SUFFERING OF THE RIGHTEOUS

 

In July of 1831 the Prophet Joseph received a revelation designating Missouri as the place “consecrated for the gathering of the saints” and the building up of “the city of Zion” (D&C 57:1,2)” (Jeffrey R. Holland, “Lessons From Liberty Jail”, 7 Sept 2008, Brigham Young University Speeches, speeches.byu.edu)

Imagine the most intense persecution the early saints had experienced in the very state they were told to gather. By 1838 they were being driven out of Missouri and the Prophet and 6 others were incarcerated in Liberty Jail during the coldest winter on record for that state. These wrongfully imprisoned men slept on bare stones of the prison floor covered by bits of dirty straw without inadequate blankets to keep them warm and eating contaminated food they were driven to eat from hunger which drove them to be violently ill.  The Prophet described the jail in his letters to be ‘a hell, surrounded by demons’ and that no “pen, or tongue, or angels” could adequately describe “the malice of hell” that he suffered there. (ibid)

We could very well ask why the Lord would instruct the saints to go to Missouri to meet such extreme suffering? The pioneers of this Church are an indisputable proof that God allows the righteous to suffer, and for a reason.

Reason number 1 is this: “My people must be tried in all things, that they may be prepared to receive the glory that I have for them, even the glory of Zion; and he that will not bear chastisement is not worthy of my kingdom” (D&C 136:31). The chastisement had to come in the form of persecution because of their failure to adhere to the celestial laws of Zion. In other words, to value something, you must feel that you have earned it.

Reason number 2 is this: “….man’s extremity is God’s opportunity, and if we will be humble and faithful, if we will be believing and not curse God for our problems, He can turn the unfair and inhumane and debilitating prisons of our lives…..into a circumstance that can bring comfort and revelation, divine companionship and peace.” (Jeffrey R.Holland, “Lessons From Liberty Jail” BYU Speeches 2008)

I would add one more thing. The debilitating prisons of our lives compel us to take up our cross and follow Him who carried His. Be assured that each cross was carefully weighed to match each individual’s capacity to carry. That cross you are carrying is moulding you into the bearer of the heaviest cross in human history.

I carry my cross every day to the foot of Calvary

Where You carried yours to the top

I wait for You there to lift me 

where I cannot go alone,

To meet you at the foot of Your gilded throne.

-CATHRYNE ALLEN 

Art by Liz Lemon Swindle

 

TO LOVE

 

“While we should oppose evil, the Lord has directed the Saints to show love for enemies of the Church. President Spencer W. Kimball closed a conference talk with this plea:

“Brothers and sister, pray for the critics of the Church; love your enemies. Keep the faith and stay on the straight and narrow path. Use wisdom and judgment in what you say and do, so that we do not give cause to others to hold the Church or its people in disrepute….This work, which Satan seeks in vain to tear down, is that which God has placed on earth to lift mankind up!” (In Conference Report, April 1980, p 6; or Ensign May 1980, p 6; D&C Student Manual p 303, commentary for 123:11-14)”

I do not know of anyone in our dispensation who has had cause to hate his enemies more than Joseph Smith. We all know the horrors of Liberty Jail yet in his letter to the saints from this diabolic establishment, Joseph wrote of the duty of the saints, not to hate in response to the persecutions they suffered, but to uphold the truth for the sake of those who do not have it (D&C 123:12,17):

“Therefore, that we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven – these should then be attended to with great earnestness…..Therefore, early beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God….”

In October 1976, President Spencer W. Kimball advised the membership of the Church that Governor Christopher S. Bond of the state of Missouri had rescinded the 138-year-old old executive order of Governor Lilburn W. Boggs calling for the extermination or expulsion of the Mormons from the state of Missouri. By the year 2001 there was a temple in St. Louis and over 50,000 members of the Church in Missouri.

Would this have been possible if the saints had retaliated and the Church made the state of Missouri their enemy for 138 years? I think not. What was accomplished was done by the example of the members of the Church who lived their religion in peace despite the past.

I think of the greatest example of forgiveness and love toward His enemies and the undeserving…. Would there be Christianity today if the Saviour had left a legacy of hate and war and retaliation. Would a Gospel of love ever been known in the world? Would salvation have been possible at all? Joseph learnt and understood well…..

We, as members of Christ’s Church, carry the banner of brotherhood and Christian ethos. This is us: “And it came to pass that I beheld the church of the Lamb of God, and its numbers were few…and I Nephi beheld the power of the Lamb of God, that it descended upon the saints of the Church of the Lamb and upon the covenant people of the Lord, who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, and they were armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory.”  (1 Nephi 14:12-14)

And this is our mandate: "Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Behold the Man by Christopher Young)

HOPE

 

I have been actively in pursuit of perfection since I joined the Church in my youth. I thought that’s what the Church was all about and I latched onto such an endeavour because I am a perfectionist.

I have always maintained that by the time you reach the last leg of your journey, you should pretty much be extremely close to perfection. I thought by the time I get to the age I am now, I would have myself all together. Imagine my surprise when I arrived here to discover that is not the case.

On a positive note, I have noticed greater strides in improvement from where I was 20 years ago. The lessons have been amazing; my patience has improved and my expectations are getting more realistic as my kindness toward myself grows.

Over the years I have come to understand that opposition in all things, the impact of others on our lives, and life circumstances make us fall short of excellence over and over and so our awareness that perfection is an unattainable ideal in this life becomes our reality. At this point some of us start to battle with yet another challenge called discouragement.

We are constantly living in the gap between the ideal and the real in just about every stage of our lives. Consider raising a young family. Before you marry you have visions of the ideal but after children are littering your home, you realise how very naïve you were.

Elder Hafen painted a good picture of this: “Somehow it has not been altogether natural for our children to glide reverently into their places all at once and all on time, prepared to ponder thoughtfully the wonders of eternity. More than likely, especially when they were young, they seemed to come swinging into the family room on the chandeliers like Tarzan on the vines, then would stand on their heads or flip themselves over the back of the couch during most of the lesson” (Bruce C. Hafen, “The Broken Heart” p 178).

Then you think, my life will be perfect when the children are grown and have lives of their own and I have myself back. To my surprise, that hasn’t worked out for me either.  It would seem the motivation levels in retirement take a nose dive. It keeps getting harder and harder to keep up with the pace that my idealistic level of achievement requires.

The truth is, this life is far too messy to be perfect. Perfection is an eternal incremental process and the path has to be laced with hope to make it lasting. That hope becomes viable when it is coupled with realism of the expected perfection. President Spencer W. Kimball has said that being perfect means to triumph over sin. Perfection in that respect is an achievable goal (see Miracle of Forgiveness, p 208). Perhaps our focus should be righteousness. Perhaps this is what the Saviour meant after all when He commanded us to be perfect (Matthew 5:48; 3 Nephi 12:48) because this is the greatest realism there is:

The only way we can reach perfection is through the atoning grace of Christ, after all we can do on our own (2 Nephi 25:23). This will happen long after we leave this mortal existence, become resurrected and made complete in Him who has the power of perfection.

Until then He is our hope: “For I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.” (D&C 84:88)

You enliven my spirit;

You bring me to life;

You enrich my impoverished heart.

You are the God of power and might;

You make of me what I alone could never be,

You light my way into eternity.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: The Light by Land of Dreams)

THE HARDEST ROAD

 

When, following much suffering in Liberty Jail, Joseph Smith begged God for deliverance in March of 1839, The Lord offered him peace and comforted him by telling him his afflictions would be but a small moment.

I don’t know what comfort that was to Joseph who was in the thick of things but I know it gave him hope and I believe it came via this promise:

“If thou art called to pass through tribulation; if thou art in perils among false brethren, if thou art in perils among robbers, if thou art in perils by land or by sea; if thou art accused with all manner of false accusations, if thine enemies fall upon thee….and thou be dragged to prison, and thine enemies prowl around thee like wolves for the blood of the lamb….

“And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee, if thou be cast into the deep, if the billowing surge conspire against thee, if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.” (D&C 122:5-7)

The hope would have been based on this one promise: “…if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high….” (D&C 121:8). This is the ultimate reward. Joseph had many revelations. The heavens were opened to him on a number of occasions. He might have known what that promise really looked like.

We, on the other hand, don’t have a proper concept of exaltation in this earthly life. We cannot conceive what it is like. We don’t see it or understand it…and we can’t imagine it. We are in the telestial world. What we do know is that exaltation comes at a price. A hard road has to be travelled to earn it. Joseph proved this.

I do know one thing. When we were in the realms of heaven, we had the picture of exaltation before us and we understood well what it would take to qualify for it. I do not believe everyone wanted it because of the hard road that led to it. I think some of us chose easier roads that led to lower kingdoms (see D&C 88:28-32).

Those of us who wanted exaltation were willing to risk a perilous journey “by land or by sea”. In fact, I am sure we covenanted we would travel it and that we would endure for the reward…and for one reason…..the Saviour would pay the price of suffering, greater than any of us can begin to imagine, ensuring our ability to endure….(D&C 122:8)

Now that we are here travelling, may we always remember the promised reward which Joseph himself received: “For I am the Lord thy God, and will be with thee even until the end of the world, and through all eternity; for verily I seal upon you your exaltation, and prepare a throne for you in the kingdom of my Father…..” (D&C 132:49)

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Lord and Master by Greg Collins)

UNBREAKABLE CONNECTION

 

There is a certain connection we have with God which surpasses even our freedom of choice and it is this: thoughts. Consider these scriptures:

·       He knows every single thing that comes into our mind (Ezekiel 11:5);

·       He sees every thought of men’s hearts (Genesis 6:5);

·       There is nothing that He doesn’t know (2 Nephi 9:20);

·       Only God knows our thoughts and intents of our hearts (Helaman 9:41; D&C 6:16)

·       Thoughts, words and works will condemn us on judgment day (Alma 12:14)

·       God knows our thoughts which lead to wickedness of the heart (Jacob 1:4-6)

This is the first danger of unworthy thoughts: “Yes, as a man thinketh, so does he. If he thinks it long enough, he is likely to do it, whether it be theft, moral sin, or suicide. Thus the time to protect against the calamity is when the thought begins to shape itself. Destroy the seed and the plant will never grow. (President Spencer W. Kimball, “Miracle of Forgiveness”, pp 113-4).

And this is the second danger: “Every man and every person who lives in this world wields an influence, whether for good or for evil. It is not what he says alone; it is not alone what he does. It is what he is. Every man, every person radiates what he or she really is…It is what we are and what we radiate that affects the people around us.

“As individuals, we must think nobler thoughts. We must not encourage vile thoughts or low aspirations. We shall radiate them if we do. If we think noble thoughts; if we encourage and cherish noble aspirations, there will be that radiation when we meet people, especially when we associate with them.” (President David O. McKay, “Man May Know for Himself”, p 108; see also 2 Nephi 13:9)

And here is the hope: President Kimball also said that “man alone, of all creatures of earth, can change his thought pattern and become the architect of his destiny” (ref as above)

And here is a formula that we could relate to: “When temptation comes, you can invent a delete key in your mind….your mind is in charge; your body is the instrument of your mind. When some unworthy thought pushes into your mind, replace it with your delete key.” (President Boyd K. Packer, “Prayer and Promptings”, Ensign Nov 2009, 46)

And here is the greatest reason why, with a holy promise: “….let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence wax strong in the presence of God….” (D&C 121:45)

On judgment day we will want to stand pure in body and mind in front of Him who is the purest of us all and who knows all things….

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Christ by David Beraru)

THE ELECT AND THE CHOSEN

 

“To be called to be a member of the Church and kingdom of God on earth; it is to be numbered with the saints; it is to accept the gospel and receive the everlasting covenant; it is to have part and lot in the earthly Zion; it is to be born again, to be a son or a daughter of the Lord Jesus Christ; to have membership in the household of faith; it is to be on the path leading to eternal life and to have the hope of eternal glory; it is to have a conditional promise of eternal life, it is to be an inheritor of all the blessings of the gospel, provided there is continued obedience to the laws and ordinances thereof.” (Bruce R. McConkie, “Doctrinal New Testament Commentary”  3:326; see also D&C Student Manual p 298, commentary for 121:34)

I look back on the time I felt driven to join the Church. My motivation back then was very simple but today, after all the knowledge I have gained through the Church, I believe I was called.  I think of only one thing: “My sheep hear my voice and I know them, and they follow me” (John 10:27). Being called means to have been elected in pre-mortal life to have the privilege of being a member of Christ’s kingdom on earth.

Both Elder McConkie and President Harold B Lee claimed that the lives we lived in pre-mortal life very much determined the privileges we would have in this life, especially that we would be granted opportunities to accept the truth; that it is “reasonable to believe that what we have received here in this earth life was given to each of us according to the merits of our conduct before we came here” (President Harold B. Lee, in CR October 1973, Ensign January 1974; see also “A New Witness for the Articles of Faith, p 512 by Bruce R. McConkie)

We read in Doctrine and Covenants that “many are called but few are chosen” and it is so because their hearts are set on the things of the world (121:34-5). Somehow the glare of this earthly life blinds so many of us and in that glare we sell our birthright for a mass of pottage.

The membership number of the Church for 2025 is a little over 17.5 million. Compare that to the world population of 8.25 billion.  When you put that into perspective, you can see how privileged, valued, and special you are to be in the sheepfold of the Saviour’s flock. If you ever get tempted to leave, just remember: “I am the door of the sheep…..I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep” (John 10:7,11).

How dear to the heart of the Shepherd

Is the flock of His sheep;

With tenderness and love

He watches over those in His keep.

How much do they love their Shepherd!

How closely they stay by His side!

With every footstep they follow,

To forever with Him abide,

In all eternity wide.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Art: Comforter by Yongsung Kim)

THE PRINCE AND THE KING

 

There is a place in Daviess county, Missouri, which is called Spring Hill. This place “was named by the mouth of the Lord, Adam-Ondi-Ahman” (“History of the Church”, 3:34-35). This is the place where one of the most tender events occurred on the American continent.

This is where Adam, the Ancient of Days, called his righteous posterity three years prior to his death, to bestow upon them his last blessing (D&C 107:53-56). Picture this solemn occasion where the Saviour appeared to this congregation, upon which appearing, Adam’s posterity “rose up and blessed Adam, and called him Michael, the prince, the archangel”. The Lord then administered comfort unto Adam and said unto him: I have set thee to be at the head; a multitude of nations shall come of thee, and thou art a prince over them forever.” (D&C 107:54-55).

After the Lord administered to him, Adam stood up even though he was ‘bowed down with age, and being full of the Holy Ghost, predicted whatsoever should befall his posterity unto the latest generation’ (v 56). When Joseph Smith visited Spring Hill in 1876 he was privileged to see Adam, the Ancient of Days, in a vision of this momentous meeting (“Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith” p 158). This is one vision I would love to have.

Adam lived 930 years according to Genesis 5:5 and Moses 6:12 but died in the ‘same day’ he partook of the fruit as the promise of death was spoken by God when the earth was still subject to the Lord’s time which was after the time of Kolob (Abraham 5:13). Imagine living and toiling that long…..

There will come a time when Adam will return to Adam-Ondi-Ahman: “He will call his children together and hold a council with them to prepare them for the coming of the Son of Man”…..The Son of Man will stand before him, and there will be given him glory and dominion. Adam will deliver up his stewardship to Christ, who holds the keys of the universe, but will retain his standing as head of the human family (“Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith” p 157).

This is the great Council of which neither the Church members nor the world will know about which will take place prior to the Saviour’s Second appearing as a ‘thief in the night’ (D&C 106:4) (Elder Joseph Fielding Smith, “Way to Perfection” pp 290-91; also D&C Student Manual p 288)

There is no greater summation of the Plan of Salvation that is as emotionally touching as this.  Adam, the head of the human family, having fulfilled his role so righteously as the father of all living, delivers his stewardship to the Saviour, the head of the Plan of Salvation, at the winding up scenes of this earth. Promises kept, mission completed, humanity reared and saved.

Whereas Adam is the prince over us ‘forever’, the Saviour is the King. If not for Him, we would not be. No one can rival His power and His glory.  May it be His forever and ever!

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

ART:  Beside Still Waters by LDS Bookstore