoke of the destruction of his people when he said that they shall write the things which shall be done among them, ‘and they shall be written and sealed up in a book’ and yet they shall be brought down low in the dust and they shall speak out of the ground (2 Nephi 26:15-17).

“How could Joseph Smith have known these things when the Book of Mormon was published even before this Church was organized, except for the fact that the Book of Mormon is the promised record that God said he would bring forth and join to the record of Judah. How could anyone understand this prophecy of Isaiah without the explanation contained in the Book of Mormon?” (Elder LeGrand Richards, in Conference Report April 1963, p 118)

The book Isaiah spoke of was taken from the ground, just as Isaiah prophesied, by the hand of the angel Moroni and delivered to Joseph Smith on 22 September 1827. The book stands as a second witness of Jesus Christ, that He lived, was crucified and that He was resurrected. It contains the fulness of the gospel of Jesus Christ (D&C 20:8-12; 42:12), is the keystone of our religion and is central to the Gathering of Israel.

“The coming forth of the Book of Mormon is a sign to the entire world that the Lord has commenced to gather Israel and fulfill covenants He made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob….the Book of Mormon is central to this work. It declares the doctrine of the gathering. It causes people to learn about Jesus Christ, to believe His gospel, and to join His Church. In fact, if there were no Book of Mormon, the promised gathering of Israel would not occur.”  (President Russell M. Nelson, “The Book of Mormon, the Gathering of Israel, and the Second Coming”, Ensign, November 2006, 80).

The publication of the Book of Mormon has topped 200 million copies worldwide according to the official Church news release in April 2024.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

ANGELS

 

Angels by Wendy Keller

Angels are you near me

To catch me if I fall?

Do you stand guard at the entrance

Of my heart

On God’s errand and sentinel’s call?

 

Do you pave the way

And steady my feet,

And ensure my enemy’s defeat?

 

You are unsung heroes

Of every journey’s flight

You are phantoms of love

Concealed from mortal sight.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

THE PRECIOUS CORNER STONE

Christ the Redeemer by Greg Collins

 “Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation…….”  (Isaiah 28:16)

“The tried and precious cornerstone is Jesus Christ Himself. Elder Bruce R. McConkie wrote: One of Isaiah’s great Messianic prophecies was that the promised Messiah would be “for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken.” (Isaiah 8:14-15). Both Paul (Romans 9:33) and Peter (1 Peter 2:7-8) record the fulfillment of this prophecy.” (Mormon Doctrine, p 657)

“Jacob referred to this figure when he said that “by the stumbling of the Jews they will reject the stone upon which they might build and have safe foundation” (Jacob 4:15). Paul also used the same imagery when he said the foundation of the Church of Jesus Christ was Apostles and prophets, with Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone (see Ephesians 2:19-20)” 

-          (Old Testament Student Manual 1 Kings – Malachi p 163)

Just as Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Church, He is also supposed to be the cornerstone of our ‘spiritual house’. Sometimes we might think that being members of His Church is sufficient. The sufficiency happens, however, when we make active His Atonement in our lives. Then our foundation will be sure and we will not be exposed to the risk of falling. Using the familiar and common parts of daily life as object lessons for his teachings, Isaiah teaches us how the Atonement can spiritually cover us:  

“For the bed is shorter than that a man can stretch himself on it: and the covering narrower than that he can wrap himself in it.” (Isaiah 28:20)

“…..if we are not covered by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ, we will find ourselves like a man in a bed too short for him with a blanket that is too small to cover him. No matter how appealing sin may look at first, it can never satisfy our inner needs. The sinful person will be ever like the man in a short bed with inadequate covers. He will twist and turn and constantly seek comfort, but he cannot find it. The Atonement of Christ for sin covers, or is efficacious for, only those who trust in God with all their hearts and keep His holy commandments.”  (Old Testament Student Manul 1 Kings-Malachi p 163)

I have seen your sins

And the years you have lived with futile pride.

I bore your life with crimson drops

And sought forgiveness on your behalf

To pay the price of justice

And mend your broken heart.

I wait for you to come

Into the shadow of my wings,

I have paid the price,

Come unto Me,

Your God and your King.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

A LIGHT INTO ETERNITY

 

My Guiding Light by Greg Collins

You enliven my spirit;

You bring me to life;

You enrich my impoverished heart.

You are the God of power and might;

You make of me what I alone could never be,

You light my way into eternity.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN