HONOURING THE FATHER

 

I have often wondered how the children who are born into abusive homes are expected to obey the commandment ‘honour thy father and thy mother’. I have no words about some stories of abused children that have come to light recently in our society. It is beyond me to understand such parental abuse. One of the members of our Group commented recently that she was born into a very abusive home and ‘while she didn’t understand why at the time, she is grateful for all that she has been through to become the awesome daughter of God that she now is’. I was elated to hear this. I ache for those who have been damaged beyond their capacity to rise above their childhood trauma but I somehow think the Saviour will one day make this right, as He will with many other things. Somehow, some day, they will be given the ability to rise and overcome and be healed.

 

Right now I am revisiting the Saviour’s visit to the Americas in the Book of Mormon and I have noticed something significant that has made me reflect on this commandment. I wonder if the commandment to honour our earthly parents is symbolic of a greater one. When the Father introduced His Son to the Nephites, He stated: “Behold my Beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” and then immediately He said, “in whom I have glorified my name” (3 N 11:7). When the Saviour identified himself as Jesus Christ He stated the same thing: “….I have glorified the Father” (3 N 11:11). This immediately brought to my mind: “This is my work and MY GLORY - to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man” (Moses 1:39). This statement is dual in meaning. It means, as the Father exalts us to eternal life to possess glory ourselves, we add to His already existent glory. The more children He exalts, the more glory He gains. This is what the Saviour meant when He said He glorified the Father and He certainly obeyed the commandment to ‘honour his father and mother’. 

 

Now cast your mind back to our pre-existence. When the Saviour volunteered to bring us back to the Father’s presence He said: “Father, thy will be done, and the GLORY be thine forever” (Moses 4:2). I am not discounting the fact that the Saviour loved us and wanted to save us because of that but I am convinced His first and foremost reason was to preserve and add to Father’s glory. What makes me wonder is this…..how many of us defended the Father’s plan because our love for Him was more important to us than the free agency which we fought to preserve? How many of us fought for Him more than we fought for ourselves?

 

For years, the Saviour was first and foremost in my mind but now I am at this stage of my life where I am beginning to see the Father and not just the Son. This is what the Son does, He reveals the Father (Matthew 11:27). And with this clearer view my desire to bring honour and glory to His name grows. I pray for this ability each day. It has changed my life. It has granted me a dimension of obedience and love I have not seen in myself before. It has lifted me above this world. This disclosure is offered here with hope that it will lift someone who has suffered parental abuse. May you turn to the Father who loves you with a perfect love and who can bring you home to be in His glorious presence forever. 

 

Grant me the hope Father

In this darkness

That I will one day see Your light;

And spare me Father the afflictions

Of my lonely heart.

Bear me up as on eagles’ wings

And carry me into

Thy benevolent embrace

That we might never again part

But instead bask in the union

Of our celestial hearts. 

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: The Anointed One by Joseph Brickey)