GODLY POWER

 

I am always enthralled by Nephi’s vision of us, the saints of the last days (1 Nephi 14:12-17). Compared with the rest of the world, Nephi says our numbers were few and we were scattered upon the face of the earth. Worse than being few in number is this: ‘the great and abominable church’ of the devil consisted of multitudes, and they gathered together to fight against the saints of the Lamb of God. Here is why this is scary: ‘the great and abominable church of the devil’ encompasses all organisations of whatever name or nature – whether political, philosophical, educational, economic, social, fraternal, civic, or religious, which are designed to lead people away from God’ – Bruce R McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, 137-138))? Can you see ‘the multitudes’??? But there is good news.

Nephi tells us that the power of the Lamb of God descended upon us and we were armed with ‘righteousness and with the power of God in great glory’ (v 14). We all know that righteousness begins and ends with our obedience, but the spiritual and godly power comes from only one source, the Lamb of God, the God of glory, the God of our salvation. This power is bestowed on the righteous in abundance in one special place. In Kirtland in June 1833, Joseph Smith was given a revelation and divine direction to build the very first temple of the latter-days in which house the Lord indicated He intended to ‘endow those whom He had chosen with power from on high’ (D&C 95:8). When Joseph dedicated the Kirtland Temple in March of 1836, the dedicatory prayer given by revelation, included very clearly a petition for the saints ‘to go forth from this house armed with Thy power’ (D&C 109:22). Temple patrons of today receive this power at the veil of every endowment session. Cast your minds on the words and you will agree.

When all hell combines against us, we will see the reason behind the push for us to be a temple loving people. When the adversary sends out his ‘mighty winds, and his shafts in the whirlwind’ (Helaman 5:12) to derail us from the truth we have known, in every way he possibly can, we will want that godly power, more impenetrable than the coat of armour, to shield our faith, to preserve our families, to secure our salvation. We will want to run to the hills upon which the houses of God stand firm and unshakeable. We will want to be as strong as an oak tree to survive the strongest winds of hate, corruption, and evil. We will want to be a powerful army, the invincible souls, the spiritual giants, the covenant people of God….

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Brigham City Temple by Brent Borup)