TRUST

 

I viewed my life as hopeless pieces

And shame consumed my fragile heart.

I questioned every move and every choice;

I berated, I gave no value to any part.

Not until my trust consumed me

And my will to heavens flew

Did solace nestle in my soul

And such freedom as I never knew.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art by David Beraru)

GOD'S WISDOM

 

The value of the Ten Commandments cannot be overstated. I have heard it said in the Church that the Commandments were given us for our protection and I cannot agree more. The commandments are our most valuable asset in this life and the second is our moral agency to choose to obey. If it wasn’t for our agency we would be subject to this world of sin and corruption and would naturally cleave to evil.

Consider the pull of sin and how devastating it is to our spiritual well-being:

“Whoever said that sin was not fun? Whoever claimed that Lucifer was not handsome, persuasive, easy, and friendly? Sin is attractive and desirable. Transgression wears elegant gowns and sparkling apparel. It is highly perfumed; it has attractive features, and a soft voice.

“It is found in educated circles and sophisticated groups. It provides sweet and comfortable luxuries. Sin is easy and has a big company of pleasant companions. It promises immunity from restrictions and temporary freedoms. It can momentarily satisfy hunger, thirst, desire, urges, passions, wants, without immediately paying the price. But, it begins tiny and grows to monumental proportions – drop by drop, inch by inch.”

-          President Spencer W. Kimball, “Faith Precedes The Miracle” p 229)

“It is true that the great principle of repentance is always available, but for the wicked and rebellious there are serious reservations to this statement. For instance, sin is intensely habit-forming and sometimes moves men to the tragic point of no return…As the transgressor moves deeper and deeper in his sin, and the error is entrenched more deeply and the will to change is weakened, it becomes increasingly near-hopeless, and he skids down and down until either he does not want to climb back or he has lost the power to do so.”

-          President Spencer W. Kimball, “The Miracle of Forgiveness [1969] p 117)

We fought for our spiritual freedom in pre-mortal life (Rev 12:7-11; Moses 4:1-4). It is interesting to observe the world today and see how we have convoluted the meaning of this principle. It is most obvious in the way people are not willing to obey the laws of the land. The cry seems to be, “I have my rights, I can do whatever I want”. This is the world’s definition of freedom.  Pride is corrupting us as we reject correction from any source and insist on a ‘me’ society. This is Satan’s doctrine and his path to eventual destruction.

The Ten Commandments are as relative today as they were when they were first given and never more needed than today. They not only offer personal freedom but they also bring order to a society. I cannot look at one and think it is not needed. Our obedience to them brings honour, self-respect and spiritual strength beyond our own. The wisdom of our God is beyond understanding. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Keep My Commandments by B. Laura Wilson)

A DEFENDER OF THE FAITH

 

For as long as this earth exists, there will be an Amalickiah who opposes the truth (Alma 46:1-3). The Amalickiah who lived in 73-72 B.C. was a man who desired power over the people and who led away others from the truth by his flatteries and promises that they too can be rulers over others if they would give him their support (v 4-5). Thus he sought to overthrow the freedom and liberty of the people. Remind you of someone???

Enter Moroni and his title of liberty. His passion for his God and preservation of righteouesness leaves me breathless. Such a pure and righteous desire can only invite the spirit of God to ignite the hearts of the people. Imagine Moroni navigating the streets of Zarahemla waving his rent coat as the title of liberty and crying with a load voice inviting people to enter into a covenant of obedience (v 12-20). So strong were the flames of the spirit that people came running to him dressed in armour and rending their garments as a token of their covenant (v 21-22).

Here is the lesson for us today. Note that Moroni’s title of liberty was about freedom to choose God and obedience to His commandments which Amalickiah and the dissenters would have taken away had they risen to political power (v 13).  Despite the valiant efforts of Helaman and his brothers, who were high priests, to care for the spiritual welfare of the people, political ambitions were fostered by the lower judges of the land as a means to draw people away from the Church (v 4-7). The Church members who dissented followed the doctrine of the adversary and his thirst for power to destroy the spiritual welfare of those whom he sought to rule over.

We fight the forces of darkness today which seek to take away our spiritual liberty. Satan still seeks to rule over us. He employs subtle means and ways to control us. Using his worldly enticements of popularity, power and praise, he employs the following tactics:

HIS THREE DOCTRINES:

1. There is no punishment for sin;

2. There is nothing after death;

3. He does not exist.

HIS THREE LIES:

1. Just once won’t hurt;

2. No one will know;

3. Everybody is doing it.

HIS VALUE SYSTEM:

1. Selfishness;

2. Self-indulgence;

3. Immediate gratification.

HIS SALES TECHNIQUES:

1. Pacifying;

2. Flattering;

3. Lulling.

HIS GOAL:

1. To steal our spiritual identity;

2. To kill our faith in God;

3. To destroy our commitment to Christ.

In his prayer to God, Captain Moroni was clear that the attack on freedom was specifically an attack on  Christians (c 13-14). To preserve people’s faith in Christ, ‘he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land’ (v 36). Whichever way they looked, the Nephites were reminded of their standard of liberty and the covenant they made with God for the preservation of their freedom.

Moroni was a man who was ‘firm in the faith of Christ’ (Alma 48:13). Mormon said ‘If all men were like  Moroni, the very powers of hell would be shaken forever and the devil would have no power over us’ (v 17). Imagine the power we would have if we never faltered in our faith in Christ. Imagine how quickly we would become like Him. We would be moving heaven and earth by our very existence.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: AI Generated)

 

TO BE WORTHY OF HIM

 

The persecution of the Saints in July 1833 reached its peak when five hundred men rushed into Independence waving a red flag and brandishing guns, dirks, whips, and clubs. Their goal was to rid Jackson county of the ‘Mormons’. They vowed to whip and kill the men; destroy their children, and ravish their women. To save the saints, Edward Partridge, William Phelps, Isaac Morley, A. Sidney Gilbert, John Whitmer, and John Corrill offered themselves as a ransom to be scourged or put to death. Their offered sacrifice was not accepted as the mob proceeded to wreak havoc with their proclamation of “leave the county or die”. (Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual p 231)

We are all familiar intellectually with the persecution of the early Church but none of us know it experientially. I for one cannot fathom enduring the stress of such persecution and fearing for the lives of my children. My most stressful situation in life has been year 2020. I feel the oppressing effects of the latest lockdown as I drive my car in peace to the nearest supermarket to buy from the well-stocked bulging shelves. I really lack nothing but am still finding it difficult to cope with lack of the freedom I am accustomed to. My stress levels would be minimal to that of the early saints but nevertheless it is valid considering I am a product of my time. No difficult situation is insignificant. What is significant is this: in the midst of that severe persecution in 1833, the Lord gave an incredibly surprising revelation to the saints in which He said: “Fear not, rejoice evermore and in everything give thanks” (D&C 98:1). Not what you would expect, is it? I wonder how many saints balked at that instruction and I wonder if I would have been one of them. I imagine some of them would have wondered if the Lord really knew what was going on and what on earth they had to be grateful for.

Among other significant things the Lord mentioned relating to persecution, He took the meaning of it to another level when He said: “I will prove you in all things, whether you will abide in my covenant, even unto death…” (D&C 98:14). It has been my long held belief that we made certain covenants in pre-existence before we made them here. The most important covenant I believe we made was that we would accept and endure the difficulties of our times and remain valiant throughout. This meant physical persecution for early saints and a pandamic for us. Why? That we ‘may be found worthy…..of Him (98:14,15). Worthy of Him who offers us redemption, salvation, deliverance, glory, godhood…..May we place these un-surpassing gifts above all the treasures and trials of this world and believe in a brighter day.

Let me Lord

Sit by the furnace of affliction

To warm myself by Thy refiner’s fire;

Purge my sin and polish me as silver

That I might in the end receive my desire

To shine forth as a jewel in Thy crown

When thou wilt come

To gather Thine own

To receive us into Thy bosom

And carry us home

• Cathryne Allen

TO BE FREE

 

For years I admired and at times envied someone in my close circle who was doing all the wrong things but seemed to have it all. I felt under-privileged and even victimised by my persistent and arduous journey on the strait and narrow. At times I even wondered if doing the right things was worth it. I arrived at my 60s with pretty much nothing; no husband, no home, no financial security, no material possessions. Now that I am here, however, I realise I have something far more superior to any of these things.  And that someone who seemed to have it all? Well, she has bondage. Over the years as I have watched this person be led 'by the neck with a flaxen cord'  (2 Nephi 26:22) my feelings of admiration and envy have turned to pity and compassion. Recently I spent some time on the phone with this person as she related through tears her entrapment in an emotionally abusive and spiritually degrading situation. After years of bad choices, her faith in God has all but been destroyed and belief in the basics of the Gospel been severely diminished. How does a flaxen cord become so strong around a person's neck that the adversary has the power to bind a person with it forever? (2 Nephi 26:22). The answer is, with one bad choice at a time and with each choice, a lack of repentance. And lack of repentance means only one thing, suffering. What once seemed like freedom to choose turns out not to be freedom at all.

In his latest conference talk, President Oaks said that 'we can be cleansed by the process of repentance' (Oaks, 'Cleansed by Repentance', CR April 2019). As I contemplated this I realised that this cleansing is not only beneficial in regards to final judgment and eternal life but that it is also meant to be advantageous to us here and now. True and sincere repentance leads to forgiveness and forgiveness leads to freedom. Freedom from the effects of sin such as: shame, guilt, lack of self-respect, low self-esteem, depression, emotional pain, sorrow, anxiety, weakened personal and spiritual power and all negative emotions generated by sin. As I contemplated further about the freeing power of forgiveness I also came to understand how much more freedom we can gain as we willingly forgive others. Setting aside the fact that forgiving others is a commandment (D&C 64:9,10), I am certain this commandment was put into place for the benefit of the victim and not the oppressor or perpetrator. Some people erroneously believe that forgiving someone their offences means that our forgiveness absolves them from their actions and that means that they are forgiven. In reality, we do not possess the power to forgive anyone's sins. That power rests with God. Forgiving another their trespass against us means acknowledging their human frailties and freeing ourselves from the effects of their actions such as: resentment, hatred, bitterness, judgment, pain and all inflicted suffering. This can be a tall order however, where a very serious offence has taken place. How do you forgive physical and mental abuse by a spouse, sexual abuse by a family member, betrayal of a loved one, even murder of someone close to you?

I can testify to you that there is no pain bigger than the Atonement. When it is beyond our mortal capability to forgive another there is still hope. I have been through an experience in my life too personal to recount where forgiveness was beyond me. It was in that moment of suffering that I was given to know that through my faith in Jesus Christ and the power of His Atonement I could be gifted a forgiving heart. As I petitioned the Lord over and over, this gift was granted. I cannot adequately describe all the positive consequences that ensued as a result of this gift in my life and the lives of those around me, especially my children. The freedom it afforded me decades ago lives with me still. That gift of a forgiving heart has enabled me to forgive over and over the foibles of others;  from my friends to Church leaders to my children to strangers. It has taught me to let go and do so with compassion. This in turn has increased my capacity to love. 

As I listened to my friend agonise over her situation I wondered why we choose pain in our lives when we can have so much better through obedience to God's commandments. Sin is never as good as it appears to be. To those not vigilant enough, appearances are easily misunderstood. But gloss can dim overnight and reveal its ugliness and the devil calls for collection of debt all too soon. Compare his clutches of deceit and hatred to the loving arms of the Saviour who vigilantly watches over us waiting for the slightest act of obedience so that He might bless us. I am certain our pain is His pain and with everlasting mercy and kindness He stands with open arms to receive us and give us freedom from the wounds inflicted by our thoughtlessness, ignorance and waywardness. For has He not said, '....though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow....be faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God, and I will encircle thee in the arms of my love." (Isaiah 1:18; D&C 6:20)