THE GATHERING

 

Redeemer of Israel by LDS Bookstore

God intends to consummate the great latter-day work in five steps: 1. The literal gathering of Israel; 2. The restoration of the Ten Lost Tribes; 3. The building of Zion (the New Jerusalem) upon the American continent; 4. Christ’s personal reign upon the earth known as the Millenium; and 5. The renewal of the earth in its paradisical glory. (see Hugh Nibley, Approaching Zion, p 1-2)

We are currently engaged in the first step. The gathering began in 1836 when Moses, the great lawgiver of Israel, appeared in the Kirtland Temple to give Joseph Smith “the keys of the gathering of Israel from the four parts of the earth” (D&C 110:11).

What exactly is ‘the gathering’. It is proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations of the earth for one reason: there is none else beside Him through whom salvation can come. There is none else in heaven above, or earth beneath or waters beneath the earth, nothing, nobody, nowhere, beside Him there is no saviour, there is none other name given under heaven save it be this Jesus Christ whereby man can be saved (Isaiah 43:10-11; 45,5,6,14,18,22; 46:9; Deut 4:35,39; 5:8; 1 kings 8:60, 2 Nephi 2:8; 25:20; 31:21; Moses 6:52; D&C 76:1)

To be gathered means to come into the fold of Christ and be baptized in His name. It means that all who will receive their salvation have to belong to the House of Israel, through Him who is the God of Israel. The tribes of Israel are being gathered from every nation where the Lord’s servants, under the direction of the Prophet of the Church, are able to go. This gathering is happening in fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy:

“Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that it shall no more 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….Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks….Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.”  (Jeremiah 31:7,8,10-12)

As complete as was the scattering , so shall be the gathering of ‘treacherous Judah’  and  ‘backsliding Israel’ (Jeremiah 3:11): “Though smitten of men, a large part of them gone from a knowledge of the world, Israel are not lost unto their God. He knows whither they have been led or driven; toward them His heart still yearns with paternal love…” (James Talmage, Articles of Faith, p 328-9)

I know something of paternal love of Christ. After I was baptized into the Church at the tender age of 18, I had a very significant dream. In the dream, I was in a high rise building with my parents who opposed my baptism. As we conversed, there arose some commotion on the street below us. We hurried down to see the cause and as we reached our destination a white matter akin to snow fell on top of us. We had to burrow our way to the top. My parents never made it but I did. As I emerged I surveyed the street and saw it covered everywhere with exquisite whiteness. When I turned to my right I saw the Saviour coming towards me with His outstretched arms saying: “Where are my children?” I knew from that moment that my baptism was my re-birth and that through it, I belonged to Him.

When we are baptized we take upon ourselves the name of Christ and become His spiritually begotten children (Mosiah 5:7-12). The baptismal covenant instituted by Jesus himself during his ministry fulfilled the law of Moses and opened the way of spiritual re-birth and salvation for all by joining the House of Israel through baptism.  

When the scattering of the Ten Tribes happened, some members of these tribes were scattered throughout what we now know to be Europe. My patriarchal blessing tells me I am a true Israelite by birth being of ‘the seed of Abraham’. This is one of my most prized blessings of this life. It makes me grateful for my Croatian roots because I am one of the sheep of the House of Israel and I have come home to the Shepherd….

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

OF FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS

 

I come from generations of poor peasants. I was born and raised in Croatia to Catholic parents. I remember the wheat fields I ran through, the shepherds and the animals they led to pasture, the Easter of spring and the Christmas of winter. I have not been back there for thirty years now. I don’t know that my heart could take it.

My father was the ultimate patriarch in our home and what he said was law. He was raised that way. He was the oldest of five sons in a small village and as was custom, he was expected to take over the family land and inherit the care of his parents in their old age. My father, however, did not see it that way. He didn’t want the village life so he procured an apprenticeship as a bricklayer in the neighbouring town. My grandfather was furious. He threw a chunk of bread on the floor in front of my father and told him that was the only thing he will ever get from him. Very dramatic…. No support for the path my father had chosen.  My father walked for miles every day, even in the rain, to the town where he worked. No bus for him.

My father had vision. When I was just a toddler he decided to move us to the city where his children would have more opportunities. Unfortunately, the country was part of Yugoslavia back then, under the socialist rule, and the only good opportunities that existed were reserved for anyone who belonged to the communist party. When I was on the cusp of my teenage years, my father’s vision extended all the way to Australia. I was two months shy of turning 14 when we arrived in Sydney. At 16 I was out working in an office and at 17 I went looking for a religion that could answer all the questions that the Catholic Church couldn’t.

I found The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints  in my local library. I inhaled all that I read and I knew I had to be a part of it. There was just one problem. My father decided to be HIS father. The ultimatum was given: to join the Church, I would have to leave home.  My father was beyond crushed when I left.  He did not expect that. My parents would not speak to me for a whole year. We reconciled through the efforts of my sister and a few years thereafter they went back to Croatia.

Since the time I was baptized 50 years ago, I have reflected a lot on that stressful period of my life when I was cut off from my family.  The repercussions of that event in my life have been more than I care to admit. Luckily, the benefits outweighed the sacrifice. My parents have long since passed away and I am still reaping the benefits of my Church membership. I have gone from grace to grace and been brought to higher ground of faith than I had ever imagined was possible. I have forged my own path. 

I have cried ancestral tears over my father since his passing. I have nothing but love and gratitude for him. At the time of our distress when I rejected his word as my law, he was a migrant in a new country and his favourite daughter was, in his eyes, joining a cult. He was trying to protect me. When I think of him, I see him as a little boy in a Croatian village with more than his share of family baggage and generations of incorrect programming. I love that little boy and want to hug him, now more than ever.

When in the realms of heaven I meet my father again, I will thank him for wanting to protect me but most of all I will thank him for his example of bravery in defying his father which I subconsciously followed and which led me into the arms of the Father I love above all and who aches to have us both return to Him . We will then meet at Jesus’ feet and we will remember the time that hurt us both the most but did not divide us forever.

Your life has come and gone

But your footprints remain

And your blood courses through my veins.

The flame of your sacrifices

Burns bright with all its might;

Your legacy, your love,

Your fatherly alms:

Forever etched

In the hollow of my heart.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Love of the Father by Ilse Kleyn - Fine Art of America)

KNOWING YOU

You met me at dawn

With my memories so vast;

I remembered coming to You

Long ago through the water’s gate,

So wide open for my soul to embrace.

 

You flowed through my heart since that day

Showing me the wonder of You;

I have seen Your agonising sacrifice,

Never to be erased.

I hear You, I am Your sheep,

I know You and Your sacrificial pains,

For the believing blood of Israel

Runs through my veins.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Solitary View by Greg Collins)

 

A STEP CLOSER TO GOD PART 1

 

 

“Joseph Smith explained the circumstances surrounding the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood (see JS-H 1:68-72), which took place along the bank of the Susquehanna River near Harmony, Pennsylvania. Oliver Cowdery, who was with the Prophet on this occasion, was filled with awe and wonder, for it was his first experience with a heavenly messenger. He wrote:

“On a sudden, as from the midst of eternity, the voice of the Redeemer spake peace to us, while the vail 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 – while millions were groping as the blind for the wall, and while all men were resting upon uncertainty, as a general mass, 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 wrapt in the vision of the Almighty!

“Where was room for doubt? Nowhere; uncertainty had fled, doubt had sunk, no more to rise, while fiction and deception had fled forever……what joy filled our hearts and with what surprise we must have bowed, (for who would not have bowed the knee for such a blessing?) when we received under his hand the holy priesthood.”    (Times and Seasons, 1 Nov. 1840, p 202)

When I joined the Church, I didn’t know very much about the Church, its’ organization or most of its teachings. I just knew that I wanted the way of life I could have in the Church and that one day I would have an eternal family. What I understood the least was the priesthood.

When I stepped into the waters of baptism at the tender age of 18, I did not expect to experience my first encounter with the Holy Ghost who descended upon me so forcefully when I came up out of the water that I wept uncontrollably. That was my first experience with the priesthood of God and the powers of heaven and the beginning of my journey with God. The priesthood gave me that.

How godly You were

When You planted the heavens

And laid the foundations of the earth.

How noble when you gave me hope

Of salvation through the water’s gate.

I now fly to You on my wings of faith.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Upon You My Fellow Servants by Linda Curley Christensen)

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

 

 

There is something significant in Christ’s explanation to the Nephites as to why the Church should be called by His name. Besides saying that it is His Church and should therefore bear His name, He explained how this can happen: “Have [you] not read the scriptures which say ye must take upon you the name of Christ, which is my name?” (3 Nephi 27:5). In other words, we are the Church and the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12; 1 Corinthians 12:12,13).

When I was a missionary, we were told that we were representatives of Jesus Christ and that we should think, speak and do what the Saviour would do because this would show the world what the Church is about.

This mandate should not be confined to missionaries only. The reputation of the Church is built upon our backs. We are the light on a hill by which others can see the way to glorify our Father which is in heaven (3 Nephi 12:14-16).

The Church is only as good as we are. The Saviour confirmed this responsibility that we bear by saying we are built upon His gospel and we should do all things in His name and then the warning, if our works are built upon the works of men or upon the works of the devil, we will have an undesired end (3 Nephi 27:9-12).

When we take upon ourselves Christ’s name, we should represent Him in what we think, say and do. When I was baptised years ago, I heard this very poignant thought: If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence? Imagine being arrested for being a Latter-Day Saint, would there be enough evidence to prove the fact?

Each Sunday as we partake of the sacrament, we renew our willingness to bear the Saviour’s name. What we do as members of His Church is a reflection of our commitment to this promise, our love and connection to Christ, and our devotion to His teachings.

As Christians we are resilient to life’s trials, we forge forward with faith, we love and sacrifice for each other, we endure persecution, we resist temptation, we don’t despair…… we are the body of Christ and we reflect His works, His character, His love and when in clouds of heaven He appears, and we stand in the shadow of His frame, we will want to hear the Saviour say:

 

I love what you have done with my name!

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Sign of the Dove by Liz Lemon Swindle)

THE OBEDIENT SON

 

“Jesus achieved perfect unity with the Father by submitting Himself, both flesh and spirit, to the will of the Father. The Saviour’s ministry was always clearly focused because there was no debilitating or distracting double-mindedness in Him. Referring to His Father, Jesus said, “I do always those things that please Him” (John 8:29)

-        Elder D. Todd Christofferson, in Conference Report, Oct 2022, 76-77

Indeed, the Saviour did always those things that pleased His Father. And He still does.

When the resurrected Christ visited the Americas, He made 163 references to the Father and 15 of those were references to His obedience to His Father. Over and over He reiterated He was following His Father’s commands in all His teachings to the Nephites (3 Nephi 15:14-16,18,19; 16:3,10,16; 17:2; 18;14,27; 20:10,14,46).

There are two notable examples of Christ’s obedience to the Father whilst in mortality:

-        HIS BAPTISM:  Nephi tells us that Christ was baptised to enter into the covenant of obedience (2 Nephi 31:7). We read of the most glorious confirmation of Christ’s Sonship at the time of His baptism. Matthew records the Father’s voice saying: “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17). Is there a greater example of obedience than from Him who knew no sin and needed no baptism?

-        HIS ATONEMENT: In the hour of His crucible, in the midst of His worst agony, the Saviour did not shrink from drinking the bitter cup that was given to Him and that He agreed to drink before the world was (3 Nephi 11:11; D&C 19:18; Abraham 3:27). No matter how deep the suffering, the commitment and obedience was unfailing as He submitted himself to the Father’s will (Mark 14:36; Matt 26:42). Is there a greater example of submission to the eternal plan of one’s life?

Such a level of submission and obedience is unfathomable to most of us. It can only come from the deepest love and respect and one other thing, lack of pride. Let me explain.

Generally speaking, the older generation in our society is no longer respected. Our advice is seldom solicited or heeded once our children are adults. And we would not dare tell them what to do. We feel we no longer have that right once they are living their own lives. Of course, there are always exceptions to the rule.

I grew up in Croatia in the 60s. I would not dare address my parents with a familiar pronoun of ‘you’. To the date of their death, I addressed them with ‘thou’. No, it was not forced wokeness but a sign of respect and all of us children were doing it. It was reflective of ‘thou shalt honour thy father and they mother’.  I don’t know if this is still the custom but it used to be.

My point is this. The Saviour continues to be obedient to the Father despite having obtained godhood himself. Only total lack of pride would enable Him to recognize and honour a higher deity than himself. He has lived up to His commitment to preserve the Father’s glory and I see Him honouring the Father forever. Could we possibly have a greater example than the beloved Christ?

 

My obedience, Father

I lay at Thy feet,

For He who has brought

Honour and glory to Thy name

Shall forever my guide remain.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Not My Will by Yongsung Kim)

SALT OF THE EARTH

 

 

To be ‘the salt of the earth’ is a goal every member of the Church should strive for (3 Nephi 12:13) yet it is one we seldom think about. The ancients would have been better at it as salt was used in the Mosaic sacrificial ritual as a reminder that we should remember and preserve our covenants with God (see Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5). This admonition, however, minus the visual use of salt is issued to us today also (D&C 101:39-40).

To be ‘the salt of the earth’ was delivered through the Beatitudes in conjunction with being ‘the light of the world’, which is a clear indication of being a good example but what does being the salt of the earth really mean? And why is it used to help us remember our covenants?

One explanation is that “the saints, as the salt of the earth, are set forth to season their fellowmen, to keep society free from corruption, to help their fellow beings become wholesome, pure and acceptable before the Lord” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah 2, p 128). In other words, the more obedient and righteous people there are on the earth, the more spiritual energy and light for all of us to live in and be drawn to goodness.

I remember this, as an example. Some years ago, Australia was in a serious draught. The Pacific Area President told the saints that if we all paid our tithing the draught would end and shortly thereafter it did. The righteous action of the saints benefited the whole country. Why tithing though? Because tithing is one of the commandments of the baptismal covenant which yields temporal blessings.

Salt is a preservative. When we preserve our commitment to our covenants, like salt, we do not lose our spiritual quality. There is nothing that puts us on the path of spiritual corruption quicker than  abandoning our baptismal covenant because the baptismal covenant is a covenant of obedience to the commandments and the gateway to temple covenants.

Alma's first baptism at the waters of Moron was a man called Helam. The words he used as he baptised Helam took the baptismal covenant to a new level. He said: Helam, I baptise thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead...." (Mosiah 18:13). Anciently covenants were not broken even at the point of death. The meaning of the ancient ‘Covenant of Salt’ was equivalent to an ‘indissoluble covenant’.

A covenant is not just a promise but a signed contract. If you break a signed contract, you have lost your integrity and you can no longer be trusted. You have lost your savour. You are no longer the salt of the earth but are ‘good for nothing, only to be cast out and trodden under the feet of men’ (D&C 101:40). Consider the legal implications of attempting to break a signed contract in our day and age. Such a contract is binding and cannot be broken.

“That upright people who keep the commandments are the salt of the earth, none question; but we might add that the Lord Jesus himself is the Salt of the Earth. The seasoning, sanctifying, edifying, preserving, uplifting influence of his gospel keeps all the obedient from corruption and decay and sorrow” (Bruce R. McConkie, The Mortal Messiah 2, p 128).

So we can say, being the salt of the earth makes us like Christ. We can also be that seasoning, edifying and uplifting influence in the world if we live His gospel. Next time you see salt on you kitchen table, remember that…..

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Light of the World by Eva Koleva Timothy) 

WHO COME UNTO ME

 

In my last post I wrote about unity with Christ through baptism. The Saviour sought to impress this upon the people of ancient Americas and upon us today who have the privilege of holding the Book of Mormon in our hands. I am once again grateful for the clarification of scriptures that this book offers us. The account of the Sermon on the Mount in the Book of Mormon testifies of this.

In the Book of Mormon, the Saviour began His sermon making it clear that the teachings that were to follow only applied to those who are willing to be baptized and receive the Holy Ghost for remission of their sins (3 Nephi 12:1,2). In other words, the Sermon on the Mount was ever only directed to the members of His Church, those who are willing to accept Christ and keep his commandments. (See also Daniel H. Ludlow, A Companion to the Book of Mormon, p 263-4)

This significant point is reiterated through the Beatitudes. The very first one promises that the poor in spirit will be blessed but with a significant addition in the Book of Mormon that does not exist in the New Testament. That addition reads: who come unto me. The following Beatitudes all begin with the word ‘and’ connecting them to the previous Beatitude and all the way to this first one which is the reference to the introductory verses to the Sermon which deal with baptism and receiving the Holy Ghost (3 Nephi 12:1,2)….in other words, who come unto me.

Following the Beatitudes come two other confirmations that the Sermon is for baptized members. The first is the admonition to be the salt of the earth (3 Nephi 12:13). In the Mosaic sacrificial ritual, salt was a reminder that we should remember and preserve our covenants with God (Old Testament Institute Manual, p 165)

The second is to be a light to the world (Matthew 5:14). As members of the House of Israel and of the household of faith under the Abrahamic covenant, we are to take the gospel to the world and to bring the light of Christ’s gospel to the world of darkness.

It can be argued that the blessings promised throughout the Beatitudes are biased since they are only for baptized members of Christ’s church but I believe the suggestion is that these blessings are   more readily assured for those who are willing to accept Christ and that invitation is extended to all.  They are promises and assurance of what Christ can do for us.

The thought that only those who come unto Him are more blessed might seem like elitism but in my opinion, He has the right to bless those who believe in Him and accept Him and He has the right to ask anything of us, most especially to believe and accept. He has suffered for the just and the unjust, for the grateful and the ungrateful. He is the only way to salvation, the way that was decreed in the realms of heaven long ago. Let us be that light on a hill that we might bring others under the umbrella of His blessings. That is our responsibility, that is our privilege.

If I had the might to plant Thee in each heart

Of all that breathes,

In pursuit of such a quest I would walk the earth

With apparent ease.

As I can do so little this desire to meet,

I lay my loyal love at Thy holy feet.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Send Forth Labourers by Greg Collins)

ONE WITH CHRIST

 

 

Imagine the Saviour appearing and you are among the multitude to witness that appearance and He calls you by name to come to Him: “And Nephi arose and went forth, and bowed himself before the Lord and did kiss his feet” (3 Nephi 11:19). Imagine the honour, the overflowing of your heart, the tears that would flow, the expression of humility and deepest gratitude for your salvation that would propel you to kiss His feet……it makes me feel the moment….

Right from the start of His visit to the Americas, the Saviour made it plain He was there to teach the members of His Church. Hence immediately after calling Nephi to come forth, He gave him and  the Twelve that He chose, authority to baptize with specific instructions as to how it is to be done.

From 3 Nephi 11:21 to 12:3, the Saviour mentioned baptism 19 times and reiterated 7 times that His doctrine is: faith, repentance, baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. So insistent was He that this is the only path to salvation, that He emphasized that ‘whose does not believe in Him, and is not baptized, shall be damned’ (3 Nephi 11:33,34).

Worthy of mention is the concept of unity which baptism grants to all who believe in Christ and His doctrine. I have a fondness for noticing repetition in scriptural teachings. It speaks ‘importance’ to me.  In the block of scriptures regarding baptism, the Saviour mentions the Father 16 times.

The sense of unity between Him, the Father and the Holy Ghost is unmistakable…..”the Father will bear record of me,  and the Holy Ghost will bear record of Him and Me, for the Father and I, and the Holy Ghost are one” (3 Nephi 11:35,36).

I am reminded of the intercessory prayer that was uttered by Christ where He prayed ‘not for the world but for them which the Father had given Him’, meaning His disciples (John 17:9). And then for the rest of the Church membership, meaning us: “Neither pray I for these alone but for them also which shall believe on me through their word, that they all may be one, as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us….” (v 21).

Thus baptism, a covenant of obedience, which makes us Christ’s, becomes also a covenant of unity, with the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost. As we come into the fold of God and become ‘the body of Christ’ we also become one with one another. The baptismal covenant reads thus (Mosiah 18:8):

·        We come into the fold of God;

·        We are being called His people;

·        We bear one another’s burdens;

·        We mourn with those that mourn;

·        We comfort those who stand in need of comfort;

·        We stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all places;

·        We enter into a covenant to serve God;

·        We covenant to keep His commandments.

I was baptized when I was 18 years of age. The moment I was raised out of the water, I was so overcome by the spirit which descended upon me that I wept uncontrollably. I knew I was one with Christ and that I was home. I know if I ever left the Church, I would be betraying my covenant of baptism, even if I continued to live the commandments….because I would no longer be Christ’s. I would not wish to lose that….ever.

How godly You were

When You planted the heavens

And laid the foundations of the earth;

How noble and honourable

When You gave me hope

Through the water’s gate;

I bequest to You my earthly deeds

And fly to You

With my arms of faith. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Holy Ghost Descended Like a Dove by Greg Collins)

THE POWER OF A NAME

 

I am pretty certain that Mormon admired Captain Moroni immensely, for how else could he have written that monumental description of him in which he said ‘if all men were like Moroni, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men’ (Alma 48:17). I am equally certain that this admiration extended to the naming of his son. I think Mormon hoped in his heart that his son would become a valiant man like the one he admired. Moroni, the son of Mormon, was a valiant man, in every way, like his predecessor.

Helaman, the son of Helaman, named his two sons Nephi and Lehi. And this is the reason that he gave: “Behold, my sons, I have given unto you the names of our first parents who came out of the land of Jerusalem….so that when you remember your names ye may remember them; and… remember their works and….ye may know how that it is said, and also written, that they were good” (Helaman 5:6). This is the most Helaman hoped for, that his sons would be good. Nephi and Lehi did remember and they far outweighed their father’s expectation (v14). They devoted themselves to preaching the word, made many converts amongst the dissenters (v 17), baptised 8,000 Lamanites in and round about the land of Zarahemla (v 18,19), courageously proceeded to the land of Nephi, where they were imprisoned, divinely rescued and ministered to by angels (v 48). Following their ministry, the Lamanites became a more righteous people than the Nephites (Helaman 6:1).

As Church members, we are more commonly known as Mormons.  Some members of the Church resent being called Mormons because more often than not, this name overshadows the fact that we are Christians to the rest of the world.  However, the rest of the world doesn't know Mormon like we know him. In my opinion Mormon was one of the most Christ-like people to have ever graced this earth. For that reason, being called Mormon to me is just about the same as being called a Christian.  

When President Hinckley was a missionary in England he asked one of his associates how they could get people, including the members, to speak of the Church by its proper name. His associate answered that they couldn’t do it because the word Mormon was too deeply engrained and too easy to say. He said he tried and gave up because he was not ashamed of the nickname Mormon. He then added: “If there is any name that is totally honourable in its derivation it is the name Mormon. And so, when someone asks me about it and what it means, I quietly say – Mormon means more good” (The Prophet Joseph Smith first said this in 1843: Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, pp 299-300). President Hinckley then went on to pay homage to the prophet Mormon, to his greatness and his goodness and said that ‘while he sometimes regrets that people do not call this church by its proper name, he was happy that the nickname they use is one of great honour made so by a remarkable man and a book which gives an unmatched testimony concerning the Redeemer of the world’ (Gordon B. Hinckley, Mormon Should Mean ‘More Good’, GC October 1990)

In Mosiah 5:7-12, the word 'name' occurs 11 times.  These particular scriptures contain King Benjamin's address to his people who were willing to take upon themselves the name of Christ. By virtue of our baptismal covenant we become Christ's sons and daughters and thereby we take upon ourselves His name, much like we take upon ourselves our earthly father's name when we are born into mortality.  At baptism, however, Christ becomes our spiritual father and we thereby become Christ-ians. What we do with Christ's name speaks volumes about our integrity and our character.

The Saviour will hold us responsible for His name when we face Him at the judgment bar.  As his children, it is our duty to bring honour and glory to his name through the life that we live.  For this He will exalt us so that we can have all that He has and be all that He is.

When in clouds of heaven He appears,

And I stand in the shadow of His frame,

I want to hear the Saviour say:

I love what you have done with my name! 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: With All Thy Heart by Yongsung Kim)

THE LESSON IN OBEDIENCE

 

 

The mission I served in, back in the 80s, was very statistically oriented. It was drummed into us missionaries that obedience would yield baptisms. We were expected to baptise someone every month, to teach 15 discussions a week, place at least 1 Book of Mormon a day and make incredible sacrifices such as 100 hour weeks, not open our mail until our preparation day, and even occasionally give up those free days to prepare for the week, bring someone to Church every week and we were not allowed to listen to any music whatsoever, not even Mormon Tabernacle Choir. So high was the expectation placed on us that despite my nice tally of baptisms, I went home feeling like a failure because I had not brought anyone to the waters of baptism for the last seven months of my mission. I worried that all my district leaders I had to report our statistics to, suspected that I was not being obedient in all our missionary rituals and rules. My idealistic self thought I had not done enough.  

 

Abinadi went to his death not knowing that he had 1 convert but knowing he had done enough. He persisted against all odds until he had delivered the message God sent him to deliver and which cost him his life. Through Abinadi’s one convert came the next several generations of prophets who prepared the people for the coming of Jesus Christ among them. Abinadi’s only convert was a man called Alma, who believed all Abinadi testified against his people (Mosiah 17:2).

 

Alma wrote down Abinadi’s extensive preaching and taught it to his followers in secret (Mosiah 17:4; 18:1). Severe persecution from King Noah necessitated this group of faithful followers to flee to safer pastures (Mosiah 18:34). Following their departure, God's prophecies to King Noah and his unrepentant people began to be fulfilled. King Noah suffered death by fire and his people, under the new leadership of his son, Limhi, were taken into bondage by their enemies, the Lamanites.  Alma and his followers, through intricate circumstances, fell into bondage also. The lesson lies in these two groups of people and their respective conversions. The people of Alma repented of their sins when the call to repentance came. As the result of their conversion they covenanted with God through baptism to keep His commandments. The other group who were led by Noah's son Limhi repented out of necessity. Just as Abinadi prophesied, they were 'afflicted, smitten, driven to and fro and burdened according to the desires of their enemies' (Mosiah 21:13). And so the humility came in realising that only God could deliver them from their afflictions (Mosiah 21:4, 14).

 

Herein lies a great lesson. We often think that repentance will be a smooth road and the Lord will jump to rescue us the minute we ask. When Limhi's people could no longer bear the afflictions of their bondage, they began to 'cry mightily to God'....'all day long' begging to be delivered (Mosiah 21:5,14), but God was 'slow to hear their cry' (v 15). Why? Because the Lord can deliver but He cannot erase the consequences of our choices. It is the experience of those consequences that make us think twice about repeating the sin. What He did do was soften the hearts of the Lamanites so that 'they began to ease their burdens' (Mosiah 21:15). In other words, the Lord, because of His mercy, 'softened the blow'.

 

When in bondage, the path to freedom is laced with mercy. The mercy that He extends, however, will not be given at the cost of the lessons we need to learn first. When I left my mission feeling like I failure, I did not realise that I, a young convert to the Church, took home with me the best lesson I could possibly learn, that of obedience. 

 - CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: His Mighty Hand by Yongsung Kim)

ON GOING BACKWARDS

 

I could not help but see something significant as I started to read about the people of Limhi this morning. Limhi was the son of Noah who was the son of Zeniff who foolishly decided to abandon the land of Zarahemla and return to the land of Lehi-Nephi, the land of ‘their fathers’ (Mosiah 9:3). This was the land from which Nephi fled and separated himself and his followers from his murderous brothers (2 Nephi 5:57). At the time of Zeniff, the land was populated by the Lamanites.

When Zeniff was first sent as a spy to the land of Lehi-Nephi, it was to check out the Lamanites’ forces so that the Nephite army could come and destroy them (Mosiah 9:1). Something interesting happened to Zeniff on this expedition. He saw the good that was among the Lamanites and he was seduced (v 1). Perhaps Lamanites were not so bad after all….Herein lies the lesson. You should never go backwards. The Lamanites were welcoming at first and vacated lands for Zeniff and his people to occupy. The king even covenanted with Zeniff granting him the land but Zeniff did not foresee  ‘the cunning and the craftiness of king Laman’ who yielded up the land to bring his people into bondage (v 9). Zeniff saw the good of the Lamanites on the surface but in reality they were ‘a lazy and idolatrous people’ who put others in bondage to provide for them (v 12). After twelve years of being settled in the land, the glitter wore off and the bondage set in (v 11).

I could not help but see how this story relates to us who have abandoned a company they should not keep seeing the dangers of sin they were falling into, or have even fallen into such a life. Once removed, don’t look back because Satan works overtime to make appealing that sinful life or that company you have abandoned. Once the re-acquaintances have been made or sin revisited even once, the bondage begins.

When we are baptized we are baptized for ‘remission’ of our sins. This means our sins are simply put in remission until the day of forgiveness. If we commit that sin that is lying in remission, it will return. It is like a cancer, which is put into remission through treatment, but it can always come back. Our sins are the same, they lie in wait to return should we fail to be diligent in cultivating our spiritual strength. If we fail to do so and the mistake is repeated, always remember there is a way out. King Limhi understood the lesson and himself recognized the way to deliverance out of bondage is by ‘turning to the Lord with full purpose of heart, putting your trust in Him, and serving Him with all diligence of mind’. Then he says something interesting. If you do all this, the Lord will  ‘according to his own will and pleasure deliver you out of bondage’ (Mosiah 7:33). Be warned, the deliverance might mean a rough road of repentance and forgiveness….as in many cases,  groups of people in the Book of Mormon proved this to be true.

The real danger of going backwards is this…..you might never return. And what a loss that would be to your soul, your family, your loved ones, to the Saviour who suffered for you and to the Father who eagerly awaits you. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Though Your Sins Be As Scarlet by Greg Olsen)

BY HIS NAME

 

Imagine if we had no names. Imagine if we were known only by our physical description. What a chaotic world that would be. Being known by a name keeps order in our society. Names are very significant in many cultures and naming a child upon birth is a matter worthy of thoughtful consideration. The hope is that the child will grow up to fill the stature of its given name. Both Mary and Joseph were instructed to give the Saviour the name of ‘Jesus’ (Matt 1:21; Luke 1:31) which is the Greek form of the Hebrew and Aramaic name of Yeshua which means ‘the Lord is Salvation’. But this is just one of the names He is known by. I am always on the look-out for His names when I am reading the scriptures. So far I have recorded 51 but I am sure there is more.

When we are born into this world, we take upon ourselves our father’s name. When we are spiritually born through baptism, we take upon ourselves the name of Jesus Christ. We become CHRISTians. King Benjamin explained this means that we become ‘the children of Christ’. He mentions the importance of having Christ’s name 11 times in 6 verses of Mosiah 5 (V 7-12). Why is this important? Because, just as we are genetically predisposed to inherit physical and mental traits of our earthly fathers, so we, when we take upon ourselves the name of Christ, and live his teachings, inherit His spiritual qualities. In other words, we become like Him by the virtue of our newly acquired parental bond (Moroni 7:48). This gives a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘you’re just like your father’, does it not???

King Benjamin closes his address admonishing his people to be steadfast and immovable and always abounding in good works for the greatest of all blessings depends on this: "....that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life..." (Mosiah 5:15)  The Saviour will hold us responsible for His name when we face Him at the judgment bar.  As his children, it is our duty to bring honour and glory to his name through the life that we live.  For this He will exalt us so that we can have all that He has and be all that He is. Alma spoke of being spiritually born and thereby receiving His image in our countenance (Alma 5:14).  Let us live so that this image will be recognized by all we associate with and that we will be known by His name more readily than by our own. What we do with Christ's name speaks volumes about our integrity and character. Being Christian means being like Christ and behaving as He would behave. It reminds me of that saying:  "If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" 

When through the water’s gate

I was given the Saviour’s name,

His law was written in my heart

Forever there to remain.

 

I offered love, I obeyed,

I followed the paths He had me take;

I’ve endured all my trials

For His name’s sake.

 

And when in clouds of heaven He appears

And I stand in the shadow of His frame,

I want to hear the Saviour say:

I love what you have done with my name!

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art by Greg Olsen)

KING OF MERCY

 

“The Saviour suffered for our sins, and sickness, in part to perfect his mercy. We are indebted to the prophet Alma for our knowledge of the full measure of His suffering: “He shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and sicknesses of his people. And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people, and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities (Alma 7:11-12)….. He suffered these afflictions as we suffer them, according to the flesh. He suffered them all. He did this to perfect his mercy and his ability to lift us above every earthly trial.” (Teachings of Howard W. Hunter, p 7).

I was somewhat perplexed when I read this quote not quite understanding what President Hunter meant by the Saviour suffering in order to ‘perfect His mercy’. Scripturally, to be perfect means to be brought to its’ end, to be finished, to be fully developed, having accomplished one’s purpose (M. Nelson, Perfection Pending, Ensign Nov 1995, p 86,88).  In that respect, this statement makes sense. Christ’s mercy began in pre-existence when He volunteered to save us, but the perfection of it was achieved in His mortal life.

When we think of mercy, forgiveness of our sins comes to mind, first and foremost. However, mercy is a multi-faceted attribute. Aside from forgiveness, Christ’s mercy extends to help or succor, as President Hunter pointed out. His mercy also comes in not so obvious ways but ways which lead to ultimate end for human kind, as in mercy in establishing His Church and saving ordinances which lead us to eternal life. That’s also mercy.

Consider the ordinance of baptism. Without it there is no entrance to Celestial Kingdom. The Book of Mormon highlights its importance so well. When Alma, who had fled from King Noah with a small band of followers, preached to them the covenant of obedience by the waters of Mormon, the people were so overcome with joy that they committed to baptism there and then (Mosiah 18:10,11). Alma's first baptism was a man called Helam. His words to him took the baptismal covenant to a new level. He said: Helam, I baptise thee, having authority from the Almighty God, as a testimony that ye have entered into a covenant to serve him until you are dead...." (Mosiah 18:13). This is serious stuff. Especially considering that anciently covenants were not broken even at the point of death. This is not just about obedience but also endurance.

The best way to endure something to the end is by constant remembrance….hence the sacrament. Each Sunday we have the privilege of taking the sacrament to keep in remembrance our baptismal covenant of obedience, but not only that. It also promises Christ’s spirit will be with us if we keep the covenant. How is His spirit administered to us? Through the medium of the Holy Ghost. And what is the Holy Ghost’s primary function? Sanctification. Every time we take the sacrament  AND repent of our wrong doings, the Holy Ghost sanctifies us and preserves the remission of our sins which we were mercifully granted at the time of our baptism. Remission leads to eventual forgiveness.

I have often thought Christ’s tolerance and mercy towards us is excessive but as I reflected on it a thought came to me that He could have never subjected himself to such an unjust life, and indeed most unjust  death, if He was any other way. When He said in pre-existence, “I will save them”, He meant it and He implemented every possible way to safeguard that salvation. This is ultimate mercy. This is who Jesus Christ is.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Portrait of Christ by Chris Brazelton)