TO RETURN WITH HONOUR

 

I have often wondered how Heavenly Father felt sending us into mortality knowing that some of us will never return. Did He mourn for our impending loss of innocence? Did He mourn for the suffering of His Beloved Son? I would imagine it was much like us when our children have matured into adulthood and we are faced with surrendering our control and influence. Often times we do so with trepidation.

One thing I am sure of. The Father’s faith and trust in His Beloved Son to fulfil His duty as the Saviour of His children would have been iron clad. I am always deeply touched when I come across scriptural proofs of the strong bond between them.

One year when I was studying the Book of Mormon I noticed that during His visit to the Americas Jesus talked incessantly about the Father. I counted 163 references He made to Him and 15 references of His obedience to Him (see 3 Nephi 15:14-16,18,19; 16:3,10,16; 17:2; 18:14,27; 20:10,14,46)

The bond is unbreakable because the Saviour is and has always been the most dutiful Son. This is evident in His statements such as: “I do nothing but what I have seen my Father do (John 8:26,28,38) and “I do always those things that please Him” (John 8:29).

And surely there is no greater act of obedience and love than to be sent to the crucible of the cross: “My Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross” (3 Nephi 27:14) and; “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life….no man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself….” (John 10:17,18). This is the Father’s sacrifice, this is the Father’s  love.

The Father watches over us with assurance that the path has been paved by His Beloved Son so that we might return to Him. None of us should allow ourselves to be the cause of His sorrow.  I often hope that those of His obedient children will in some small measure make up for the ones that are lost.

Imagine the joy when one of us returns with honour. Think of President Nelson returning home….May we be a delight to the Father forever. And may our hearts be overflowing with gratitude for the Son who has made the path to this joy possible.

I will come to Thee Father

In whose arms I belong,

Whose arms I left so long ago.

No earth’s breath between us

To mar the union of our souls,

No desires of heart to match

Our eternal joy.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Forever by David Bowman)