WORTHY OF PRAISE

 

(Art designed by Digital Portrait Shop)

PSALM 150:1,2,6:  Praise ye the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.

One of the dominant themes of the Book of Psalms is praise. The entire book ends with it. Ancient scripture shows us plainly that praising God was very much a part of religious worship.

The various heavenly beings that John the Beloved saw on the isle of Patmos in his Revelation, were all worshipping the Father (Revelation 4:8-11). John also taught that exalted beings will continue to worship Heavenly Father in the eternities to come because He will always be our God (D&C 76:21; 92-93). In response to John’s vision, Elder Neal A. Maxwell affirmed that “we will go on praising the Lord for ever and ever”.  (From Whom All Blessings Flow, Ensign, May 1997, 12).

The practice of praising God seems to be a foreign one in our day and age. All our prayers consist of is thanksgiving and requests. Rarely in our prayers do we praise God for who He is and what He does.

One of my favourite scriptures of all is what I call a modern-day psalm recorded by Joseph Smith:

“Let the mountains shout for joy, and all ye valleys cry aloud; and all ye seas and dry lands tell the wonders of your Eternal King! And ye rivers, and brooks, and rills, flow down with gladness. Let the woods and all the trees of the field praise the Lord; and ye solid rocks weep for joy! And let the sun, moon, and the morning stars sing together, and let all the sons of God shout for joy! And let the eternal creations declare his name forever and ever! And again I say, how glorious is the voice we hear from heaven, proclaiming in our ears, glory and salvation, and honour, and immortality, and eternal life; kingdoms, principalities and powers!”  (D&C 128:23)

Whenever I read this scripture my heart swells with admiration of our God and His immense power. So well did Joseph understand this power that he felt the very nature should shout praise to Him who created all things, the greatest of which is God’s work and His glory to bring about eternal life and immortality of man (Moses 1:39). This is thanksgiving veiled in praise.  

Something important to remember. We have to know what we praise in God: who He is, what He does, His involvement in our lives, His love, His constant care, His greatness. We have to know God. If we do not glean this from our own lives, we need to do so from the scriptures. Our knowledge of His greatness needs to be so great that we struggle to find mortal words to express it. This knowledge needs to be so ingrained in our hearts  that no amount of adversity can take it away from us.

Until we find utterance for the deserving praise of Him who lives our souls to save, may we allow our desire to grow until such words flow from the very depths of our hearts:

I long to praise Thee

With magnitude of words I cannot find

That tell the glory that is Thine.

As I can do so little this desire to meet,

I place my loyal love at Thy holy feet.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

ARMIES OF HEAVEN

 

“If evil spirits could come to me, cannot ministering spirits and angels also come from God? Of course they can, and…they can rush as an army going to battle…That is the God whom I serve, one who has millions of angels at His command…We do not see them, but they are here watching us….The Lord has hosts of angels who are qualified to defend us, and they have information enough to march armies and to select leaders to lead them against the enemy of the Saints.” (Heber C. Kimball, Journal of Discourses, 3:229-30)

President Heber C. Kimball and his wife Vilate Kimball were awakened by their neighbor on the night of September 22, 1827, to witness such an army in the sky:

“It was one of the most beautiful starlight nights, so clear we could see to pick up a pin. We saw a bow form in the sky and it grew wide enough to contain twelve men abreast. In this bow an army moved, commencing from the east and marching to the west. They continued marching until they reached the western horizon. They moved in platoons and walked so close that the rear ranks trod in the steps of their file leaders, until the whole bow was literally crowded with soldiers…..

“We….could discern the form and features of the men. The most profound order existed throughout the entire army. When the foremost man stepped, every man stepped at the same time. I could hear their steps. When the front rank reached the western horizon, a battle ensued, as we could hear the report of the arms, and the rush.

“No man could judge of my feelings when I beheld that army of men, as plainly as ever I saw armies of men in the flesh; it seemed as though every hair of my head was alive. This scenery we gazed upon for hours, until it began to disappear.

“After I became acquainted with Mormonism, I learned that this took place the same evening that Joseph Smith received the records of the Book of Mormon from the angel Moroni, who had held those records in his possession. “There were other witnesses to this event, and “the next night similar scenery was beheld in the west, by the neighbors, representing armies of men who were engaged in battle.”   (Whitney, Life of Heber C. Kimball, 15-17; see also McConkie, Angels, 100; Tullidge, Women of Mormondom, 107-9)

 

Angels, are you near me

To catch me if I fall?

Do you stand guard at the entrance

Of my heart

On God’s errand and sentinel’s call?

 

Do you pave the way

And steady my feet,

And ensure my enemy’s defeat?

 

You are unsung heroes

Of every journey’s flight

You are phantoms of love

Concealed from mortal sight.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)

A SUFFERING SERVANT

 

"Oh God Where Art Thou" by Paul Marli - LDS ART

Chapters 52 and 53 of Isaiah contain the greatest Messianic prophecy identifying the Messiah as ‘the Suffering Servant’. This was the Saviour’s role in His mortal life. This prophecy is also dualistic in nature, meaning it speaks of two men in very similar roles.

In this prophecy Isaiah says the Saviour’s visage was “marred more than any man”. This is a reference to His crucifixion and suffering on Calvary when He atoned for the sins of the world (Isaiah 52:14).

When visiting the Nephites, the Saviour Himself made it clear that there shall be another servant in the latter days who shall accomplish ‘a great and marvelous work’. Even though there will be many who will not believe him, the Saviour said this servant shall be ‘marred’ because of them and be persecuted throughout his life until they succeed in killing him. This latter-day servant is Joseph Smith. (3 Nephi 21:9,10; Old Testament Student Manual, commentary for Isaiah 52:13-15).

I am amazed at how similar Joseph’s earthly life was to that of the Saviour’s. Like many other prophets, he was the prototype of Christ. When Joseph cried out in misery to God whilst in Liberty jail, the Lord told him that hell shall rage against him (D&C 122:1-2). This truly proved to be true.

Right from the beginning Joseph was aware that he was destined to be “a disturber and an annoyer of Satan’s kingdom” (JSH 1:20). Two years prior to his death he said that ‘envy and wrath of man have been his common lot all the days of his life and that ‘deep water was what he was wont to swim in, which had become second nature to him’ (D&C 127:2). That is a description of one hard life….

This is how he saw himself:

“I am like a huge, rough stone rolling down from a high mountain, and the only polishing I get is when some corner gets rubbed off by coming in contact with something else, striking with accelerated force against religious bigotry, priestcraft, lawyer-craft, doctor-craft, lying editors, suborned judges and jurors, and the authority of perjured executives, backed by mobs, blasphemers, licentious and corrupt men and women – all hell knocking off a corner here and a corner there” (Teachings of Prophet Joseph Smith, p 304).

Not only did Joseph have to contend with the unbelievers but he often had to struggle with opposition within the Church: “In early 1844 a group of apostates in Nauvoo, Illinois, declared the Prophet Joseph Smith to be a fallen prophet and tried to start a rival church. Some even held secret meetings, during which they plotted to kill him” (See Glen L. Leonard, Nauvoo: A Place of Peace, a People of Promise [2002], 357-62).

I am certain that Joseph felt it was all worth it when the Saviour sealed upon him his exaltation a year prior to his death:

“For I am the Lord thy God and will be with thee even unto the end of the world, and through all eternity, for verily I seal upon you your exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my Father…..Behold, I have seen your sacrifices, and will forgive all your sins….”  (D&C 132:49,50)

A mission achieved, a life well endured……I wonder how many of his critics would be willing to live a life like his. 

 

You stood so resolute and willing

In the councils of heaven,

Knowing the jaws of hell

Would open at the mention of your name.

 

Still, you knelt in the sacred grove

And uttered the words of faith.

You honoured your promise

To restore the truth

And you opened the heaven’s gate.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN  

THE LAST DISPENSATION OF TIME

 

“Joseph Smith continued visiting me and others up to a certain time and then stopped. The last time I saw him was in heaven. He came and spoke to me. He said that he could not stop to talk to me because he was in a hurry.

“The next man I met was Father Smith; he couldn’t talk to me because he was in a hurry. I met half a dozen brethren who held high positions on earth, and none of them could stop to talk to me because they were in a hurry. I was much astonished.

“By and by I saw the Prophet again, and I got a privilege to ask him a question: “Now”, said I, “I want to know why you are in a hurry? I have been in a hurry my whole life, but I expected my hurry would be over when I get into the kingdom of heaven, if I ever did.”

“Joseph said: “I will tell you Brother Woodruff, every dispensation that has had the priesthood on earth and has gone into celestial kingdom, has had a certain amount of work to do to prepare to go to the earth with the Saviour when He goes to reign on earth. Each dispensation has had ample time to do this work. We have not. We are the last dispensation and so much work has to be done and we need to be in a hurry in order to accomplish it.

“Of course, that was satisfactory with me, but it was new doctrine to me.”

-          Wilford Woodruff, Discourses Delivered at Weber Stake Conference, Ogden, 19 October 1896; as published in Deseret News Weekly, Volume 53, #21)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Time Is At Hand by Danny Hahlbohm)

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THE FINAL HARVEST

 

Chapter 23 of Leviticus contains a series of holy days that the Lord commanded all Israel to observe. Three of the most important are: 1. The Feast of Trumpets; 2. The Day of the Atonement and; 3. The Feast of the Tabernacles.

The Feast of Trumpets in particular signifies: 1. The beginning of Israel’s final harvest; 2. The day God had set to remember His ancient promises to gather Israel; 3. A time for new revelation that would lead to a new covenant with Israel and; 4. A time to prepare for the Millenium.

This is the significance of the Feast of Trumpets as it relates to us and this last dispensation. The final harvest of Israel began on 22 September 1827, the very day Israel celebrated the Feast of Trumpets. This is the day that Moroni gave the golden plates to the Prophet Joseph Smith. The timing of its deliverance was not coincidental. This was a carefully orchestrated and rehearsed event for four years prior. Picture Joseph receiving the golden plates from Moroni whilst trumpets blew in Israel. (see The Golden Plates and the Feast of Trumpets by Lenet Hadley Read, Ensign 2000)

We know that many truths have been lost and taken away from the Bible, but none more significant that the prophecies of the restoration of the gospel in the latter days missing from Isaiah 29 and which Nephi quoted in its completion in 2 Nephi 27 as were contained on the brass plates:

1.      Letter-day context of the prophecy (2 Nephi 27:1)

2.      A ‘book’ that Isiah prophesied would come forth in the last days (verse 6)

3.      The book would be ‘sealed’ (verses 7-8)

4.      Roles of Moroni and Joseph Smith in bringing forth the Book of Mormon (verses 9-10)

5.      ‘Three witnesses’ who would behold the ‘book’ and testify ‘to the truth of the things therein’ (verses 12-13)

I stand in awe of God who orchestrates His work with such perfect precision to fulfil His purposes which cannot fail. The adversary might be working hard to ‘pervert the right ways of the Lord that he might blind the eyes and harden the hearts of the children of men’ (1 Nephi 13:27) but he cannot win. God’s plan for our salvation runs like clock-work with every step put into place long before its’ reality.

So ordered are the events that will transpire upon this earth that they cannot possibly fail, because ‘God created all things spiritually before they were naturally upon the face of the earth’ (Moses 3:5). Everything was designed, proven and tested before it came into being.

The Final Harvest is under way and in our hands we hold the book that is gathering Israel…..

 

We Israel, His chosen seed

will come to Zion

With songs of everlasting joy

To worship our Lord and our King

And to Him forever our praises we will sing. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Reaping the Harvest by Nathan Greene)

THE GATHERING

 

Israel’s exodus from Egypt was epic. So momentous and powerful was it that it has been remembered as an unparalleled act of God’s power to this day but something much bigger is yet to happen to show the mankind who is in control of this project we call ‘earth’.

Subsequent Prophets to Moses both in the Near East and the Americas spoke often of the Exodus to keep this momentous deliverance of Israel fresh in people’s minds. They used the event as remembrance of Jehovah’s power and His mercy toward the covenant people. I am reminded of Nephi bringing Moses to his brothers’ remembrance when faced with the challenge of recovering the brass plates from Laban (1 Nephi 4:2,3).

Besides the Exodus, another sensational and dramatic example of Jehovah’s deliverance is found in the book of Daniel. I was reading the other day of Daniel’s prayer for forgiveness on behalf of the exiles in Babylon and I was enthralled with the beauty of his words through which he acknowledged Jehovah’s deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Daniel 9:15).

And herein is the beauty of it all. Daniel prayed because he knew that God would deliver the exiles from Babylon too and he knew it because of Isaiah’s prophecy (2 Chr 36:22-23; Isaiah 44:28; 45:1).

It is suggested by historians that when Cyrus conquered Babylon, he found Daniel there in his governmental capacity,  and that Daniel  pointed out to him the prophecy of Isaiah that was given 140 years before the fall of Jerusalem, that the Lord would raise up a mighty king who would free the Jewish captives in Babylon and allow them to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and the holy city. Isaiah even named Cyrus by name.....180 years before he even appeared in Babylon.

Astonishing isn't it? It certainly was to Cyrus because he sent out the proclamation amongst the Jews in Babylon that ‘the Lord God of heaven….had charged [him] to build Him a house in Jerusalem’ (Ezra 1:2) and asked who among all of God’s people wanted to return home. He actually offered freedom to anyone who wanted it. Proof that God always accomplishes His purposes in miraculous ways because nothing is beyond His power. It was no parting of the Red Sea but think about it…a Persian king liberating the Jews….just for some perspective - ancient Persia is modern day Iran.

In our day, the Lord will perform another miracle of restoring those that are lost. As early as 1831 the Lord revealed to Joseph Smith that the translated Apostle John was fulfilling a mission among the Ten Tribes preparing them for their journey to Zion (“Essentials in Church History, p 126).

This will be an event of enormous proportions, greater than the dividing of the Red Sea. So much so that ‘the boundaries of the everlasting hills shall tremble at their presence…’ (D&C 133:31-33). 'The boundaries of the everlasting hills' being North America (Orson Pratt, in “Journal of Discourses”, 18:167-68; see also Genesis 49:26).

So great will this event be that ‘it will no longer be said “The Lord liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt but, the Lord liveth that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north and from all the lands whither he had driven them…” (Jeremiah 16:14,15) because “this is the blessing of the everlasting God upon the tribes of Israel …”  who proclaims:

“I am he who led the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; and my arm is stretched out in the last days, to save my people Israel.” (D&C 133: 34; 136:22)

We will come to Zion

With songs of everlasting joy

To worship our Lord and our King

And to Him forever our praises we will sing. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Joyful by Graphic Arts Design)

THE FOCUS

 

“Prophets, priests and kings…..have looked forward with joyful anticipation to the day in which we live; and fired with heavenly and joyful anticipations they have sung, and written and prophesied of this our day; but they died without the sight; we are the favoured people that God has made choice of to bring about the latter-day glory; it is left for us to see, participate in and help to roll forward the latter-day glory, ‘the dispensation of the fulness of times’.”

-          Joseph Smith, “Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith” p 231)

I have been thinking about this for a couple of days. It took me back to when I joined the Church at 18 years of age and I remembered how excited I was as a new member. I was care-free and idealistic. The Gospel was simple: obey the commandments and you will reap the blessings. That was 50 years ago and of course over the years, the hardships of life have taught me that focus is not as simple as that.

We are living in that ‘exciting’ day that Joseph Smith spoke of but this exciting day is not looking so exciting if the focus is on the world. We are surrounded by wars, crime, financial hardship, mental health crisis and more. Sometimes we might think that it is difficult to view our day with all its perils as an exciting time to be alive.

The Dispensation of the Fulness of Times holds within it a big responsibility, a responsibility to build a Millenial society. Like the prophets, priests and kings who looked forward to our day, we might have to look forward to the Millenial Day.

We know it will be a time of peace when the Saviour will reign as the King of Kings so there will be no wars; when all things shall be revealed (D&C 101:23-35); when the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord so there will be no persecution of the believers (2 Nephi 30:8-17); when there will be no sickness or death (Isaiah 65:20; D&C 63:51); when Satan will be bound and will tempt no man (D&C 101:28); when ‘whatsoever any man shall ask, it shall be given  him’ (D&C 101:27).

To live in that kind of society means we have to BE that kind of society. We are to survive the turmoil of today by letting God prevail in our lives so that we can enjoy the fulness of tomorrow. If we focus on that ‘tomorrow’, we will see in our mind’s eye peace in turmoil, clarity in confusion, satisfaction in discontent and power in endurance….until the day that we will be able to rest from all our labours and the fulness will be complete…..when He comes to make us free.

 

How can I explain my peace

because of Thee?

Whenever my mind idles,

My thoughts fly to Thee

And I am free;

Whenever my mind empties,

It fills with thoughts of Thee

And I am free;

Whenever my mind wanders,

It finds a path to Thee

And I am free;

Whenever my heart aches

It runs to Thee

And I am free.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Dove of Peace by Doc Christensen)

THE OPENING OF HEAVENS

 

In my 50 years of Church membership, I have never read the account of the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood by Oliver Cowdery. It was a text in small print at the end of Joseph Smith History that I didn’t bother with….until yesterday…when it created such a flutter in my heart I wanted the ends of the earth to read it…….

The date was May 15, 1829. Joseph and Oliver had just prayed to inquire of the Lord respecting baptism for the remission of sins that they found mentioned in the translation of the Book of Mormon. What unfolded had an impact on Oliver such as he had never had before:

“The Lord, who is rich in mercy, and ever willing to answer the consistent prayer of the humble, after we had called upon Him in fervent manner….condescended to manifest to us His will. On a sudden, as from the midst of eternity, the voice of the Redeemer spake peace to us, while the veil was parted and the angel of God came down clothed with glory, and delivered the anxiously looked for message, and the keys of the Gospel of repentance.

“What joy! What wonder! What amazement! While the world was racked and distracted….and while all men were resting upon uncertainty…our eyes beheld, our ears heard…. his voice, though mild, pierced to the center, and his words, ‘I am thy fellow-servant’, dispelled every fear. We listened, we gazed, we admired! ‘Twas the voice of an angel from glory, ‘twas a message from the Most High! And as we heard we rejoiced, while His love enkindled upon our souls, and we were wrapped in the vision of the Almighty!

“….what joy filled our hearts, and with what surprise we must have bowed….when we received under his hand the Holy Priesthood as he said, ‘Upon you my fellow-servants, in the name of Messiah, I confer the Priesthood and this authority, which shall remain upon earth, that the Sons of Levi may yet offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness!

“The assurance that we were in the presence of an angel, the certainty that we heard the voice of Jesus, and the truth unsullied as it flowed from a pure personage, dictated by the will of God, is to me past description, and I shall ever look upon this expression of the Saviour’s goodness with wonder and thanksgiving while I am permitted to tarry; and in those mansions where perfection dwells and sin never comes, I hope to adore in that day which shall never cease.”

-          Oliver Cowdery, “Messenger and Advocate” vol 1 (October 1834), pp 14-16

 

How can I contain You

In the chambers of my overflowing heart?

Your greatness, Your mercy, Your love,

Are far too vast.

 

All that I am, I give to You:

My heart, my soul, my all,

I lay at Your feet forever more.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Knock and It Shall Be Opened by B. Laura Wilson)

THE ANCIENT OF DAYS

 

There is a place in Daviess county, Missouri, which is called Spring Hill. This place “was named by the mouth of the Lord, Adam-Ondi-Ahman”, literal translation being “Where Adam-having taken-God” (Ahman being the name of God in pure language) (“History of the Church”, 3:34-35). This is the place where one of the most tender events occurred on the American continent, the knowledge of which we owe to modern-day revelation through the modern-day prophet Joseph Smith.

This is where Adam, the Ancient of Days, bestowed his last blessing upon the patriarchs and his righteous posterity three years prior to his death (D&C 107:53-56). When the Saviour appeared to this congregation, Adam’s posterity “rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel”. The Lord then administered comfort unto Adam and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever.” (D&C 107:54-55).

After the Lord administered to him, Adam stood up even though he was ‘bowed down with age, and being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation’ (v 56). When Joseph Smith visited Spring Hill in 1876 he was privileged to see Adam, the Ancient of Days, in a vision of this momentous meeting (“Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith” p 158).

Adam lived 930 years according to Genesis 5:5 and Moses 6:12 but died in the ‘same day’ he partook of the fruit as the promise of death was spoken by God when the earth was still subject to the Lord’s time which was after the time of Kolob (Abraham 5:13). Imagine living and enduring that long…..

There will come a time when Adam will return to Adam-Ondi-Ahman: “He will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man”…..The Son of Man will stand before him, and there will be given Him glory and dominion. Adam will deliver up his stewardship to Christ, who holds the keys of the universe, but will retain his standing as the head of the human family (“Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith” p 157).

This is the great Council of which neither the Church members nor the world will know about which will take place prior to the Saviour’s Second appearing as a ‘thief in the night’ (D&C 106:4) (Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, “Way to Perfection” pp 290-91; also D&C Student Manual p 288)

There is no greater summation of the Plan of Salvation that is as emotionally touching as this.  Adam, the head of the human family, having fulfilled his role so righteously as the father of all living, delivers his stewardship to the Saviour, the executor of the Plan of Salvation, at the winding up scenes of this earth. Promises kept, mission completed, humanity reared and saved.

Whereas Adam is the prince over us ‘forever’, the Saviour is the King. If not for Him, we would not be. And if not for continuous revelation we would not have glimpses of momentous occasions like this which bring to life the truth of our existence and which light the fire of our testimonies.

Every time I read the Doctrine and Covenants, my testimony of Joseph as the revelator and prophet increases. There is not one verse in that book of scripture that can convince me that Joseph had the intelligence and seership to produce such of himself.

The Saviour lives and guides His Church through living prophets. May our testimonies be such that we will bear witness of this when one day we kneel at Jesus’ feet.

 - CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Joseph Smith at Saviour's Feet by Liz Lemon Swindle)

 

THE PATRIARCHS

 

Between the more prominent patriarchs like Seth, Enoch, Noah and Abraham, there are those which are less prominent but of equal importance because they carried the priesthood line throughout all the generations of time. They are: Enos, Cannan, Mahalel, Jared, Methuselah, Lamech, Shen, Arphaxad, Salah….

Moses tells us that a book of remembrance was kept from the time of Seth, “in which was recorded, in the language of Adam, for it was given unto as many as called upon God to write by the spirit of inspiration.” (Moses 6:5). I would love to know what these other patriarchs wrote in this book: their views, their sacred experiences, their faith and challenges.

This book is not even mentioned in the Old Testament. The chronology of the patriarchs receives only a mention in Genesis 5. It starts with Adam and within a matter of one chapter arrives at Noah. It basically only states how long these men had lived. Enoch is the only one that gets a longer mention and that of only 4 verses that say how long he lived, that he walked with God and that God took him (v 21-24). We know nothing from the Old Testament about him as a man, his calling, his city, his return to earth in the Millenium.

This brings me to my point….modern-day revelation, namely the Book of Mormon and the Pearl of Great Price. This is what we know further about the Book of Remembrance thanks to these books of scripture: Enoch and his people wrote in it (Moses 6:46); it was brought to America by the Jaredites which is a good indication that it survived the Flood  (Ether 8:9); it was possessed and cherished by Abraham (Abraham 1:31). 

We know that the first five books of the Old Testament were written by Moses. They are collectively called the ‘Pentateuch’. Such vital information was lost from these five books that the Lord in His mercy revealed it to Joseph Smith from June 1830 to February 1831. When I think of all the knowledge and insight I have received about Enoch alone from the Book of Moses, I want to weep with gratitude for the power of revelation and especially for the Prophet Joseph Smith.

From the beginning of time, God has called prophets to cry repentance, to direct the work of God and to lead people to Christ. They have been listened to, followed, rejected, and even stoned and killed (Matthew 23:37).

Generally, when the world looks back on the prophets of old, they do not remember them as humans with flaws and imperfections. They revere them because they were rejected, reviled and killed and because they are canonized in the scriptures……except for Joseph. It would seem that the very jaws of hell opened when he was called to be the prophet of this dispensation but what a witness he became of the burden these men carry that even leads them to death!

I look forward to the day when Joseph will be recognised as much as the prophets of old, when people will have a witness of his divine calling. I will bow in reverence before him that day and my gratitude will know no bounds for giving us a glimpse of heaven through the revelations he was given. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Translation Process by LDS Art)

 

 

THE ENEMY

 

Imagine this fear. When Joseph was asked by some brethren about the creation of the world and how it was inhabited, he answered:

“I will tell you how it was. You and I were in the spirit world at the grand council….we saw and heard them talk of formation of the world and we were among those when the morning stars sang together and when the sons of God shouted for joy. We were among those who had more courage than others and therefore we came down here and took bodies.

“Some who did not have the courage said, “Father, we have fought Satan face to face here in the spirit world and helped to cast him down there and now to go down and fight him again face to face, we are afraid we shall never return to thy presence and would prefer a lesser degree of glory and go to some other of your creations where we are sure of returning. Yes, you and I had more courage and came down HERE of our own agency and choice.”  (Autobiography of Anson Call, p 19)

Who is this enemy that is so feared? When Moses encountered him and refused to worship him, Satan’s reaction drove exceeding fear into him to the point where he saw the bitterness of hell (Moses 1:20). I am guessing that would be enough to scare any righteous person to lose courage. I fear though that we have become so desensitised to sin in our day and age that we don’t fear him enough and he doesn’t seem real enough.

The adversary has two goals: 1. To make all men miserable like himself (2 Nephi 2:27); and 2. To overthrow Christ who he rebelled against in pre-earth life (D&C 29:36-9). I once asked a friend of mine in Utah who is very well versed in scripture why Satan is called ‘the son of the morning’. Here is what he replied:

“My presumption is that the term ‘morning’ refers to the fact that he was born early on as a spirit offspring of the Father. Perhaps he might have even been second born vs his brother who was firstborn.

“We have so many fascinating stories among the great patriarchs of having two competing sons vying for the firstborn birthright and it almost seems as though these stories are a continuation of that which started in the pre-mortal life with the Saviour and Lucifer. You can even get that sense from a statement in D&C 88:115, about Lucifer having as his goal that of displacing his brother from his throne.” (Larry Keeler, 6 February 2023)

The adversary knows if he gets us, he gets Him….but that will never be….because we are the brave ones…..

There is a desire in my soul

That wants to conquer Goliath

And watch him fall….

This warrior within me never sleeps

And yearns to hear the angels’ call,

A call to battle to make the devil fall.

And when Christ comes in clouds so holy

He will conquer that enemy

And we will confess His glory.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: He Shall Reign by Susan Edwards)

VESSELS OF THE LORD

 

The injunction “be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord” has been given anciently and in our day to the men who have the priesthood upon them (Isaiah 52:11; 3 Nephi 20:41; D&C 133:5). The meaning is that the priesthood holders need to be clean as they handle ‘the sacred vessels and emblems of God’s power’ as they administer the duties of the priesthood such as the sacrament.

Elder Jeffrey R. Holland encouraged the men of the Church to be ‘sanctified instruments’ themselves by being clean, not only because of what they do but more importantly because of what they are to be (CR Oct 2000, 51-52; or Ensign Nov 2000, 39). President Gordon B. Hinckley also reminded the gathering of the priesthood of this important principle:

“Be ye clean that bear the vessels of the Lord (D&C 133:5). Thus has He spoken to us in modern revelation. Be clean in body. Be clean in mind. Be clean in language. Be clean in dress and manner.” (CR April 1996, 68; or Ensign May 1996, 48). In other words, don’t just be clean so you can handle the vessels of the Lord, but BE the vessel. When people look at you, they should recognise God’s power within you through your cleanliness. You are the vessel of the priesthood.

I am reminded of Joseph and how people recognised the authority he had when they met him, how much he reflected the powerful spiritual demeanour that was in him and because of it many trusted instantly that he was the prophet and a man of God. I love this story that illustrates that:

“While waiting for the ferry-boat, a man of the world, knowing of the miracles which had been performed, came to Joseph Smith and asked him if he would not go and heal two twin children of his, about five months old, who were both lying sick nigh unto death. They were some two miles from Montrose.

“The Prophet said he could not go; but, after pausing some time, he said he would send some one to heal them; and he turned to me and said: “You go with the man and heal his children.”  He took a red silk handkerchief out of his pocket and gave it to me, and told me to wipe their faces with the handkerchief when I administered to them, and they should be healed…..I went with the man, and did as the Prophet commanded me, and the children were healed.” (Wilford Woodruff, “Leaves From My Journal” [1881] p 65)

There was one other who had the spiritual demeanour that exuded power the people trusted in and that is Apostle Paul: “And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.”  (Acts 19:11,12)

The power of the priesthood works on principles of faith and righteousness. What an incredible privilege for you men to exude inspiration for both.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Prophet Joseph Smith by David Lindsley)

JOSEPH THE MARTYR

 

I mentioned in my post yesterday how the critics of Joseph Smith come to the surface when I post about him and I did get a couple yesterday but the outpouring of love and testimonies of Joseph that you all shared was overwhelming. I cried knowing that he is so loved and remembered and honoured for his incredible service to mankind.

It seemed like the adversary had won when Joseph was martyred but that can never be because “the works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught.” (D&C 3:1)

One of the comforting things about Joseph’s martyrdom for me is that he didn’t go to his death alone. Joseph knew he was not coming back from Carthage jail. How wonderful it must have been for him to have a member of his family by his side but it was not by chance that Hyrum joined his brother in death:

“The Prophet Joseph Smith conferred upon Hyrum Smith all the keys, authority and gifts of the priesthood which he, the Prophet, held and which were formerly held by Oliver Cowdery. The Lord also revealed to Hyrum Smith all that was necessary to make him completely and to the full degree, a witness with his brother Joseph, as a prophet, seer, revelator and president of the Church, and to stand through all time and eternity at the head of this dispensation with his brother Joseph, a witness for Jesus Christ.” (President Joseph Field Smith, “Doctrines of Salvation” 1:218-9; see also D&C 136:39; Hebrews 9:16-17; Doctrine & Covenants Student Manual p 348)

It must have been the darkest time for the members of the Church but consider the distress of the brothers’ death on his family:

“After the corpses were washed and dressed in their burial clothes we were allowed to see them. I had for a long time braced every nerve, roused every energy of my soul, and called upon God to strengthen me; but when I entered the room, and saw my murdered sons, extended both at once before my eyes; and heard the sobs and groans of my family – the cries of ‘Father! Husband! Brothers!’ from the lips of their wives, children, brothers and sisters, it was too much – I sunk back crying to the Lord in the agony of my soul, My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken this family? A voice replied, I have taken them to myself that they might have rest….

“As I looked upon their peaceful, smiling countenances, I seemed to almost hear them say: mother, weep not for us; we have overcome the world by love; we carried to them the gospel, that their souls might be saved – they slew us for our testimony, and thus placed us beyond their power – their ascendancy is for a moment – ours is an eternal triumph.”

-          (Joseph and Hyrum Death Masks, history.churchofjesuschrist.org)

Satan didn’t succeed in destroying the Saviour’s ministry or that of His servant, Joseph. All he has done is prove the authenticity of the Church by the attention he is giving us. No other Church is so favoured. President Spencer W. Kimball has said that the negative attention the Church gets is in one way a good sign: “We can tell that we are making progress by the attention we get from the adversary…This has been the lot of the Lord’s people from the beginning and it will be no different in our time”. (In CR April 1980; D&C Student Manual p 301)

You stood so resolute and willing

In the councils of heaven,

Knowing the jaws of hell

Would open at the mention of your name.

 

Still, you knelt in the sacred grove

And uttered the words of faith.

You honoured your promise

To restore the truth

And you opened the heaven’s gate.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Joseph Smith's Last Dream by Jon McNaughton)