A VIEW OF ETERNITY

 

Joy Cometh In The Morning by LDS Bookstore

For years now I have tried to understand fully the necessity for suffering in mortality. From time to time different insights and portions of understanding have been given to me but recently I received what I consider an adequate and favourable theory of the same.

What came to me first is the reason for our lack of understanding of this subject. It is simply this: it is easy not to understand the here and now because we cannot see beyond this life to the rewards of the splendour of eternity and our eternal place within it.

There are three things I am very convinced of and the first is this. We could see the reward in our pre-earth life and we chose which level of the splendour we wanted  to live in for all eons of time. In other words, we chose there and then where we wanted to end up.

The second is that not everyone wanted godhood. We could see it when we made the choice but we could also see the responsibility of such a state of being and the high price attached to it. Some of us were more spiritually inclined than others and as such we sought for higher spiritual levels of intelligence and power that godhood could give us.

The third is this. Since we are not here to choose our eternal destiny, we are here to prove ourselves worthy of the choice we have already made. All kingdoms are kingdoms of glory and they all have degrees of splendour of eternity.

 And here is the wonder of eternity. The telestial kingdom, being the lowest, is a kingdom of glory that passes all understanding even though it is a kingdom where murderers, rapists, liars, adulterers and all manner of wicked people will go (D&C 76:89). It is also worth noticing that the inhabitants of only this kingdom will be as innumerable as the sand of the seashore (v 109). This is the kingdom for those who sought the ease and glory of earthly life. This is the kingdom that comes with the lowest price. But a price has to be paid even for this kingdom…..the souls who will inherit it will pass through hell to earn their place therein. This is outer darkness where they suffer torments of hell until their resurrection day following the Millenium (Alma 40:11-14; D&C 76:103-106; see also Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, pp 349-50)

And now the necessity for suffering. This life offers us something valuable that helps us prove we deserve the outcome we have chosen: our moral agency. Suffering reveals to us our true nature and refines within us the attributes needed through the exercise of our agency to become worthy of the splendour of our eternal reward. If we wanted godhood, our agency has to develop within us a godly character. Water meets its own level.

For years I have felt my life has been unjust. I have had to live through some major trials and the suffering has been acute. This week I made a list of all the growth I have experienced throughout my life and the qualities I have acquired through my choices to endure, trust, overcome, forgive…..qualities like compassion, love and tolerance. I have learnt mercy and even humility as I was brought down to the dust of the earth. One day I will kneel at the throne of my God and present these gifts as the greatest treasures I have come to own.

Herein is the mercy of two Gods: God the Father who sacrificed His best child for the lowest of His children, and God the Son who willingly submitted to that sacrifice. Honour and glory be theirs forever for the joy that awaits us…..

"In my Father's house are many mansions....I go to prepare a place for you." (John 14:2)

I pledged my life into thy hands

When by example you showed me how;

I promised my trials to endure

When I was with You and do so even now.

 

You dried my tears when I barely coped

And carried me when I could walk no more;

You fed me truths I needed to know

And nurtured my flight into the unknown.

 

As I promised to obey,

You promised we’d never part;

I remember, I remember

And carry it all

In the shadow of my heart.

 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

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)

AGENCY

 

“Despite great efforts to do so, no one has been able to cast serious doubt on the authenticity of the Book of Mormon. So why doesn’t everybody believe in its divine origins? Because God does not allow the case to become so compelling that we are forced to believe. Man’s agency is too fundamental to be so compromised.” (Elder Bruce C. Hafen, “The Believing Heart” p 27)

I have always believed that our freedom to choose was God given out of His respect for us but there is so much more to it than that. I have been impressed by His restraint in seeing so many of us make so many foolish choices. One would almost wish He would interfere to the point of compelling us to believe in the Gospel and especially, in salvation through His Son. But there is a very good reason for His restraint and once again, it is for the good of us, His children. In fact, Elder Hafen points out: “It was all part of a plan carefully and deliberately designed NOT TO COMPEL BELIEF.” (ibid p 6)

This is the very first reason why man’s agency is too fundamental to be compromised: “Hugh Nibley has described this principle as the “policy of reticence”, which the Lord has always followed “to protect sacred things from common misunderstandings and to protect the unworthy from damaging themselves with them.” (ibid p 6)

Instead of compelling us to believe, God has given us the principle of “line upon line, precept upon precept”, in other words, God gives us what and when we are ready to hear, for our   protection, because we are tried on what we know and understand (D&C 98:12).

The second and more important reason is this: “A key reason for the Lord’s unwillingness to compel our belief is suggested by those scriptural phrases about doing the will of the Father and “receiving him”. Something happens to people who receive him – who do his will. They learn. They develop Christlike capacities and skills beyond the reach of other people.

“Following his will changes them. These changes do not occur within the lives of those who merely see the sign or hear the word. Such changes in character and spirit also do not happen without our active, voluntary participation. Thus by being believing, by receiving the Lord, and by following him, the process of becoming LIKE HIM is set into motion. That is a point he does not want us to miss.”  (ibid 7)

I am beginning to think that our most pressing priority in life should be coming to know God. The more we know Him, the more we will yearn to be with Him. I know people who have no desire to know Him and because they do not know Him, they do not love Him. It’s the greatest tragedy that they will get through this life without experiencing the greatest love of all.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: The Everlasting God by Spencer Rasmussen)

 

FOR THE JOY

 

 

“Now the Lord had shown unto me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones.

“And there stood one among them that was like unto God, and he said unto those who were with him: We will go down, for there is space there, and we will take of these materials, and we will make an earth whereon these may dwell;

“And we will prove them herewith, to see if they will do all things whatsoever the Lord their God shall command them……… (Abraham 3:22, 24,25)

We are told we sang together and shouted for joy at the prospect of our eternal progression through the Plan of Salvation (Job 37:7). How easy it is to embrace something so willingly before it becomes a reality.

I think of Enoch witnessing the Father weeping over his disobedient children so early into that reality (Moses 7:28). I have one wayward child and I have wept over her. I cannot imagine the Father’s sorrow over so many of His children. It is true that moral agency is not free. It comes with a price that is not only paid by the sinner but by all those within their heavenly and earthly parental and family circle.

If you have a child that is currently lost, you are in good company. The Father knows your pain. To this end He has sacrificed His son to atone for the sins of our wayward children should they return. Until that day, hold fast onto hope. He will reach out to them some day and endeavour to bring them back. After all, they were His, before they were ours.

I often hope that my efforts of obedience make up, to some degree, for my daughter’s waywardness. I also hope that many of Father’s righteous children will return to Him with honour to cushion the blow of those who will be missing.

We are told obedience is the first principle of heaven. I have a friend who thinks love is greater than obedience but to me, you cannot separate the two. Obedience springs from love and magnifies love. If we love the Father and His Son, we will hold fast onto this principle.

May we strive to be a delight in His hand and a joy to Him forever and may our example reach the hearts of those who are presently lost.  

I pleaded with You, Father,

In the beginning,

To bring me home again to Thee.

I promised to heed every call,

To avoid every danger,

To abhor every sin.

 

I have laboured to bring Thee joy

To be worthy of Your love for me.

I’ll wait at heaven’s door and knock

Until I hear the angels sing. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: For the Joy by Eva Koleva Timothy)

THE SILVERSMITH

 

“There was once a group of women studying the book of Malachi in the Old Testament. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three, which says: “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”  This verse puzzled the women, and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study.

That week this woman called up a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the idle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot – then she thought again about the verse, that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver. She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered “Yes”, and explained that he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames, it would be damaged.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”

He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy. When I see my image in it.”

If today you are feeling the heat of this world’s fire, just remember that God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ are refining you. “You are predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ.”

-        Author Unknown

“…….have ye spiritually been born of God? Have ye received his image in your countenance? ”  

-        (Alma 5:14)

I have been through some refining fires in my life. I am presently going through one now. I am learning about endurance….an endurance I am determined to get through with dignity. I used to say to myself, “I HAVE to endure to the end” but I have realised on a deeper level that life is all about choice. It was so in pre-existence and it remains so. Now I say to myself, “This is but a moment. I CHOOSE to endure to the end.”

“I choose to” speaks commitment whereas ‘I have to’ speaks compulsion and compulsion breeds resentment. Reflecting on my life and all the decisions I have made showed me that in fact they were choices. My agency has been exercised.

I bow at the Saviour’s feet in gratitude for the refining fires of my life and I look forward to seeing His face when in the mirror I look one day.  All honour and glory be to the Saviour of my soul who has made my choices possible…..

May all who hear, praise 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 

(Art: Peace I Give Unto You by B. Laura Wilson)