A SALVATION ASSURED

 

“Over long eons of time in the premortal realm the Saviour proved faithful and dependable and honourable in every commitment, every responsibility, and every charge……He never deviated from the mark, never slacked in his performance, never shrank from his word.

“He kept every command with exactness; he discharged every duty with precision; he was ‘not slack concerning his promise’ (2 Peter 3:9). His promises were  ‘ immutable and unchangeable’ (D&C 104:2). As a result, his spiritual credit was rapidly escalating until it was pure gold, even infinite in value.”  (Tad R. Callister, “The Infinite Atonement, 80)

Elder Callister goes on to say that the laws of justice (meaning the Father) recognised the Saviour’s Atonement as a surety long before it became a reality. He recognised and accepted it because Christ’s pledge and covenant was one of perfect integrity. What’s more, we all knew it too. This is why we could with a surety sustain Him as the author of our salvation for “there is nothing that the Lord thy God shall take in his heart to do but what he will do it” (Abraham 3:17)

The Saviour’s commitment and integrity is not the only thing we relied on. His perfect knowledge, wisdom and power was undeniable. A massive mission such as the salvation of the whole host of heaven had to be trusted to one no less than a god. Because of His perfect knowledge and foresight, our salvation was sure.

There are a couple of scriptural examples in the Doctrine and Covenants which demonstrate this clearly. The first is found in Section 1 which suggests that the Lord called Joseph Smith as the prophet of this last dispensation because He knew the difficulties we would face in these last days (v 17).

Another example which is rather startling involves the loss of the 116 pages of manuscript of the Book of Mormon translation involving Martin Harris. Even though this event occurred in 1828, the Saviour inspired Nephi in 570 B.C. to compile a small set of plates and instructed Mormon in 385 A.D. to include those small plates in his records. Neither Nephi nor Mormon knew why they should do this but they trusted Him who knew. The Restoration and the Book of Mormon were secured because of the work of Him who promised us our salvation cannot and WILL NOT be frustrated.

The Saviour has knowledge of the beginning to the end (Abraham 2:8). Without our understanding that He has all knowledge, we could not exercise faith in Him and be assured of our salvation.  He does not miscalculate, nor is he startled over the events of this life or our thoughts and actions. Rest assured…..He has it covered.

Is there anyone greater than this man we call our God…???

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Light of the World by Mindi Oaten)

OUR MORTAL FOLLIES

 

I am certain that some of us have wondered how is it that Joseph went to the Lord three times to get permission to allow Martin Harris to take home the translated pages of the Book of Mormon. The lesson is twofold….be careful what you ask for and yield to God rather than to the persuasions of men. And not only persuasions but counsels also (D&C 3:6,7).

Lucky for Joseph, the Lord who was overseeing his calling was a God of mercy who forgives His servants in their weakened state of mortality (v 10).

Joseph was forgiven and called back to the work. The Book of Mormon was translated to the end, published and is flooding the earth, minus the Book of Lehi…for now. And all because of the Lord’s un-surpassing wisdom. What the Lord knew over 2,000 years earlier was that the larger plates which were essentially The Book of Lehi would become the 116 pages of the lost manuscript in 1828.

The smaller plates which Nephi was commanded to make, without knowing why, covered exactly the same period as the lost manuscript and basically summarised Lehi's prophecies. The story does not end there either. Mormon, under the inspiration of the spirit, included these smaller plates in his own abridgement. He must have wondered if he was repeating himself by doing so, having just abridged Lehi's account, but Mormon being obedient did as he was prompted to do admitting he did not know all things but like Nephi, he knew that the Lord knew (Words of Mormon 1:7).   

Both of these men were far more experienced spiritually than Joseph Smith was at 23 years of age. Besides the fact that he had the gospel his whole life, Nephi wrote his book 30 years after arriving in America, plenty of time to rise to his spiritual stature (2 Nephi 5:28). Mormon was spiritually endowed from the time he was 10 years of age (Mormon 1:2).  

Between the time of the First Vision and Moroni’s visit, Joseph recounts in his history that he was ‘left to all kinds of temptations and mingling with all kinds of society….which denotes a serious spiritual deficit (JSH 1:28). Martin Harris, being 23 years Joseph’s senior, who believed in Joseph’s calling, assisted him in the work and supported the endeavour financially, would have been of large influence in Joseph’s experience (D&C Student Manual, p 10)

As I re-visited this story I was reminded of many blunders I have made in my life. Some were made because I relied on my own wisdom, some because I turned to my friends for advice and received counsel based on their life experience and paltry wisdom and some because I disregarded my revelations unsure of their authenticity because of my lack of confidence in receiving such.

There have been times when I have received revelation to steer me in the right direction, I would get distracted by the pressing hardships around me and I would forget what I was told. Then I would circle back to the same problem wondering how it is that I am back there…and then the revelation would come to my mind as if the Lord was giving me a second chance.

The Lord knew we would make many blunders in this life due to our dulled spiritual senses and mortal understanding. Should you find yourself with a blunder at your feet, be kind to yourself, not all is lost. God still has faith in you. He can help you repair what is broken and correct your present course.

If you have missed the lessons you are meant to learn, He will return them to you. His mercy and long-suffering is unfathomable. His forgiveness even more so…..

The lessons of my life flowed like a river

Winding through days, months and years;

I rescued a few but missed so many

From the currents as I saw them passing;

They drowned in the daze of my ignorance,

Unwanted and ignored but yet abiding.

I fish them now from the pool of my memory

And give them life everlasting.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Joseph by Liz Lemon Swindle)