THE POWER WITHIN HIM

 

“While the enemies in Missouri were gathering their lawless forces for an assault upon the Church there, the Lord inspired the Prophet Joseph to go on a mission and proclaim the gospel message. He was not to mind the enemies. His calling was to testify to the world. And he went on this mission as far as Canada, as full of faith and hope as if there had been no storm clouds in the sky.” (Smith and Sjodahl, Commentary p 630 – as quoted in the Doctrine and Covenants Student Manual p 236)

If there is anyone who is qualified to say that “a religion that does not require the sacrifice of all things never has power sufficient to produce the faith necessary unto life and salvation” it is Joseph Smith (Lecture 6:7, “Lectures on Faith”). Following this call he wrote in his journal: “I feel very well in my mind. The Lord is with us, but have much anxiety about my family.” (“History of the Church”, 1:419n)

Section 100 of the Doctrine and Covenants is only small and seems rather insignificant compared to the rest of this book. It mainly deals with this mission call but there is something so powerful in it.

The Lord assured Joseph and his companion Sidney Rigdon that their families were in His hands and then He added something that makes this mission call more significant than it appears. He said: “In me there is all power” (v1).  

And this is how that power was manifest. Sidney Rigdon had great gifts as an orator and student of scriptures. The Lord called him as a spokesman to Joseph and promised him “power to be mighty in testimony” (v 10). Sidney declared the word of God with wonderful eloquence and was a mighty man in the hands of God.

What is significant about Sidney is that Joseph of Egypt was told about him by the Saviour himself 1,700 years before his birth and recounted by Lehi 600 years before the same (2 Nephi 3:18). Thus we see Sidney was prepared in pre-existence by the Lord himself for his calling as Joseph’s spokesman to Canada and according to President George Q. Cannon, even until Joseph’s death (see “Journal of Discourses” 25:126).

What a God we worship!!! A God of impeccable wisdom, might and power. When you make the salvation of others your work and your glory, you employ all your perfect faculties in ensuring success. This is who He is. A God of perfection, a God of all knowledge, wisdom and power, a God that can be trusted and relied upon. A God who will ensure our salvation. In Joseph’s words:

“We are on the pathway to eternal fame, and immortal glory”…….

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Joseph Smith at Saviour's Feet by Liz Lemon Swindle)

 

 

FAREWELL MY STRIPLING WARRIOR

 

 

A couple of days ago I did a post entitled “Hearts of the Mothers”. I posted this picture of the painting entitled “Farewell My Stripling Warrior” by Del Parson. I get highly emotional whenever I think of the inspiration which the artist used for this painting. This inspiration came to him when he watched his wife and his son say their goodbyes at the airport as his son was leaving for his mission. His wife was struggling to let go while the son, who was hugging her, was looking past her at the plane that was waiting for him. He was ready to go.

Del Parson said this farewell of his son made him remember the 2,000 Stripling Warriors (Alma 53:17-22). It is always difficult to watch your children move on but sending them off to war is another level of apprehension and anxiety. My daughter had a turbulent teenage-hood so when she went on her mission, it was the best eighteen months of my life. I knew where she was, what she was doing and who was watching over her. And she was on home soil. My worries about her completely ceased. She is now inactive again and the worries have returned as she navigates her journey through this perilous life.

This painting has made me reflect on our time on earth. I have wondered how the tender feelings of our heavenly parents were affected as we ‘looked towards the plane’, eager for new experiences, eager to prove ourselves, eager to be ‘grown up’. Did we feel we had outgrown our heavenly home? The question, however, that begs to be asked even more is, do we feel eager to return? When I reflect on this question, I remember Alma recounting his conversion story to Helaman during which he saw God sitting upon his throne and he said, his soul longed to be there (Alma 36:22).

And now that we are here, are we being Stripling Warriors exercising faith in God worthy of our return? In his book, “But A Few Days”, Elder Neal A. Maxwell, spoke of our home coming in these terms:

“If there is an imagery upon which I would focus, it is two scriptures from the Book of Mormon. The one in which we are reminded that Jesus himself is the gate keeper and that ‘he employeth no servant there’ (2 Nephi 9:41). I will tell you…out of the conviction of my soul…what I think the major reason is (why he ‘employeth no servant there’), as contained in another Book of Mormon scripture which says he waits for you ‘with open arms’ (Mormon 6:17). That’s why He’s there! He waits for you with open arms. That imagery is too powerful to brush aside….It is imagery that should work itself into the very center core of one’s mind – a rendezvous impending, a moment in time and space, the likes of which there is none other……”  (Neal A. Maxwell, “But A Few Days”, p 7).

Can you imagine such a reunion? The crimson drops of Calvary would become the happy tears of home coming……

 

I yearn to see the dwelling of Thy heart

And remember the splendour of my home;

I yearn to feel the closeness of Thy presence

And the warmth of Thy embrace.

Grant me Father eyes that I might see,

And a heart that it might understand

The power of Thy love and Thy eternal grace.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Farewell My Stripling Warrior by Del Parson)