THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH

 

I want to testify of the sacred role of the Holy Ghost who reveals all truth to the true followers of Jesus Christ……the Revealer, the Comforter, the Spirit of God, by whom all revelation is given to the children of men through his power.

It came to me recently to understand something that has corrected my misunderstanding of the Saviour’s nature. For a while now I have been of the opinion that the Saviour is excessively merciful and tolerant towards us. This error was brought to my attention unexpectedly through the story of King David. I don’t know why, but this story flooded my mind, in the middle of the night as I slept, and taught me something I had not seen before.

To recap…..there was not a king who loved the God of Israel more than King David. When he conquered Jerusalem he brought the ark of the covenant into the city ‘with gladness’ and led a procession of Israelites playing instruments, shouting, singing and dancing ‘before the Lord with all his might’ in praise of the God he worshipped (2 Samuel 6:12-15). No king of Israel was more free from idolatrous inclinations or practices than David. Because of this, he became the standard of excellence that all subsequent kings came to be measured by.

David’s valour and his accomplishments as a king were outstanding. His reign is known in the annals of history as ‘the golden age of Israel’. His love for the God of Israel can leave you breathless through the psalms he wrote about him. And who can forget his valiant Israelite spirit as he slew Goliath exclaiming: “Is there not a cause in Israel?”

David’s fall from grace we know well. What is less observed in that moment of history is his godly sorrow and repentance. Equally impressive is his rejoicing and his hope of a lesser degree of eternal reward praising God because ‘He will not leave his soul in hell’ (Acts 2:25-26). This hope of the resurrection of the unjust is known as ‘the sure mercies of David’ (see Bruce R. McConkie, The Promised Messiah, p 272).

I can think of no one who would have wept more when this tragedy unfolded than the Saviour himself. To lose someone with so much promise and faithfulness would have been agonizing to Him. If there was anyone the Saviour could have been excessively merciful to, it would have been David. But where would that have left Uriah, and his innocent blood that was spilt? One truth remains….mercy cannot rob justice (Alma 42:25).

I always thought I understood the relationship between mercy and justice but now I understand it at a deeper level because I was taught through the medium I would understand. David’s story has always tugged at my heart.

Can you see the perfect nature of a God that we worship and trust through this story? On Judgment Day, the balance between justice and mercy will be so perfect that we will not be able to question it…..for our God knows all: He knows our hearts, our capabilities, our intents, our souls, our pains, everything that could induce mercy….but yet He obeys all the laws that He himself is governed by and ensures there will be no one left without justice.

This understanding of the Saviour’s perfect character came to me through the power of the Spirit. My intent is to bear witness that the Holy Ghost can teach us what we need to know and more importantly, he can broaden our vista of knowledge of God. And this is why it is important for us to know Him: “Three things are necessary in order for a person to exercise faith in God unto life and salvation: 1. The idea that He actually exists; 2. A correct idea of His character, perfections, and attributes; 3. An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing is according to His will.” – Joseph Smith, Lectures on Faith, Lecture Third.

 

ODE TO THE GOD WHO SEES MY SOUL:
You who know me well
Teach me all that I need
And send me Him
My soul to feed.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Spirit of God by LDS ART)

AN INSTRUMENT OF GOD

 

For some time now I have been recording impressive proofs of Joseph Smith’s prophetic validity. Not to increase my already existing testimony of his calling but simply because I find them so fascinating.   So impressive have these been that I have wanted to shout from the roof tops to prove the unbelievers wrong. What is amazing is that the source of these proofs is the Book of Mormon, the very tool used by the critics to discredit the prophet of this dispensation. I will cite here just a few of my favourites to perhaps motivate some of you to look for some yourselves as you study the Book of Mormon this year:

·        Book of Mormon warfare uniquely reflects its dual heritage of the ancient Near East and Mesoamerica. It speaks volumes about the authenticity of the text and the military expertise of its author. Joseph Smith was not a man of war, he would have known none of this;

·        Joseph Smith could not have known what it was like to be a missionary to the Lamanites because he knew no one who had done such a thing. The detailed experiences of missionary labours and successes of Ammon and his brothers in Alma 26 is a solid proof of this.

·        The allegory of the olive tree in Jacob chapter 5 depicting the scattering and gathering of Israel is mind blowing. Not even an educated man could have come up with something so spiritually significant in such a difficult literary simile. The more I study this allegory, the more amazed I am of its beauty and more convinced I am of its spiritual source;

·         Joseph Smith could not have known Nephites’ coinage or the institutions of their lawyers and judges or how to make up the intricacies of such. Alma 11:3-19 is proof of this.

I want to add to these the strong testimony and witness of Joseph’s validity as the translator of the Book of Mormon by his wife Emma: “When my husband was translating the Book of Mormon, I wrote a part of it….and one time while he was translating he stopped suddenly, pale as a sheet, and said, “Emma, did Jerusalem have walls around it?” When I answered, “Yes”, he replied, “Oh! I didn’t know. I was afraid I had been deceived.” He had such a limited knowledge of history at that time that he did not even know that Jerusalem was surrounded by walls. He could neither write nor dictate a coherent and well worded letter; let alone dictating a book like the Book of Mormon.” (Edmund C. Briggs, ‘A Visit to Nauvoo in 1856’, Journal of History, Jan 1916, p 454).

I am convinced that Joseph Smith was sent to a poor family so that he could not receive an education because it was imperative that an uneducated man translate the ancient record that became the Book of Mormon. How else could the Lord prove His partnership with him in bringing this book to light? In chapter 27 of 2 Nephi, we find an amazing detailed outline of the Saviour’s involvement in this endeavour, given to Nephi 2,427 years before the plates were delivered to Joseph Smith. After failure to have the translation certified by a professional, educated man, Professor Charles Anthon, the Lord basically said to Joseph: Don’t worry. I am able to do my own work, I WILL GIVE YOU the words which you shall read (2 Nephi 27:20). This is how important the Book of Mormon is to the Saviour in proclaiming the everlasting gospel, in gathering Israel, in building New Jerusalem, in preparing people for the Second Coming, and in ushering in the Millenium (see Bruce R. McConkie, The Millenial Messiah, p 171) This is His work, a marvelous work and a wonder, but is there anything more marvelous than Him??? I think not. 

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Joseph Smith by Brent Borup)