THAT WHICH IS GOD'S

 

When Jesus was questioned by the conniving Pharisees and Herodians if it is lawful to give tribute to Caesar, Jesus answered the question in two parts, one more significant than the other (Matthew 22:17-21). In summation, He asked for them to produce a coin and asked them whose image was on the coin that was accepted as legal currency by all the Jews. They answered it was Caesar’s. Jesus then replied since Caesar’s image was on the coin, the coin was his as was the Empire he ruled and therefore taxes needed to be paid to him in tribute. And then this: “…and unto God the things that are God’s (v 21). And what is God’s? We are.

 

If God created man in His own image, and imprinted that image upon him then it becomes obvious that every living soul belongs to God and the Universe that He rules. We are, as it were, of divine mintage….We are not our own. God the Father is our ruler and our sovereign, as Caesar was to the Roman Empire….but with a vast difference. Whereas Caesar conquered against will,  the Father of our souls employs tactics of salvation to make us His own forever. Whereas Caesar was motivated by power and control, the Father is motivated by love and a desire to give us His all. It should be our life’s work to return to Him to whom we rightly belong. This is our homage, this is our tribute to the King of Heaven. The way has been provided. The price for the journey has been paid.

 

I have no life but this,

To follow the path to Thy throne;

To be greeted with a holy kiss,

And know the reality of such bliss.

 

 

(For further understanding of Christ’s interchange with the Herodians regarding this question, see Jesus the Christ by James Talmage, p 544-7)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(ART: As One by Danny Hahlbohm)

TO LIVE WITH FOREVER

 

I heard the most poignant advice in a rather amusing movie recently that went like this: "It's not just about living forever, the trick is living with yourself forever."

I reflected on this and wondered how I would feel about myself once my days of probation were over. I concluded who I became during my mortal life would be more important to me than what I have achieved. It reminded me of Alma The Younger because he is the perfect example of this concept.

His repentance from a destructive lifestyle is legendary as are his achievements. Having become transformed through his experience with repentance, he went on to become an amazingly successful missionary, a foe to anti-Christs, high priest, chief judge, military leader and prophet. His doctrinal teachings were extensive and thought provoking but none more so than the question he asked of his hearers when he inquired if they had been spiritually born of God and if they had received His imagine in their countenance? (Alma 5:14). This question would have to be the most poignant question contained in the holy scriptures. If we should practice what we preach, then Alma indeed had the right to ask such a question.

You have to seriously study Alma's life to see what I mean here. His achievements are outstanding and his personal journey has touched my heart like no other. Alma went from being one of the vilest of sinners with the sons of Mosiah (Mosiah 28:4) to giving up the judgment seat to be a missionary. But not just any missionary but one that greatly sorrowed for the people (Alma 8:10,14; 31:1,2,30,31; 35:15). In the end, Alma the Younger, high priest, chief judge, military leader and prophet, became: Alma the Submissive; Alma the Meek; Alma the Humble; Alma the Patient; Alma the Loving; Alma, the man with Christ's imagine in his countenance.

If you read the account of Alma's conversion, you will see that there is only one person who could make his transition possible. When Alma appealed to the saving grace of Christ, he recounts that he was filled with joy as exceeding as was his pain (Alma 36:20). I cannot fathom being in 'the gall of bitterness' and being 'tormented with the pains of hell' (v13) but I know with certainty that the Saviour can give us 'exquisite joy' (v21)......the joy that comes from having His imagine in our countenance. It is something to live for and with......forever.

Let the everlasting hills and mountains

Hear Thy exalted voice

That the ends of the earth

Might proclaim Thy eternal fame

And know the strength of Thy salvation;

May all who hear, walk in Thy holy name

And seek Thy mercy and Thy grace,

And may those found worthy

Be endowed with Thy image

In the countenance of their face.

• Cathryne Allen

HIS IMAGE IN OUR COUNTENANCE

Alma the Younger was a major achiever. Having become transformed through his experience with repentance, he went on to become an amazingly successful missionary, a foe to anti-Christs, high priest, chief judge, military leader and prophet. His doctrinal teachings were extensive and thought provoking but none more so than the following question he asked of his hearers when he inquired if they had been spiritually born of God: "Have ye received His image in your countenance?" (Alma 5:14). This question would have to be the most poignant question contained in the holy scriptures. If we should practice what we preach, then Alma indeed had the right to ask such a question.

Many years after his conversion, 'Alma delivered up the judgement-seat to Nephihah and confined himself wholly to the high priesthood' (Alma 4:20) that he might preach to the straying members of the Church and cry repentance to the unconverted. Having enjoyed success in Zarahemla and surrounding lands, he entered the city of Ammonihah and thus began the most grueling mission of his life. The people of Ammonihah not only rejected his message but they rejected him and his missionary companion, Amulek. So strong was the rejection that the very fires of hell gaped before them as those who dared to believe were stoned and burnt at stake (Alma 14:7,8). Alma and Amulek were stripped naked, imprisoned, spit upon, beaten and starved (Alma 14:22). After 12 days of such treatment, the humiliation deepened as the chief judge and the lawyers appeared at the prison to smite them again and to mock them tempting them to deliver themselves. The scriptures record no murmuring  or any retaliation from either Alma or Amulek. Even when the power of God descended upon Alma, his words were directed to God asking for deliverance and not to his tormentors (Alma 4:26). There is only one way to account for such godly temperance. In all his doing, Alma didn't neglect 'becoming', for it is not about what we do but what we become while we do it. It was less important what Alma became but more important who he became. Alma the Younger, high priest, chief judge, military leader and prophet, became Alma the Submissive, Alma the Meek, Alma the Humble, Alma the Patient, Alma the Loving, Alma, the man with Christ's imagine in his countenance.

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

My patriarchal blessing cites two significant blessings connected with my name. In the first instance it says my children will grow up to bless and honour my name and in the second it says that my name will always be known among the faithful.  These two blessings are of course predicated upon my faithfulness.  I desperately want both of them.  The first one because it means my faithfulness will have an influence on my children and in some way be instrumental in their salvation and the second because I do truly desire to be known as a faithful follower of Christ.  When I read The Book of Mormon and come across Mormon boldly proclaiming, "Behold I am Mormon and I am a disciple of Jesus Christ...", my heart yearns to say this of myself with the same confidence and boldness with which Mormon did.  So when my patriarchal blessing tells me that I will be known as one of the 'faithful' I know that there will be evidence enough to that fact otherwise I would not be numbered among them.  

Whilst attending our new ward recently, my daughter was introduced on a number of occasions with significant reference to her grandparents who are well known far and wide for their faithfulness and Church service. Her grandmother, who has passed away,  is highly regarded in the Church in Sydney by many saints who knew her. I have heard her name mentioned often in different wards I have attended since her death. It makes me so grateful that my children are associated with her good name. I believe this is the greatest legacy she has left to her grandchildren.  It is my desire that I will leave a good name to my children also.   Adversely, I would be devastated if my name was an embarrassment to them in any way.  So much is associated with the name we bear: our reputation, what kind of life we created, the caliber of the person we have been, our good works, people's perception of us, how loved we are, how much we have helped others and how well we have treated them.  The influence, whether bad or good, is far reaching.

As Church members we are largely known by two significant names: Mormons and Christians.  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.  Mormon is my favourite prophet of the Book of Mormon. The obvious reason being is that he is a writer. The other reason is that 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.  

Mormon was faithful to the latter in one of the most evil societies that have ever existed. A people who were so wicked that the Holy Ghost was entirely withheld from them (Mormon 1:14); who 'willfully rebelled against their God' (Mormon 1:16); who, in their extremities 'cursed God and wished to die' (Mormon 2:14); who were consumed with revenge (Mormon 3:9-10); who forcibly deprived women of their virtue, killed them, and 'devoured their flesh like unto wild beasts' (Moroni 9:10).  After much unsuccessful effort to turn the society of such evil doers around to repent and trust in God you would think Mormon would be justified in wishing God's justice to come upon them.  But this was not in Mormon's nature.  Mormon knew God and how merciful He is and therefore he never stopped hoping that his people will repent and once again become a righteous people.  Instead of smugly sitting on his housetop and recording their destruction, punctuated with frequent "I-told-you-so's", Mormon continued to urge the Nephites in their battles  and inspired them to consider their wives and their children and their homes. (Todd A Knowles, Gospel Doctrine Lesson 43, Mormon 1-6,9)  Not only did Mormon continue to love and serve the Nephites despite their lack of willingness to repent, he fought along side them knowing they were doomed and when the Nephites went down to complete destruction, he went down with them.

In writing The Book of Mormon, Mormon's one purpose was to bring us 'unto Christ'.  If you asked a classroom of people who wrote The Book of Mormon, everybody would hesitate to answer trying to figure it out.  This is so because when you read The Book of Mormon, you do not hear Mormon's voice, even though he occasionally offers editorial commentary.  The voice we hear when we read The Book of Mormon, is the voice of God.  Mormon makes himself transparent as the writer of this book and succeeds gloriously in helping us draw closer to God.  (Todd A. Knowles, Gospel Doctrine Lesson 43, Mormon 1-6,9)

Mormon lived by an eternal perspective that enabled his life long service among his fellowmen. : "...for we have a labour to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness...." (Moroni 9:6)  I often quote this scripture during my lessons as a means of inspiration to help us be focused on winning the battle that we began so long ago.  The more I know about Mormon, the more I want to be like him.  It makes me feel good to say that I am a Mormon, to be associated with his name.

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 enter into a covenant with God 'to do his will and to be obedient to his commandments in all things....all the remainder of our days' (Mosiah 5:5).  What is interesting is that King Benjamin responds to their willingness to enter into this covenant by talking about the importance of taking upon ourselves Christ's name.  He specifically says that:

• our hearts are changed through faith on his name (verse 7)
• there is no other name given whereby salvation comes (verse 8)
• whosoever enters into this covenant shall be known and called by the name of Christ (verse 9)
• whosoever is not called by the name of Christ shall be found on the left hand of God (verse 10)
• His name will never be blotted out of our hearts except through transgression (verse 11)

By virtue of our covenant to be obedient to His commandments, we become Christ's, his sons and his 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.  In this instance 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 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?" 

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.  Does He not deserve this? 

For "behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands...." (1 Nephi 21:16)