HOW GREAT THOU ART

 

Christ by Jechoon Choi

How commendably patient Thou art

With the slow progress of

My proud heart;

How great Thy wisdom,

How great Thy mercy,

How great Thy love

That fills my joyful heart;

How very great Thou art!

 

-       Cathryne Allen

THE MANTLE OF A PROPHET PART 3

 

Dallin H. Oaks, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

At times it seems easier to believe in the prophets who have passed on than to believe in the living oracles and follow the counsel and direction they give for our day and time yet we do have a living prophet on the earth today and this is why. Each dispensation of time presents itself with different needs relative to social, cultural, and technological advancements of existing civilisations. Times change and so do the people. New warnings are needed pertinent to evils of the day and the prophecies of the Second Coming.

“With the restoration of the priesthood in 1829, there was a restoration of prophets in this dispensation. Living prophets are leading this church today. The greatest security of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints comes from learning to listen to and obey the words and commandments that the Lord has given through living prophets.

"If we listened to the prophets of this day, poverty would be replaced with loving care for the poor and needy. Many serious and deadly health problems would be avoided through compliance with the Word of Wisdom and the laws of sexual purity. Payment of tithing would bless us and we would have sufficient for our needs. If we follow the counsel given by the prophets, we can have a life in mortality where we do not bring upon ourselves unnecessary pain and self-destruction.

“This does not mean we will not have any challenges. We will. This does not mean we will not be tested. We will, for this is part of our purpose on earth. But if we will listen to the counsel of our prophet, we will become stronger and be able to withstand the tests of mortality. We will have hope and joy. All the words of counsel from the prophets of all generations have been given so that we may be strengthened and then be able to lift and strengthen others." (Robert D. Hales, Hear The Prophet's Voice and Obey, Ensign, May 1995, p 17)

We, members of this glorious Church of Jesus Christ get somewhat complacent about all the blessings our membership offers. May we never be like this member who was reminded of this very thing:

"She couldn't stand still. The mention of a living prophet had aroused in her a great enthusiasm. As I continued the lesson, the woman was up again and again, her hands flying as she asked for clarification and elaboration. She wanted to know everything she could about David O. McKay and his calling.

'He's a prophet', I repeated. 'Like Jeremiah or Moses or Peter'. The concept was powerful and she wanted desperately to understand.

'How does a man get to be a prophet?' she asked.

"I spoke then of years of preparation, and talked to her of obedience and faithfulness and study and prayer and service - those qualities that enabled a man to fulfill such a calling.

'But the most important requirement is that he be called of God' I explained, 'because he receives revelation from the Lord and delivers it to the people. He speaks to us the words and the will of God.'

'How?'

'Pardon me?'

'How does he speak to you?' she asked. 'I mean, how does he let you know what the Lord says and what he expects? When he has a message, how does he deliver it?'

"This was a missionary's dream. In nineteen months of proselyting and teaching I had never seen anyone so excited about the restoration of the gospel and the idea of a living prophet. She seemed aflame with a need to know the present word of God.

'Every six months, the Church holds a General Conference' I said. 'People attend from all over the world, and President McKay speaks, usually three or four times, during the three days of the conference'.

"I could see in her eyes a great desire to sit and listen to the living words of a living prophet.

'But does everyone attend?' she asked. Then thinking of herself, she added, 'What about those who can't come to conference?'

“I smiled. This woman was a joy to teach. 'The Church publishes a magazine called the Improvement Era', I responded. 'A month or two after conference, the entire proceedings of the conference are published in one of the issues. Everyone who wants to can get a copy and read the talks'.

"But there was more, and speaking of the magazine had reminded me. 'That isn't all'. I was nearly as excited as she was now. 'Every month President McKay writes the editorial in the Improvement Era. Every month we get a written message from the Prophet of God'.

'That's wonderful!' she exclaimed, and I agreed. In my mind the faucets were running, the baptismal font already filling. She said she had one more question. I didn't mind. After nineteen months as a missionary, I could answer any question about living prophets that an investigator could ask. Any question, that is except this one. As she spoke, I saw the plug being pulled, the water draining from the font.

"Her eyes shining with delight and anticipation, she said: 'What did he say last month?'

"I could not answer her question. I knew that President McKay had been writing the editorials for the Improvement Era during most of the years of my life. But I had never read a single one of them."  

- Ted Gibbons

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

 

 

AT CALVARY

 

Enduring in the Ways of Christ by LDS Bookstore

Today as I communed with Thee

You took me all the way to Calvary.

My heart stood still, the lessons came,

And taught me what in words I could not name.

I bow the knee and in thanks ascend to Thee

For all I learnt at Calvary.

 

-       CATHRYNE ALLEN 

THE MANTLE OF A PROPHET PART 2

 

Religious persecution seems to be an old theme. Like Elijah before him, whose life was in constant danger, Elisha became equally targeted for his prophetic prowess. Syria attacked Israel several times but was always defeated. When it finally came to the attention of the king of Syria that his soldiers were losing because of the prophet Elisha, he sent a large army to destroy him (2 Kings 6:11,12).

The Syrian army located Elisha in Dotham  where they surrounded the city so that he could not escape (2 Kings 6:13). The next morning Elisha's servant panicked when he saw the vastness of the army that had come to destroy his master. Elisha, unperturbed, comforted his servant by saying: "Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them" (2 Kings 6:16). He then called upon the Lord to open the servant's eyes so that he could see the heavenly hosts that were there to protect them for "behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha" (2 Kings 6:17). The faith to see the ‘unseen’ is of next level….

Elisha then prayed that the army would be smitten with blindness and the Lord complied following which Elisha led them into Samaria and into the hands of the king of Israel instructing him not to kill them but feed them and send them back to their master (2 Kings 6:22).

Another mesmerizing story involving Elisha and the Syrians was recited by Elder Orson Hyde. So afflicted was the northern kingdom of Israel with a famine that people were selling and eating mules' heads and dove's dung. The famine became so severe that some resorted to cannibalism. We even read of an account of two women who ate one of their sons (2 Kings 6:28-29). Elisha's prophecy regarding the famine is as follows:

"Once there was a great famine in Samaria and so sore was that famine that a mule's head sold for four score pieces of silver in the market and a cab of dove's dung sold for food in the market, I cannot recollect for how much. We should consider it pretty much of a task or penalty to be compelled to use an article like that for food, but the people of Samaria were sorely distressed with famine, and which way to turn to save themselves they knew not.

“About this time, the King of Syria, with a large army, came to besiege the city and there was a mighty host of them, and they brought everything in the shape of food that was necessary for the comfort and happiness of man; and although the famine was so sore among the Samaritans, the old Prophet, Elisha..., told them that on the next day meal should be sold in the gate of their city at very low figures, lower than it had ever been known to be sold before. A certain nobleman, who heard the prophecy of Elisha expressed his doubt of its truth, and he said that if the windows of heaven were opened and meal poured down from above, it could not fall to such low figures.

“Now see what he got by doubting the words of the Prophet - said Elisha to him - 'Your eyes shall see it, but you shall not taste it'. That night the Lord sent forth the angels of his presence and they made a rustling in the trees, and sounds like horses' hoofs and chariots, as if the whole country had combined to go out to battle against the Syrians, and they did not know what to make of it, and they were frightened and fled, leaving almost everything they had brought with them in the borders of the town; and as they went, the rustling of the trees and the noise of the horses and chariots seemed to pursue them, and in order to make their burdens as light as possible, they threw away everything they had with them, and their track was strewed with everything good and desirable.

“The next morning the people of Samaria went out and brought the spoils into the market, and it was overstocked with provisions and the word of the Lord through the Prophet was fulfilled. Now you see, the Lord knew they had eaten mules' heads long enough and that they had need of something more palatable; he had had the matter under advisement, no doubt, when the crusade was inaugurated against the people of Samaria, and he, in all probability, inspired them to take abundant supplies, that they might feel all the more confident on account of their great numbers being so well provided for.

“They no doubt calculated that they had the sure thing, little thinking that God was making them pack animals to take to his people what they needed. Their Father in heaven knew that they had need of them, and he sent them, and the people of Samaria brought them into market, and behold and lo the multitude rushed together just as hungry people will, and this nobleman came out also, and he was trodden down under foot and stamped to death - he saw it but he never tasted it.

“That is the reward of those who disbelieve the Prophets of God; it was so then, and if the same thing does not occur in every instance something of a similar character is sure to take place. There was no living faith in that man, he could not believe the testimony of the Prophets, and in this he was like some of our - what shall I say, great men, whose faith is weak and sickly, and they think they know it all, and can chalk out right and left that which would be best for building up the kingdom of God." (Journal of Discourses, 17:6-7)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Chariots of Fire by Slavujac 2013)

 

RIVER OF MY TEARS

 

God of Wonders by Yongsung Kim

You seemed so far away,

My hope of rescue grew into fears,

Oh how my heart rejoiced

When I found You

 in the river of my tears!

- Cathryne Allen 

THE MANTLE OF A PROPHET PART 1

 

When Elijah found Elisha plowing his field, he ‘cast his mantle’ on this faithful man who was one of the choice 7,000 who had not bowed the knee to Baal (1 Kings 19:18,19). Even though a mantle is a simple coat, it was a sign of Elijah’s authority as the prophet and Elisha knew what this simple gesture meant. He was chosen as the understudy and future successor of Elijah. Out of this simple act, the phrase ‘mantle of the prophet’ has come to mean the calling and office of the prophet. (see The Old Testament Student Manual Book 2 p 62)

Before Elisha walked away from his effluent life to take up his calling, he ensured the Lord knew his commitment to break with his past life was complete. He slaughtered the 12 oxen he was plowing with and destroyed the farming implements. He then built a fire with the plowing equipment and cooked the oxen and gave it to people to eat as a sign of his willingness to serve them (1 Kings 19:21).

As his understudy, Elisha’s devotion to Elijah and his new calling became very obvious. Elijah’s life was wanted far and wide by King Ahab yet Elisha stayed by his side. Three times he declared to fleeing Elijah: “As the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee” (2 Kings 2:2,4,6).

To say that Elisha had big shoes to fill would be an understatement. He had a gentle disposition without Elijah’s fiery zeal. Having witnessed Elijah's mighty miracles and his acts of service, his desire to follow in his footsteps and to measure up as Israel’s prophet was obvious when Elijah asked him before he was translated, what request he had of him and Elisha replied: "I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me" (2 Kings 2:9).. Elijah assured him that if Elisha gets to witness his departure, that will be a sign to him that it will be as he desired.

This indeed did happen for Elisha came to witness Elijah's ascension and the desire of his heart was fulfilled. His ministry lasted more than 50 years and was very similar in nature to that of his master teacher. Among his many prophecies as Israel's prophet, he performed miraculous acts:

• He parted river Jordan (2 Kings 2:8)
• He healed and provided continual water (2 Kings 2:19-22, 2 Kings 3:9, 16-20)
• He changed water's appearance to blood (2 Kings 3:22)
• He multiplied the widow's oil (2 Kings 4:2-7)
• He raised the widow's son from the dead (2 Kings 4:32-35)
• He healed food that was poisonous (2 Kings 4:40-41)
• He healed Namaan of leprosy (2 Kings 5:14)
• He caused the sunken axe head to float (2 Kings 6:5-7)
• He caused blindness to come upon the Syrian army (2 Kings 6:18-24)
• He fed 100 men with only twenty loaves and some grain and had food left over (2 Kings 4:42-44)
• He prophesied about future events (2 Kings 3:16-19; 7:1-2; 8:10-13; 13:17-19)

Impressive isn’t it? Elisha accomplished an incredible lot in his years of service but nothing stands out to me more than the strength of his faith that made all he did possible. Studying his life made me see that no matter how wonderful people are that went before us, our value is no less. As powerful as Elijah was, Elisha was not less powerful. Different people, different disposition, different qualities but yet the same powerful results. We of this dispensation can shine as bright as those that went before us. Our time is different but the enemy is still out there and our battlefield is here and now.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)

 

 

 

ETERNAL JOY

 

He Lifts Me Up by Danny Hahlbohm

When my days on earth are done

I'll be lifted above the world below

And I will seek the gilded gate

To welcome me to my eternal home.

 

I will approach the foot of Father’s throne,

I will kneel and I will weep

When in hope I give Him joy

For eternity to keep.

 

-       Cathryne Allen