THE SCHOOL OF SPIRITS

 

I love the fact that the scriptures are a bridge across time and testify of the one and only truth in different dispensations. What Abraham was given to know almost 2,000 years B.C. about “the intelligences that were organised before the world was”, President Joseph Fielding Smith was also told in the year 1918 A.D. during his vision of the spirit world where he witnessed the presence of the ‘noble and great intelligences’ who were chosen as leaders in Christ’s Church (Abraham 3:22,23). After seeing the early leaders of this dispensation, his vision was expanded to others:

“I observed that they were also among the noble and great ones who were chosen in the beginning to be rulers in the Church of God. Even before they were born, they, with MANY OTHERS, received their first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord to labor in his vineyard for the salvation of the souls of men.” (D&C 138:55,56)

It is worthy to notice that the noble and great ones were not only the leaders but ‘many others’ who have been called to labour for the salvation of God’s children, whether in this life or the spirit world. Many of these spirits were faithful daughters of Mother Eve ‘who had lived through the ages and worshiped the true and living God’ (D&C 138:39). This is us.

No doubt our preparation was based on our commitment, our intelligence, our talents and the growth we had already acquired. Of this preparation, President Joseph Fielding Smith taught: “During the ages in which we dwelt in the pre-mortal state, we not only developed our various characteristics and showed our worthiness and ability, or the lack of it, but we were also where such progress could be observed.

“It was natural for our Father to discern and choose those who were most worthy and evaluate the talents of each individual. He knew not only what each of us COULD do, but also what each of us WOULD do when put to the test and when responsibility was given us”. (“The Way to Perfection” [1970], 50-51).

If you ever feel that you have nothing to offer to the Church, your circle of family and friends or even the world, don’t. We are a chain of humanity. Each of us contributes in different ways. Even if it is just to increase light in the world of darkness, by our goodness, our testimony, our service, our love. The Father places each one of His children in time and place where they can be of advantage and where their spirit can shine to be ‘the light of the world’ in whatever capacity is theirs (Matthew 5:14-16).

Elder Bruce R. McConkie taught that “the greatest and most important talent or capacity that any of the spirit children of the Father could gain is the talent of spirituality” (“A New Witness for the Articles of Faith” [1985] p 512). Why is this talent the most important? Because we need it to testify of God the Father and His Son and to labour for the salvation of souls.

If you love God and accept His Beloved Son as your Saviour, you are one of the noble and great ones…..your love for Him will spread throughout the world and touch people you might never even get to know.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Christ by Farid Fadel)

THE VASTNESS OF US

 

I shed many tears yesterday as I came to the end of a particularly difficult week with my physical suffering. I expected some sort of comfort from above but I did not expect what I was given.

Surprisingly, my mind opened and I was given to comprehend through my tears, as much as I could comprehend, my significance in the Plan of Salvation and at the same time my significance as a single entity outside of  the vast overall picture of the process of that Plan.

I came to understand that there is something so much bigger than me and my experience no matter how painful it might be but at the same time, that pain was not without its importance to God.

The comprehension of the Plan which enlarges the Father’s glory through the salvation of us, eternal intelligences flooded my soul to the point that I could not verbalise it. I find it difficult even now to find the words. I understood the Saviour’s frustration in trying to describe to our limited mortal minds the kingdoms in existence beyond the planet we are for the time confined to when He said: “Unto what shall I liken these kingdoms, that ye may understand????” (D&C 88:46)

This lack of perfect comprehension made me see how important is our faith and our trust. One day we will plainly see how our lives, our sufferings and our sacrifices were a part of something significant with eternal consequences that is now beyond us to even imagine. We will understand our role in this universe and beyond. Intelligences we might be but the eternal in us is withheld for now from our grasp by the physical realm we are confined to.

This experience did not really bring me comfort but it surprised me that God can teach us something so vast in our most dire moments if we always have our hearts open with a willingness to receive answers greater than we can ourselves supply.

In all that I received yesterday, my dire moment presented to me the unfairness of the Saviour’s life and His unfathomable sacrifice for others. The scope of that sacrifice is also beyond my understanding as is the resultant splendour of His glory He now has.

My point is this. There is something far, far bigger than what we can for now see, feel and touch. We might not see it but the spirit in us has the ability to believe it. We are both ants on this planet and also entities so big no space can contain us. It all depends on the perspective of the moment. One day we, the gods in embryo, will understand and rejoice in our being.

How small and insignificant I am 

Among the countless children

Of this earth’s dust and fleeting pace

But of what importance

to my Saviour’s eternal grace!

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)