Thursday, July 17, 2008

One Among the Crowd

I listened to this talk (May 2008 Ensign) by Elder Neuenschwander of the Seventy this morning and, although I had heard it before, I had a new thought. He spoke of three instances in the scriptures where there was "one among the crowd." The woman in the New Testament who was suffering from a bleeding condition, who pressed through the crowd to reach the Savior to touch the hem of His garment. Alma in the Book of Mormon, who stood up to King Noah and his wicked priests. And finally, those who clung to the iron rod despite the scorning of the crowd in the great and spacious building in Lehi's vision of the Tree of Life. Elder N. mentioned that these examples show people who press through the crowd, heeding them not, until they reach the Savior.

I though about how that can apply to me on a daily basis. I need to hold fast to the iron rod, stand up for truth, and push my way through the crowds of the world to reach the Savior. But, the thought I had was that this is a daily goal. When I wake up in the morning, that is when I start pushing through the "crowd." I realized that the "crowd" is anything that stands in my way of coming daily and continuously to the Lord. Weaknesses, temptations, sins, etc.

I have known that coming to the Lord is not an event but a process, but I hadn't really thought of it that way (it is interesting how you can know a thing without really understanding it - see my previous post). When I go to bed, I can ask myself, "Did I press through the crowd today?" And I can reflect on the day and what I did, ask for forgiveness and then realize that I get to start pressing forward again in the morning.

I think I take too many breaks along the way. I say, "I have done enough for now. A little break won't hurt." But it does. There is a reason why we are constantly admonished to be diligent, steadfast, and constant. If we are not, we will be putting ourselves in harms way. Again, here is an example of me knowing that I must be diligent, but not really understanding what that means. Obviously I can't spend all my time reading the scriptures, volunteering in the temple or in some other service project, visiting the sick, clothing the naked, etc., etc.

As I have struggled with this balancing act of living in the world and trying to press forward to the Savior, I have come across, what I think is the best counsel on the topic of choosing what to do and how we can continuously press forward to the Savior while still having to live in the world. It is in the Book of Mormon, Moroni 7:

15 For behold, my brethren, it is given unto you to judge, that ye may know good from evil; and the way to judge is as plain, that ye may know with a perfect knowledge, as the daylight is from the dark night.
16 For behold, the Spirit of Christ is given to every man, that he may know good from evil; wherefore, I show unto you the way to judge; for every thing which inviteth to do good, and to persuade to believe in Christ, is sent forth by the power and gift of Christ; wherefore ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of God.
17 But whatsoever thing persuadeth men to do evil, and believe not in Christ, and deny him, and serve not God, then ye may know with a perfect knowledge it is of the devil; for after this manner doth the devil work, for he persuadeth no man to do good, no, not one; neither do his angels; neither do they who subject themselves unto him.

It is plain. And if I honestly listen to and seek out the inspiration from the light of Christ and the Holy Ghost, I will know if what I am doing that moment is pressing forward to the Savior or taking a detour. I know that this is true. And I am going to try to do that each day so I can be one among the crowd.

Thursday, July 10, 2008

The glory of Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ

Referring to Jesus Christ, Doctrine and Covenants 88:6-13 reads:

6 He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth;
7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made.
8 As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made;
9 As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made;
10 And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand.
11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understanding;
12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—
13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things.

I cannot remember what lead me to this verse, but I remember how I felt then and how I feel now. I felt that even through all my years of studying the scriptures and learning about God and Jesus Christ, through all the witnesses I have had about their existence and love by the power of the Holy Ghost, feeling their presence and forgiveness, my understanding of their glory, power, and purity was no more than that of a newborn baby. I can say that I know they are glorious. I know they are Omnipotent. I know they are pure. But I do not have the slightest idea as to the extent of these characteristics.

Several weeks went by and I came across this quote by the Prophet Joseph Smith:

"I cannot believe in any of the creeds of the different denominations, because they all have some things in them I cannot subscribe to, though all of them have some truth. I want to come up into the presence of God, and learn all things; but the creeds set up stakes [limits], and say, ‘Hitherto shalt thou come, and no further’ [Job 38:11]; which I cannot subscribe to."
"I say to all those who are disposed to set up stakes for the Almighty, You will come short of the glory of God." ( Chapter 22: Gaining Knowledge of Eternal Truths,” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Joseph Smith, (2007), 264).

This just confirmed to me what I had felt; that I cannot now comprehend the glory of God. However, I know that I can learn little by little through experience and further witnesses of the Holy Ghost. And eventually, I hope that I can know Him. For now, I am content to appreciate His greatness and will try to "feast upon the words of Christ" (2 Nephi 32:3) that I may come to know Him more completely so I can "love Him more deeply and obey Him more completely." (The Grandeur of God, Elder Jeffrey R. Holland Of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, (Oct. 2003 General Conference)).

Although my understanding is limited, I know that God lives. That we are His children and He is keenly aware of each of us. I know that Jesus Christ is His literal Son and the Savior and Redeemer of the world. I also know that we can come to know Him and His Son, by obedience and prayer. "And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent" (St. John 17:3). I love the children's song, Beautiful Savior, and I want to end with that. I love God and His Son. They are beautiful and I thank Them for showing me, an imperfect and sometimes rebellious son, mercy and love.

Beautiful Savior:

Fair is the sunshine,
Fairer the moonlight
And all the stars in heav'n above.
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer
And brings to all the world his love.

Fair are the meadows,
Fairer the woodlands,
Robbed in the flowers of blooming spring.
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer.
He makes the sorrowing spirit sing.

Beautiful Savior!
Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Thee will I honor, praise, and give glory,
Give praise and glory evermore!