TO THIS END WAS I BORN

 

We are about to celebrate Christmas. Whereas Christ’s humble and miraculous birth is at the forefront of our celebration, it is also a celebration of His death. When He said to Pilate: “To this end was I born” (John 18:37), He meant He was born that He might die, and He would die so that we might live. Where there is birth, there is always death, His being the most significant of all. Christ came to not only bear witness of the truth but to offer us the greatest gift of all the gifts of God, that gift being the gift of eternal life. 

 

I have contemplated the two facets of this gift: It is a gift from the Father because it cannot be earned. Because we could not earn it on our own merit, the Saviour has bought that gift and paid the price by His life. We could never qualify for this gift but we can qualify for the GIVING of the gift by Him in whose possession it now is, the qualification being the penitent heart. If we could ever qualify for that gift on our own, there would not have been a need for the Mediator who alone could pay the price. Another component of the gift is the Saviour’s sacrifice of His life. That’s the gift that makes the other gift possible. Since eternal life is both the gift of the Father and the Son, we can never say we earned it on our own, that it is our work and our effort that opened the gates of Celestial Kingdom. 

 

Many of us sacrifice of ourselves at Christmas time when we buy gifts for those we love. Some of us even go into debt to do so. Every Christmas I wish I could do more because I do so little. I reflect on Christ’s love and what it took for Him to give us the greatest gift He could possibly give. Such bravery, such commitment, such love, such mercy…..

 

The baby in the stable

So innocent and sweet,

On the altar of sacrifice 

Lay at the Father’s feet.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art by Jennifer Hickey)

STANDING IN HOLY PLACES

 

 

 

“The Church is a gathering place for imperfect individuals who love God and who are willing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. That willingness is rooted in the reality that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. This divine truth can be known only by the power of the Holy Ghost. Therefore, our willingness is directly proportionate to the amount of time we commit to be in holy places where the influence of the Holy Ghost is present.” (Elder Kevin W. Pearson, "Are You Still Willing?", General Conference October 2022)

My last Relief Society lesson was based on the abovementioned talk by Elder Pearson. As I was preparing the lesson I reflected upon my favourite ‘holy place’ where I feel the influence of the Holy Ghost the most. That holy place for me is my daily scripture study. I have noticed over the years how the Holy Ghost has not only borne witness of the truths I have been learning but has broadened my panoramic view of things of eternity to enlarge my understanding. I have especially noticed that this year as my ability to glean scriptural insights has increased. Some days during my study I have been reduced to tears when the spirit has flooded my mind and my heart. I testify that the Holy Ghost is a personage without whom our understanding of truth would come to naught. But there is more….. “The gift of the Holy Ghost…… inspires: virtue, kindness, goodness, beauty of person, form and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling. It develops and invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual mind. It strengthens, invigorates, and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.” (Elder Parley P. Pratt, Key to the Science of Theology, p. 101). Who would not want him for a companion?

 

I am certain that without the influence of the Holy Ghost, I would not know the Saviour as I know Him today. I am certain he brings me to the foot of His throne each time I contemplate the truths of eternity. That contemplation points the path and the way to Him who is the source of all truth and who is the author of my salvation: Jesus Christ, the lover of my soul, the Son of the living God. 

 

ODE TO THE HOLY GHOST:

The days you embrace my heart

I can scarce contain my tears.

You are the witness,

The Testator of truth,

The illuminator of my path.

I crave your presence

In the caverns of my heart.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: As One (The Godhead) by Danny Hahlbohm)

DANIEL IN BABYLON

 

Never before has Daniel’s life touched me to the core. As I finished my study of his life this year, I wept when I read of the Saviour’s appearance to him who greeted him thus: “O Daniel, a man greatly beloved” (Daniel 10:11). And not only Christ but also Michael who greeted him: “Oh man greatly beloved” (Daniel 10:19 and Gabriel who came to teach him and who told him: “I am come…for thou art greatly beloved” (Daniel 9:23).

 

When we talk of Daniel we almost always focus on his survival in the lions’ den. Daniel was only a youth when he was taken to Babylon in 605 B.C., during the first siege of Jerusalem.  He was trained there for service in the king’s court. Through his righteous influence he rose to the status of incredible power becoming an advisor to five kings and the governor of all the Jews in Babylonia’s exile. He was a prophet of God and a companion of kings. 

 

At the beginning of this year I read extensively about ancient Babylon and I was amazed at its grandeur and its corruption. I wondered how it was possible for a stalwart Israelite to live in such an environment and stay true to one’s faith. This is what Daniel taught me…..it is possible to survive Babylon…..and to even rise above it, if you have a connection with the God of Heaven. Consider just a few words of his worshipful prayer that testifies of this: “I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might……blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his….he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding……” (Daniel 2:20-23). Is it any wonder that the Saviour told him he was beloved; that He gave Him wisdom to interpret dreams; that He showed Him visions to the end of times; that He sent him angels to teach him? This connection with heaven was how Daniel survived Babylon the Great…..

 

We are living in spiritual Babylon today. We, members of Christ’s Church, are Israel, the royal priesthood, a peculiar treasure of the living God (1 Peter 2:9; Exodus 19:5). We are Israel, the chosen, not because of our superiority, but because of our willingness to believe in the Son of God. We are, therefore, harnessed with Him in the work of the redemptive power of salvation. We can survive Babylon and we can be of such righteous influence whilst in it that those around us will call us “servants of the living God”, even as King Darius called the beloved Daniel (6:20). And may we who center ourselves on Christ receive His approbation and hear Him say to us, even as He said to Daniel of old: “thou art greatly beloved”……

 

ODE TO DANIEL

Your spirit bears me up

On wings of faith and

I stand as a witness of

Thy holy name.

I fear not the height

Nor the depth

As I sail dangerous seas

Never mindful of the waves

That in the end bring me to Thee.

 

 - CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: God of Heaven and Earth by Annie Henrie Nader)

A KINGDOM FOR A KING

 

“When I was president of the Southern States Mission, one of our missionaries preached on that dream of Nebuchadnezzar in one of our meetings where we had some investigators, and I stood at the door to greet them as they went out. A man came up and introduced himself as a minister and he said, 'You don't mean to tell me that you think the Mormon Church is that kingdom, do you?' And I said, 'Yes sir, why not?'. He said, 'It couldn't be.' I said, 'Why couldn't it?' And he said, 'You can't have a kingdom without a king, and you don't have a king, so you don't have a kingdom'. 'Oh', I said, 'my friend, you didn't read far enough. You just read the seventh chapter of Daniel, where Daniel saw one like the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven, "and there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him" (Daniel 7:14). 'Now', I said, 'my friend, tell me how can the kingdom be given to him when he comes in the clouds of heaven if there is no kingdom prepared for him? That is what we Latter-day Saints are doing." (In CR Oct 1975, pp 76-77 or Ensign Nov 1975, p 51)”

 

Many of us are wondering how much more wicked the world has to become before the King of Heaven makes His appearance but only a few of us are wondering how much more righteous WE have to become before He can come.  It’s more the state of US, His covenant people that will determine the time than the state of the world. Why? Because a King cannot come if there is no kingdom. Since the Lord works through us and He honours our free agency, our wickedness and righteousness can impede or accelerate His work (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual, p 258).

 

I am always amazed when I hear a teacher at Church ask this pointless question: “If you knew that the Saviour was coming tomorrow, what would you do to prepare?”  I am equally amazed by some answers such as, missionary work. How much missionary work could you do in one day to make up for years of not doing it? My answer is, you could do nothing in one day to prepare for His coming, the time to prepare is NOW! The Kingdom awaits…. 

We Israel, Thy chosen seed

Bow before Thee on bended knee.

Strengthen us in the hour of our need

That we might never stray again

And cause Thee sorrow;

And help us wait for Thee

in the dawning of tomorrow.

 

 - CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Time Is At Hand by Danny Hahlbohm)