TO REMEMBER HIM

 

I love symbolism in the Old Testament. Reading about the ritualistic administration of the priesthood in the wilderness of the Israelites’ journey toward the promised land convinces me how essential that was to keep them focused on the God who led them because every minute detail was highly symbolic of Him. Consider just a few such symbols:

-          EPHOD: sacred garment akin to an apron that was worn by the high priest had gold settings on each shoulder where onyx stones engraved with the names of 12 tribes of Israel were placed. These stones fastened the ephod on the priest’s shoulders symbolizing that he as a representative of the Lord, carried Israel on his shoulders (see Exodus 28:12);

-          THE BREASTPLATE: made of fabric and attached to the ephod with golden chains and fasteners, it served as a pocket in which were placed precious stones inscribed with the names of each of the tribes of Israel. “Thus, the high priest bore ‘the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart….for a memorial before the Lord continually’ (ibid v 29).

-          THE GOLDEN DIADEM AND THE MITRE: The mitre (or hat) was made of fine linen and each priest wore one. The high priest wore a golden band on the front of his mitre on the forehead. Engraved on the band were the words “Holiness to the Lord” (ibid v 36-38)

-          THE ALTAR OF INCENSE: “Hot coals were placed on the altar and each morning and evening the high priest would burn incense. This ritual seems to signify that one can approach the presence of God only through prayer, for scriptures elsewhere indicate that incense is a symbol of prayer” (see Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4; Psalm 141:2; The Old Testament Student Manual Book 1 p 153)

We also have a place designated which symbolically points to the foundation of our salvation. It also reminds us that holiness belongs to the Lord and that He leads us to OUR promised land. The more we can enter its doors the more symbolism of the power of His salvation will become imbedded in our minds and hearts.

Consider this privilege that the rest of the world has no access to. Our temples are beacons of hope, knowledge and endowment of His grace for His spiritually begotten children, the ‘apple of His eye’ (Deut 32:9,10), the rubies in His diadem (Exodus 28:17-21; Malachi 3:17; D&C 60:4; 101:3)….His people Israel.

How great our God of Israel

Who carries us on His shoulders

And in His godly heart;

We are the rubies in His diadem

We are Israel, children of light.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Holy One of Israel by LDS Art)

A TEMPLE APPEARING

 

I was very familiar with scriptures in Malachi which say that the Saviour will come suddenly to his temple and He shall purify the sons of Levi to offer an offering unto the Lord in righteousness (Malachi 3:1-3). This is obviously a reference to the temple in Jerusalem. I was not aware however, that this prophecy had a dual meaning.

Section 133 of the Doctrine and Covenants mentions again that the Lord will suddenly come to His temple before He pours out judgment upon the wicked (v 2) but no mention of the sons of Levi. This apparently is a reference to one of the latter-day temples. This prediction was partly fulfilled when the Saviour appeared in the Kirtland Temple in 1836 but there is apparently a broader meaning to this: “….the Lord shall come, without a doubt, to His Temple, where He will sit as ‘a refiner and purifier of silver’, purging the house of Israel and ministering to His people. This coming will be for the blessing and benefit of the most faithful of His saints. (Smith and Sjodahl, “Commentary”, p 840 and Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual p 335-6)

There is a parable of a woman who wanted to understand the process of refining silver in relation to Malachi’s prophecy. She visited a silversmith and watched the process of refining silver.

She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered “Yes”, and explained that he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be damaged.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?” He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy. When I see my image in it.”

If it is true that the Saviour will meet His most faithful in His temple, the purification will be one of sanctification by the Holy Ghost. The symbolism of fire is only ever used for the purging effect of this member of the Godhead. What this suggests is that all those in Christ’s presence when He comes to His Temple will be so purified they will have Christ’s image in their countenance.

This holy occasion for the most privileged of Christ’s Church makes this prophecy by Elder Vaughn J. Featherstone a reality, which he spoke during the centennial of the Manti Temple dedication in April of 1987:

 

"Before the Saviour comes the world will darken. There will come a period of time when even the elect will lose hope if they do not come to the temples. The world will be so filled with evil that the righteous will only feel secure within these walls. When the Saviour comes He will honour His people. Those who are spared and prepared will be a temple-loving people. They will know Him.

 

“Our children will bow down at His feet and worship Him as the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings. They will bathe His feet with their tears and He will weep, and bless them for having suffered through the greatest trials known to man.”

 

When the Saviour comes, we will want to be in possession of a temple recommend….

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

Artist Unknown

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

 

In Section 64 of the Doctrine and Covenants the Lord gives us some very valuable advice about forgiveness: “Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin” (v 9).  

Forgiveness can be quite complex because it can involve so many issues such as wanting justice but not receive it and feelings of worthlessness that can accompany that void. Feelings of injustice can canker your soul. This I believe is what the Lord meant by the sin being greater in him who does not forgive. This is also the condemnation: you condemn yourself to ongoing damage to your self-worth and the Lord condemns you for stagnation of your spiritual progress.

Forgiveness is central to Christ’s character. It is the divine attribute through which He became the Saviour of our souls. And it is important for us because through it we become like Him. This is the path of forgiveness that leads us to possession of Christ-like nature: Forgiveness equals compassion, mercy and love which ultimately might bring the offender to Christ and therefore to the saving of his soul. If it doesn’t, it will still lead to the saving of your soul.

I learnt about this crucially important character trait through my divorce. It was a time when I studied about the Atonement and its power in great depth. I discovered that forgiveness would heal all my hurts and injustices. I invested myself in it and found Christ at the center of it. It wiped away all my pain and restored me to life again. I haven’t looked back since.

In the 30 years I have been divorced, I have sat through many lessons that have talked about the importance of eternal marriage and family.  It used to wreck me back in the beginning. Even though the divorce offered me much needed relief back then, I am and always was deeply passionate about the plan of salvation and the importance of family. 

All I ever wanted in life was to be married and to have children.  And I did get that but I also lost it.  That loss of a dream was excruciating and forced me to re-define my whole standing in the Church and to evaluate the strength of my testimony. 

It is never easy to be alone in the Church. You just have to value yourself enough so that others will too.  I have carved a space for myself in the Church where I believe people see my strengths more than my cracks. I found that space one day on my visit to the temple.  I used to attend with trepidation after my divorce but this one day I noticed something very significant there - men and women sit separately.  They do not sit together like they do at Church projecting a picture of marriage and family. 

I understood then, the temple is as much about individual salvation as it is about marriage and eternity.  The Church is about the individual as much as it is about family.  The gospel is as much about being a disciple of Jesus Christ as it is about finding someone to share your eternal destiny. The Saviour values you because he has died for you personally, irrespective of your marital status. 

When he visited the Americas, He invited the multitude to come to Him one by one to feel the prints of the nails in his hands and in his feet. (3 Nephi 11:14) Why?  Because he wanted them and us to know that the Atonement is personal and that He had atoned for each one of us individually and not for the humanity collectively.  His sheep are numbered and there is not one that is overlooked. We all belong in the fold.  

When I go to Church I know there is a pew with my name on it. I feel good about myself because I know that’s where my spiritual progression began, and where it continues to this day. Forgiveness did that for me. It gave me the freedom to become who I am. There is a pew at Church with your name on it too. Own it. You have the right to sit in it.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: One by One by Walter Rane)